3-11-13)
HAPPY ST.PATRICK’S DAY!
Last year for this Irish holiday, I posted the classic St.Patrick’s meal of Corned Beef & Cabbage , made easy peasy in your crock pot! So I am offering you another traditional Irish meal this week, Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie! This recipe uses beef, and I have to say that I really like how it turned out. I have made it before in the oven, and the potatoes tend to get overdone and too dry, in my opinion. But, the potatoes stayed nice and moist when made in the slow cooker. Yum, yum YUM! This meal is great year round, and will make all of your leprechauns, young and old, very happy!
SLOW COOKER SHEPHERD’S PIE
- 2 lbs potatoes (yukon gold work well)
- 1/3 cup milk
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste (or ketchup)
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
- salt & pepper
- seasoned salt
Prick potatoes all over with a fork. Microwave potatoes on high, turning once, until tender, about 15 minutes (I have one of those cool baked potato microwave bags) . Remove from microwave, let cool slightly, then peel and mash with milk and butter. Season with salt and pepper. You could also peel and then boil and mash, or even use instant mashed potatoes if you like.
In a skillet on medium heat, pour in the olive oil. Add onion and cook for a few minutes, until the onions start to get translucent. Add garlic and cook for another minute, then add in the ground beef. When the meat is almost browned, add the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and thyme. in a small bowl, whisk together the corn starch with the 1 cup of water, and add to the ground beef mixture when it is all browned up. Once it thickens up some, transfer the mixture into the slow cooker. Layer veggies on top of the meat, and then top with potatoes. Sprinkle some seasoning salt on the potatoes. Cook on low for 3 hours.
