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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to say that cottage pie is NOT a “weekday meal”

648 replies

RiddleMeThis2018 · 21/05/2019 11:19

Cottage pie is delicious. I know how to make it, but sometimes I like to look at a recipe online, to make sure I don’t put too much tomato in by mistake (disappointing, not to be recommended). Almost ALL the recipes say “delicious week-night supper” or similar. This is NOT a weeknight supper!! I couldn’t do it yesterday because the DCs and I got back from swimming too late. I’m not even working today and I had to psych myself up to it. The mince takes 50 mins to simmer, and that’s after all the chopping. Then there’s 20 mins in the oven assuming you time the potatoes right. And then the washing up!

I don’t blame cottage pie. I blame the website writers who want to make me think I should just whip this up on a Thursday when I get in from work. AIBU?

OP posts:
CaptainNelson · 22/05/2019 22:28

AutumnCrow GrinGrin
I am totally on your side, OP. Mainly because my kids (DS17, 15) and OH (44 and growing) eat as much as 6 people, then there's me and other DS trying to get a look in. The quantities are ridiculous (I'm talking at least 1 1/2 kg potatoes for mash etc etc).
Any anyway, shepherds pie is smooshy at the best of times (ie overrated) and some of the recipes here (baked beans, ketchup, undercooked mince EnvyEnvy) have made me never want to eat it again.
Traybakes. They're good weeknight meals - shove it all on a big oven tray, in the oven for 30-50 mins depending on what it is while you do the ridiculous quantities of carbs that teenage boys consider a reasonable portion [sigh]

moon2 · 22/05/2019 22:31

Doesn’t help that the meat is injected with water. Meat in Southern Europe is not and hence doesn’t release so much liquid and cooks much faster.

MrsTommyBanks · 22/05/2019 22:37

I do my mince in the oven.
For at least 2 hours, pref 3.

Boobahs · 22/05/2019 22:45

@RiddleMeThis2018 @Freshbreadandbutter It does look amazing though Shock

Freshbreadandbutter · 22/05/2019 22:50

Boobahs I'm totally up for it, looks delicious!

Ellieboolou27 · 22/05/2019 22:55

@RiddleMeThis2018 this thread has made me giggle, 10 minutes to boil mash and with skins in too 🤢
Definitely a weekend or non working day meal, I'm out the house by 7.30am, back with kids at 5.30-6 and there is no way I'd have anything resembling a cottage pie served in 30 mins.

HorseradishSnowflake · 22/05/2019 23:09

I have eleventy billion children and run a global corporation. I get up at 3 am to mince my own organic beef and then cycle to my allotment to dig up my potatoes. Then when I get home from running the world I throw together the cottage pie in 30 seconds. Do I win?
YANBU by the way OP Wink

KinderSurpriseBump · 22/05/2019 23:12

🤣

BertrandRussell · 22/05/2019 23:19

“I have eleventy billion children and run a global corporation”

Well, i’ve got umpty thrumputy childrren and I’m Empress of the planet Zog. And my children have cooked their own meals since they were 9 months old.

Zbag · 22/05/2019 23:43

Definitely not something I'd do on a week day.

Booyahkasha · 23/05/2019 00:06

Easy, slow cooker it, topped with sweet potato mash mmm

largecoffeeplease · 23/05/2019 00:12

Two words- slow cooker.

sashh · 23/05/2019 06:51

Never in my life did I imagine that in 2019 there would be so many 'emaciipated' women arguing over what a shepherds pie is and how to make one.

We are actually discussing cottage pie, if you want to discuss the lamb version please start another thread.

NanooCov · 23/05/2019 06:53

It's not a weekday supper for us but that's because we get home at 6pm. Chop the veg in the food processor though. Saves time.

isthismylifenow · 23/05/2019 07:09

Well, i’ve got umpty thrumputy childrren and I’m Empress of the planet Zog. And my children have cooked their own meals since they were 9 months old

Grin Grin

Not once on this thread did anyone say that they topped their potato with cheese before grilling it. Or if they put a raw egg into the mashed potato so that it grills better. I do think this is breaking the law of cottage pie though.

try it sometime

sashh · 23/05/2019 07:21

Not once on this thread did anyone say that they topped their potato with cheese before grilling it.

No you dot it with butter to get the dark brown crispy bits.

WombatChocolate · 23/05/2019 07:21

I'm interested in all the exciting weekend meals people are having, which means cottage pie is just too boring for Saturday and Sunday. New often have a frozen pizza and only occasionally something with pizazz. Apart from the frozen pizza, we do eat well though, but I guess the fact I don't enjoy cooking means I do t like to spend ages in the kitchen on any day and actually like to eat out at a restaurant/pub or at friends' houses at least once most weekends. So the work of a cottage pie is something I'd push myself to at a weekend but more likely on a weekday when I'm not at work and definitely batch cook to avoid more time I don't enjoy in the kitchen. Mbut each to their own - lots of people love an all-day rustling up a feast Saturday and I'm sure it's yummy.

sashh · 23/05/2019 07:52

Wombat

Subject to my health a weekend dinner (not every weekend) would look something like this.

Pork and chicken liver terrine with an onion confit
Salmon and cream cheese filo parcels
Chicken in red wine with steamed vegetables
Fresh fruit in an aspic mold with cream
Selection of cheeses or a baked camembert

Tessabelle74 · 23/05/2019 08:05

Wtf are you doing to the mince that takes 50 minutes?? I boil the potatoes and carrots whilst dry frying the mince (can't stand the orange grease produced otherwise!) fry the onions, make the gravy put it all in my oven dish top with mashed potatoes then into the oven for ten minutes to brown, 40 minutes on average start to finish! We're actually having it for tea tonight

wafflyversatile · 23/05/2019 09:05

wafflyversatile But ... But ... what about the golden crispy top? I need to sit down ...

I don't like it.

It's not deconstructing anything either. Mince and tattoos is a meal. Cottage pie is just delaying when you get to eat it and making the mash less nice.

wafflyversatile · 23/05/2019 09:05

Tatties not tattoos! That isn't a meal.

manicmij · 23/05/2019 09:31

Take it you and DC go swimming every night! If you can't manage time for cottage pie what on earth do you usually eat. You do know you can buy frozen chopped veg which would save time.

Ontopofthesunset · 23/05/2019 09:54

I think we've established that some people believe that a cottage pie made to the recipe they enjoy takes longer than 40 minutes. Obviously everyone likes different things and different recipes/ways of cooking, so that's ok, but it explains the discrepancy.

Freshbreadandbutter · 23/05/2019 10:29

Well if you just eat mince and tatties then it will only take 10 mins whereas a real pie .....takes a lot longer and absolutely yes to a crispy top!

LaurieMarlow · 23/05/2019 10:40

This thread has been an eye opener for me. Who knew how much variation there is in shepherds pie making?

I’m still convinced my own method is the best obvs Grin but I consider myself very educated.

However I still struggle to understand how you’d get it to the table in less than 40 mins without significant cheats like frozen mash.

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