best cottage or shepherd's pie recipe?

[Toowittoowoo]

I am currently eating down the freezer in advance of stocking it up with meals before DC2 arrives. This was really useful after DD arrived and, although I would never cook it that often normally as I find it a bit of a faff, the cottage pies were really handy. I put veg in with the meat sauce and with the mash potato on top as well it felt like a really nutrious and filling meal without the need to cook anything else.

However, as I don't cook it very often I've never been entirely convinced by my recipe. It is a bit bland and sometimes a bit runny. Does anyone have a tried and tested cottage or shepherd's pie (which includes veg) that I could try?

Oh yeah and it can't be too expensive either... I googled shepherd pie recipes and came up with loads that used chucks of lamb. That is probably a bit fancy for what I'm looking for especially as my 3 yr old likes mince so I think it is safest just to stick to lamb mince or beef mince!

500g or 250g mince fried with onions or without depending how lazy I am

If you use fresh carrots i'd chop them up and boil them or fry them with the mince first for a few minutes to take the edge off them. An easier option is add a handful from a mixed bag of veg (peas and carrots). It can just go in straight from the freezer.

I'd add enough cold water to the consitency you like. DP likes loads of gravy so i'd add more for him. Roughly half a pint though.

Bring the pan of mince carrots, peas and water to the boil.

Add a couple of stock cubes, tomato puree or ketchup, dash of lee and perrins, pinch of whatever dried herbs you have and salt/pepper.

Simmer for 2/3 mins and add to a dish. Spoon on some pre-prepared mash potato (milk or buttery mash is good because it spreads more easily) and put in the oven to brown from 20-30mins on 180.

That's my very slapdash, see how it goes type reciepe

For DS who is vegetarian I replace the mince with a can of green lentils or quorn.

Don't know if you could get it from googling but I make mine according to Delia Smith's recioe from one of her 'how to cook...' books.

It is delicious and she puts grated cheese on top of the mash which improves it immensely (she also puts chopped leeks on top but I don't as not keen).

Jamie Oliver is the best recipe.

I followed the Delia one for years, then tried Jamie's and it is delicious and simple.

I was going to say Delia ! I see it is popular - but will now look at Jamie Oliver.

The flavour of mine improved immensely when I added a splash of red wine. I also use a bay leaf and Worcestershire sauce.
Get the mash the right consistency by using a potato ricer.

I brown mince and simmer with chopped pepper, celery, onion, mushroom and pomodorinos, few tbsps plain yoghurt, beef stock (pint) and guinness (about 3rd can) pepper, allspice and salt, tsp of flour. Let simmer in a very low heat for one hour.

Reduce down until liquid is very thick, then top with mash and put in medium oven until nicely browned.

It appears I do it differently to everyone else, so maybe mine is not cottage pie it's good though...

Delia here too, but never put on the cheese and leeks. I hate cheese and mash together, but the meat sauce is delicious.

Use your normal recipe but add bisto gravy powder from the box like this not a jar and this will solve all problems and taste like your granny used to make.