[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!