Mini Shepherd's Pie-So Good!
A great recipe from Aaron McCargo on Big Daddys' House. On Food Network, this recipe has 52 outstanding reviews! You can sub turkey or even veggie crumbles for the ground beef! Kids can help make this dish and have fun doing it! This can also be made in a 9x13" pan. This is good frozen and microwaved. Great to take in your lunch bag, to a picnic, or to a tailgate party! Enjoy! A little history: The key to dating Shepherd's pie is the introduction (and acceptance) of potatoes in England. Potatoes are a new world food. They were first introduced to Europe in 1520 by the Spanish. Potatoes did not appeal to the British palate until the 18th Century. (Foods America Gave the World, A. Hyatt Verrill, page 28). Shepherd's Pie, a dish of minced meat (usually lamb, when made with beef it is called "Cottage Pie") topped with mashed potatoes was probably invented sometime in the 18th Century by frugal peasant housewives looking for creative ways to serve leftover meat to their families. It is generally agreed that it originated in the north of England and Scotland where there are large numbers of sheep--hence the name. The actual phrase "Shepherd's Pie" dates back to the 1870s, when mincing machines made the shredding of meat easy and popular."
INGREDIENTS
Nutrition- cooking spray
- 1(12 ounce) can refrigerated biscuits (The flakey are good or Grands)
- 2tablespoons olive oil
- 1
- 1⁄2
- 1 1⁄2teaspoons salt
- 1teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 1⁄2 - 1tablespoon minced garlic
- 2tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1⁄2cup beef stock (or chicken or turkey or vegetable)
- 1cup frozen mixed vegetables
- 2tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
- 1tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaf
- 1 1⁄2
- 1tablespoon granulated garlic powder
- 2tablespoons granulated onion powder
- 2cups shredded cheddar cheese
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Spray a 12-count muffin pan with cooking spray. Mold biscuits to the shape of each muffin cup. Par-bake biscuits for 6 to 8 minutes until light golden. Remove from oven and set aside. You will probably need to smash them down with the back of a spoon.
- Heat the 2 tbls. oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and brown. Stir in the onions, salt, pepper and garlic and allow to cook together for a couple of minutes.
- Mix flour into the meat mixture and stir until a paste consistency is reached. Add beef stock to pan and stir in vegetables and herbs, the last few minutes, until combined.
- Reheat mashed potatoes in a microwave for 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in granulated garlic and onion powder.
- Spoon equal amounts (approximately 2 tablespoons) of warm potatoes on the bottoms of each par-baked biscuit. Then top with equal amounts of beef mixture (approximately 2 tablespoons). Finally top with equal amounts of Cheddar cheese.
- Return to oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until cheese is melted and browned. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before popping individual pies out with a knife. Enjoy!