Shepherd's Pie

You guys, this might be one of our favorite dinners.  Especially Luke because it is one of about 5 suppers he'll consistently eat very well (the others being pizza, tacos, refried beans, and probably one more).  You might be looking at the pictures and thinking it just looks like mashed potatoes with beef in it.  Which it is.  AND WHAT IS WRONG WITH THAT?!?!?  I love mashed potatoes.  While I was making these I, after 10 seconds of thinking, decided my three favorite foods are good fresh blueberries, mashed potatoes, and dark chocolate.  All of which I'd had in the last few days which might be why they are on my mind but also, they are all delicious.

So, yes, we basically add ground beef to mashed potatoes and call it a meal.  The two days before we started on this (it'll take us a few meals to get through) we had grilled chicken salad so we can (and do) eat healthier sometimes.  The day I made this Shepherd's Pie it was doing some weird rain/snow/sleet/freezing rain thing most of the day which makes it a perfect day for comfort food.  Meat and potatoes at it's best.  I start looking forward to this supper about as soon as lunch is over.  Even if it is just mashed potatoes and beef.

Shepherd's Pie
yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
1 ½ - 2 lbs ground beef, the leaner the better (we do 1 ½ lbs of 98%)
~1 cup frozen corn, at room temperature for about an hour before starting (which I thought we had but then didn't find until the next morning.  Oops.  But imagine it's there.)
10 medium sized potatoes
1 cup half & half or whole milk
1 stick of butter
salt, pepper, paprika

Directions
1) Peel, cut, and put potatoes in a pan.  Add water to about 1 inch above potatoes, bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes, until potatoes can be easily broken with a fork.  Drain, return to pan and add half & half/milk and butter.  Mash.
2) Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°.  Brown the ground beef.  If you need more spice in your meat add some onions (I never do this because I don't like onions.).
3) Once the potatoes are mashed and the beef is browned, start assembling with a layer of beef on the bottom of a 9x13 or casserole dish.  A layer of corn, then mashed potatoes.  Beef, corn, and finishing with mashed potatoes.  Sprinkle with paprika, salt, and pepper as desired.  Bake for 30 minutes.  ENJOY.

Source: modified from  4 Generations 1 Roof