Shepherdess Pie

 A Shepherd's pie dates back to the 1800's by name at least (although a similar dish, the Cottage Pie, dates back to the 1700's).  It seems the two terms are somewhat interchangeable, though as far as I can tell a Shepherd's Pie usually indicates the use of minced lamb rather than beef.
The dish is humble and while filling it is not necessarily attractive.  There are traditionally layers of minced lamb or beef, and onions, all cooked in a gravy and sometimes layered with other vegetables, but always topped by mashed potatoes.  Occasionally it seems this pie would have a bottom crust of mashed potatoes as well.
I am not inventing the term Shepherdess Pie, even though I love it: it indicates a vegetarian version of this dish!
This is a great meal for putting together a few hours before dinner, and that's just what I did.  I had various vegetables suitable for this rather hodgepodge dish: mushrooms, leeks, cabbage, carrots and some green lentils I'd cooked previously.

 I peeled my potatoes and got them on to boil, then began the chop and saute.  It felt like a tarragon kind of day, I wanted a subtle herb to complement the leeks.

 The food processor makes quick work of finely chopping cabbage and carrots.

I simply sautéed all of the vegetables in the dutch oven I was planning to cook the whole lot in, so it couldn't have been easier.  When a dish like this is going into the oven for a final baking I don't like to overcook the vegetables on the stovetop, I like to leave them a little crisp.

 I whip my potatoes in the KitchenAid mixer with the big whisk attachment, adding some of their own cooking water and a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper.  Cashew cream is a nice addition if you have it lying around.

Top the vegetables with the mashed potatoes and smooth them over fetchingly.  Sprinkle a little olive oil on top and then bake in a 325 oven for about 25 minutes or so.  Perfect comfort food, the Shepherdess Pie!

I have various chores and admin tasks to get through today and I'm hoping it won't be too icy for my walk with Scout.  I went out last evening with the fur pony for a walk around the neighbourhood and it was so icy, it was like a balance workout!
Tonight it's my Serious Book Club, and we're discussing a book that I chose: In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson.  That link will lead you to a NYT review, and I have to recommend this book even if you're not a fan of non-fiction, it's absolutely riveting.
Have a wonderful day today,
xoxDani