shepherd's pie (with tots!)

There are few dishes simpler than Shepherd's Pie. As with all simple recipes there are countless variations, feel free to share your own in the comments below (bonus points for pictures!)

There's some interesting learning on the topic if you want to enlarge your brain before eating.
"In early cookery books, the dish was a means of using leftover roasted meat of any kind, and the pie dish was lined with mashed potato as well as having a mashed potato crust on top"(Wiki)

Feel free to substitute any or all of the ingredients listed to make your own variety.

Enough talk, let's mash!

Step 1 Ingredients

Here's what I used, but you can substitute as needed. I wanted a recipe that was dead simple and used some very common ingredients. If you want to make this dish your own I've suggested some alternatives in brackets beside what I used:

• Tater-Gems (any type of homestyle fry/chip/crispy potato)
• Ground beef (lamb/ground round)
• Corn & onion (peas/carrots/celery)
• 2 large potatoes (yams/turnips)

Comments

[carol1437]

it looks so delicious.kind for your sharing!

[mikeasaurus]

it was a delicious meal! I'm no scientist, but I'm sure there's a reason that tater tots makes everything so much better.

[carol1437]

I like all food made by tater~~

[15zhangfra]

actually since the microwaves in the microwave are even farther apart hen the waves you see as color- i don't think it's all that dangerous, unless you stick your face right into it. and then again you'd probably get cancer from the food in it then the actual waves need to try this sometime, and keep boiling potatoes, microwaved ones are all soggy and disgusting...

[CyberBill]

microwave radiation != radioactive

Visible light is the same kind of radiation that your microwave uses to cook foods, just at a different frequency. Putting things in a microwave does not cause them to be 'radioactive' - it just heats it up.

The only way to be damaged by a microwave is to remove the metal case and expose yourself directly to the magnetron (which creates the microwaves). With enough exposure, it could potentially burn your skin, hair, eyes, etc - but certainly not give you cancer like ionizing radiation from radioactive materials do.

You are right though... don't put your potatoes in a microwave - they taste bad. :)

Good instructable!!! I plan on making this soon, though I will probably put my own spin on it and add more veggies and make the meat mixture have a little sauce with it. YUM YUM! Love the tots!

[DELETED_cokefloat]

(removed by author or community request)

[holyfire]

omg, i just finished reading it, and that was the first thing to come to my mind lol

[bustedit]

get your own tots! or make yourself a quesadilla or something

[cerene]

Yummy idea :D How about smooshed tots on top too?

[Father Christmas]

Looks good. But i still prefer my family's approach of topping it with cornmeal and mozzarella cheese.

[Tool Using Animal]

I had to feature this, it looks soo good, and makes me miss me mum ~sniffle~.

[lilshawn]

i make it almost exactly like this - minus tots - and plus a can of condensed tomato soup "Campbells" to the hamburger mix next time I'M ADDIN' TOTS! P.S. - i have leftover shepherds pie in the fridge right now I'm gonna eat! canttalknowgotta go bye!