[Basics]Shepherd's Pie: Now with Meat

The title may startle you.
Okay, it won't.
Your average Shepherd's Pie has some sort of meat in it. Mine is usually ground beef. I also like to mix in some pork for extra yum. I've even made it with Italian sausage. I bet it would fantastic with some lamb!
I'm always encouraging you to experiment, my dear reader. Experimentation leads to learning and growth! This applies to pretty much every facet of life.
Everyone ends up doing Shepherd's pie differently. I always do it differently. This recipe is but one incarnation. Make the recipe yours!

Shepherd's Pie

Tools
a 9X 13 casserole or larger (or smaller and use less stuff!)
a spatula for the frying pan
a frying pan for the spatula
a stove and oven
knife for chopping up vegetables
a can opener for those pesky cans of food

Ingredients
mashed potatoes (this has been done all over the internet. Here's a good recipe! For a super cheat, used narsty old boxed mash)
olive oil or vegetable oil (canola, sunflower, etc work too)
a diced up small-medium onion
a small can of corn (I like "peaches and cream". If you're feeling productive, feel free to use fresh corn!)
a small can of condensed cream of mushroom soup (this is a cheat! Use a rue-based cream gravy if you have the time and the knowhow! Rues will be covered one day in this here blog! Feel free to use cream of broccoli or cream of whatever, too!)
a pound of ground meat (beef, pork, lamb, chicken, turkey)
a cup of shredded cheddar cheese
garlic (fresh or powdered), about two cloves (finely chopped/smashed/equally obliterated) or a tablespoon of powdered
salt & pepper to taste
Optional: cayenne for some spiced kick
chili powder for fun (no profit, sorry)
other veg like chopped carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, etc.


Preparation

1. Toss a little oil in the pan and brown your onions. Sprinkle with a wee smidge of salt to help them brown. Go slow and this will add a lot of yummy flavour.
2. Add your garlic and toss it around with your onions until you can smell it.
3. Add your ground meat and brown it. Sprinkle on a wee bit of pepper and other spices if you're using any.
4. Dump the condensed can of mushroom soup over the meat and mix well, until heated.
5. Make sure your mashed potatoes are warm enough to smear around on top of everything!
6. Take your casserole dish or baking pan and line the bottom with the meat mix.
7. Layer on any veg you wish to use. This is where the corn goes on for me! My roomie likes to use mixed frozen veg. Also yum. (Mostly yum because I didn't have to cook it!)
8. Slather on delicious mashed potatoes! Make a nice heavy cap to top off all the other layers.
9. Sprinkle on cheese. Use more if you love the baked on cheese goodness.
10. Bake in a 400 degree F oven until it's all bubbly and brown and good (good = not burnt). This is about 30 minutes.
11. EAT!

Grilling Without a Grill: I can do this?!

You live in an apartment with no balcony. You've got no yard space. You don't own a countertop grill (like the one's Mr. Foreman makes or better!). Your recipe says, "GRILL ME!"
Whattaya gonna do?!
Okay, aside from just trying another recipe you do have an option many do not consider. Your oven. Unless you live in a hut with a hotplate, you probably have an oven.The trick is using your broiler like an upside down BBQ flame.
I recommend pre-cooking thick meats like whole chicken breasts and pork chops before using the broiler to add some grilled char-taste. Buy a meat thermometer and learn how to use it!

Stuff you need!

• oven mitts
• patience
  
• an oven safe pan (to catch juices)
• a rack to go into the pan (I use an oven-safe cooling rack*)
  
• an oven with a broiler
• Adult supervision if you're a minor or if you just enjoy having people watch you cook, rrowrr!

Optional

• tongs
• aluminum foil to line your catch pan/tray

Steps!

1. Raise the oven rack inside the oven as close to the broiler as you can. Allow for the space you need to put the food in the oven. Several inches of clearance between food and broiler is preferred.
   
2. If you have children or nosy pets, LOCK THEM OUT OF THE KITCHEN!
3. Turn on your broiler and leave the oven door open a notch.
   
4. Take the meat/veg/etc you wish to grill and place it on the rack.
5. Place the rack on your lined catch pan.
6. Place the rack with catchpan in the oven and monitor just like you would the BBQ in the yard. Keep a close eye on it and turn your food when it starts to get that nice char.
7. Turn off the oven
8. Remove food from oven
9. ENJOY!

This whole process is handy for indoor kebobs and other good BBQ stuffs.
Obviously, this process will not get you the exact same results as a BBQ or a "real" grill, but it's close and a yummy approximation!

If you have any topic requests, please send them to me! Feedback is always welcome, too!

*I don't endorse the company at the other end of the link. It is for reference only. :)