Cottage Pie!

This is a very simple and easy recipe of Cottage Pie, most of you know it as Shepard's Pie :)
We always used to make this back home in South Africa and I have to say it is one of my favorite meals.

Potatoes

Onion

Ground Beef

Grated Cheese

Frozen mixed vegetables

(peas,corn,carrots)

Bay leaf

Olive Oil

As you can see, the ingredients didn't have certain amounts because with this meal, you basically just need to judge depending on how much you want to make.

Begin boiling some potatoes, I used about 8 potatoes over here to feed a family of four, you can can judge how much you want. While that is going, chop up some onions in very fine dices and throw that into a pan with olive oil and some bay leaf. Let those just sit there until they are a yellow sort of color and look softer, if they start to turn brown and if the oil is close to disappearing :P just either add a little bit of some water or you could even add a bit more oil. Once they start looking yellow, break up the ground beef and throw it in there along with the onions.

Most of you spice your ground beef before putting it into the pan, but I throw it in there and once it starts getting a bit brown then I begin to spice it. We do usually marinade the meat in the spices that morning or even the night before, then just throw it in a Tupperware and in the fridge ready to use for that night!

Spice the ground beef according to your taste buds :P...I put the usual salt and pepper, but then I also put garlic and onion powder and maybe a little bit of some Paprika, barbeque spices and maybe even some steak and chops...depends on how we feel. Once you have let the meat cook a bit, throw in some mixed vegetable if you want, or you can just leave it plain.

While you ground beef is underway, start making the mashed potatoes. To get that creamier texture add some milk and butter while mashing, add salt and pepper. Keep adding until it tastes perfect to you! :P

Once the ground beef and mash have been made, add it all in a pan but layer it...one layer ground beef and the next layer mash, but always make sure the last layer is mash. Grate some cheese and sprinkle that all over the top.

Place the pan into the oven and bake for up to 15 minutes! 

While that is going, do not forget to start CLEANING UP YOUR KITCHEN!! :D 

We all know it's not fun to clean up and we always want to start crying when we see the mess x_x but it has to be done and you will feel good once your kitchen is spotless again. 

Hope you guys enjoy the Cottage/Shepard's Pie :D