Shelly's Recipe

DRUNKEN SHEPHERDS PIE

Category: Casseroles - Beef

1 to 1 1/2 lbs extra lean ground beef
1 can corn niblets
1 small can mixed peas and carrots
1 pkg brown gravy mix
Newcastle beer (1/4-1/3 bottle)
Mild cheddar cheese, shredded
1 small yellow or Vidalia onion, diced
6-7 cups mashed potatoes, seasoned and buttered to taste

Melt 2 tbsp butter and 1/4 tsp salt in a large skillet on medium heat. Dice onion into small squares. Add onions to butter and mix well to coat. Cook on medium low until very soft/transparent.

Add ground beef to onions, until very lightly browned and crumbled, add Newcastle Beer, continue to cook on medium-high and stir to keep meat small and crumbly, until done. Drain excess fat and beer from meat in colander, transfer to a separate bowl and cover.

Drain corn and peas/carrots in colander until all excess moisture is gone. Transfer to a separate bowl.

prepare gravy mix (1 cup cold water, whisk in gravy powder slowly, bring to a boil, then remove from heat, continue to stir to prevent clumping, as soon as gravy looks smooth, add about 4 tbsp cold water, stir and mix into beef/onion mixture, cover and set aside. (mushroom gravy works very well also)

Prepare mashed potatoes to taste

In a medium casserole dish, add 1/4 pat of butter near each corner. Put either a layer of pie crust in, or a thin layer of mashed potatoes (or both) spread meat/onion mixture into casserole dish, add layer of mixed corn, peas, and carrots. add thin layer of cheese if desired, then top with a layer of mashed potatoes thick enough to reach 1/2 inch below the edge of the casserole dish.

Add a layer of shredded mild cheddar cheese (and another layer of pie crust if desired) and a few small pats of butter placed randomly on top of cheese and potatoes.

Bake at 350 for 1 hour, or 425 for 35 minutes. (If worried about burning cheese due to lack of pie crust topping, add cheese 1/2 way through cooking time.)

NOTE: These are really good inside their own small pie shells, to serve individually - simply reduce cooking time until bubbly.