Italian Shepards Pie Crockpot Base Recipes

Steps:

• Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 10-15 minutes or until tender. Drain, then shake potatoes over low heat for 1 minute to dry. Mash potatoes, gradually adding butter and enough milk to reach desired consistency. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper., Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. , Add tomato paste; cook for 2 minutes. Add the mushrooms, carrots, broth, wine, Worcestershire sauce and thyme. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until most of the liquid is evaporated. Stir in peas. Season with remaining salt and pepper., Transfer beef mixture to a greased 4-qt. slow cooker. Spread mashed potatoes over top. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or until bubbly. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Just before serving, sprinkle with parsley.

Steps:

• Heat the slow cooker if necessary. Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Tip the onions and thyme sprigs and fry for 2-3 mins. Then add the carrots and fry together, stirring occasionally until the vegetables start to brown. Stir in the mince and fry for 1-2 mins until no longer pink. Stir in the flour then cook for another 1-2 mins. Stir in the tomato purée and lentils and season with pepper and the Worcestershire sauce, adding a splash of water if you think the mixture is too dry. Scrape everything into the slow cooker.
• Meanwhile cook both lots of potatoes in simmering water for 12-13 minutes or until they are cooked through. Drain well and then mash with the crème fraîche. Spoon this on top of the mince mixture and cook on Low for 5 hours - the mixture should be bubbling at the sides when it is ready. Crisp up the potato topping under the grill if you like.

Steps:

• Line unpricked pastry shell with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake at 450° for 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and remove foil; set aside. Reduce heat to 350°. , In a large skillet, cook sausage until no longer pink; drain well on paper towels. Place cottage cheese and egg in a blender; cover and process until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl; stir in potatoes, sour cream, oregano, salt and pepper., Place sausage in pastry shell; top with potato mixture. Drizzle with butter. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°. Sprinkle with cheese; let stand until melted. Garnish with tomatoes tossed with minced parsley if desired.

Steps:

• Brown the meat with the onion, garlic, celery and carrots until ground beef is no longer pink; drain any fat.
• Mix corn, sweet peas, salt, black pepper, tomato paste and water (fill up the 6 oz tomato paste can for measurement) into the meat mixture; stir well.
• Spray the inside of the crockpot with non-stick cooking spray; pour meat mixture into the bottom of crockpot; press into the bottom of the crockpot so it is dense and even.
• Spread leftover mashed potatoes (evenly) over the meat mixture.
• Sprinkle the mashed potatoes with paprika (optional, for garnish).
• Cook on low 6 hours (high 3 hours); then, remove the lid for 30 minutes to allow the potatoes to brown.
• Sprinkle pie with fresh, chopped parsley (optional, for garnish).
• VARIATION 1: CHEESY SHEPHERD'S PIE--Add 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese to the pie by pressing the cheese over the meat mixture, and then layering the mashed potatoes on top of the cheese; Cook same length, same way.
• VARIATION 2: RUNZA/CABBAGE SHEPHERD'S PIE--Substitute shredded cabbage (2 cups) for the peas and corn; cook same length, same way.

Steps:

• Brown ground beef in large frying pan, drain grease.
• Add 1 Tbsp oil to pan, return beef to pan, add onion, garlic, Italian seasoning and dried red pepper flakes.
• Fry until onion is softened.
• Stir in drained tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp each salt and sugar and 1/2 tsp pepper.
• Break up tomatoes with a fork.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring often for about 15 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated.
• Meanwhile cook potatoes in boiling water until tender, about 15 minutes.
• Drain potatoes.
• Add butter, milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
• Beat potatoes on medium speed of electric mixer until light and fluffy.
• Then beat in egg.
• Fold in 1/4 cup Parmesan.
• Meanwhile seed, core green pepper and cut into 1/4 inch pieces.
• Stir into cooked meat mixture.
• Turn into a 9" square baking dish.
• Spread potato mixture evenly on top of meat mixture.
• Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan.
• Bake right away, or cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 2 days before baking.
• Bake in the center of preheated 350 F oven for 40 to 50 minutes or until potatoes are golden tipped.
• If casserole has been refrigerated it may require an extra 15 minutes baking time.
• Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

Steps:

• Heat oil in a skillet set over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, thyme, rosemary, and half of the salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, for 5 to 7 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C).
• Crumble meat into pan and cook until brown all over. Sprinkle with flour. Stir in ketchup, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce and mustard. Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in mixed vegetables. Transfer to a 9-inch (23-cm) baking dish.
• Whip the potatoes with the warm milk, remaining salt and pepper, butter and garlic until very fluffy. Spread potatoes evenly over meat mixture. Bake for 35 minutes or until potatoes are golden.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 2-quart casserole or 11x7-inch glass baking dish with cooking spray. Heat 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef, onion and carrots to skillet; sprinkle with seasoned salt and pepper. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until beef is brown.
• Stir in mushrooms and pasta sauce. Heat to boiling. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spread in casserole.
• Make potatoes as directed on pouch using water, milk and butter. Spoon into 8 mounds around edge of hot beef mixture. Sprinkle cheese over all.
• Bake uncovered 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and potatoes are light golden brown.

Steps:

• To make the topping: in a pot of boiling water, cook sweet potatoes until tender (20-30 minutes). Drain; mash potatoes, stir in butter and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• To make the pie: in a bowl combine bulgur and boiling water; set aside for 20 minutes or until water is absorbed. Set aside.
• Over medium heat, heat oil in a skillet for 30 seconds or so.
• Add vegetables (onions - parsnips) and cook, stirring until vegetables are softened (6-10 minutes).
• Stir in garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper, continuing to cook stirring for another minute or so.
• Stir in mushrooms, tossing to coat.
• Stir in flour and cook stirring for another minute or so.
• Stir in broth and tomato paste. Bring mixture to a boil and then transfer to slow cooker.
• Add bulgur and stir in well.
• Spread sweet potato topping over mixture.
• Place a tea towel folded in half over top of stoneware to absorb excess moisture. (I used a paper towel but a tea towel would probably work so much better.).
• Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on High for 3-4 hours or until vegetables are tender.
• Sprinkle with Swiss cheese if using, and cover and cook on high for another 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place the potatoes and water to cover in a large pot over high heat. Boil for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium high heat; drain excess fat.
• To the ground beef, add the tomato sauce, parsley, Worcestershire sauce to taste, salt, ground black pepper and green beans. In a separate small bowl, mix the flour with the 3 tablespoons water and stir into the beef mixture.
• Stir all together well. Drain the potatoes, mash and spread over the beef mixture Place 2 to 3 vent holes through the mashed potatoes.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 minutes. Brush the milk over the potatoes for the last 5 minutes of baking.

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the marinara sauce, salt and pepper; cook and stir for 8-10 minutes or until thickened. Spoon into four 8-oz. ramekins or custard cups; set aside., In a small bowl, combine the flour, cheese, baking powder, salt and Italian seasoning. Stir in milk and butter just until moistened. Spoon dough over meat mixture; place ramekins on a baking sheet., Bake at 450° for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked pies. To use, remove from freezer 30 minutes before baking (do not thaw). Preheat oven to 400°. Place pies on a baking sheet; cover edges loosely with foil. Bake as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.