How do you make super super nice shepard's pie....

[juicychops]

as opposed to just nice shepards pie?

made it this evening and was really excited about it, but it was nothing to write home about.

I used onions, mushrooms, carrots, peas, lamb mince, beef stock, tin of baked beans,little amount of mixed herbs and potatoes on top

what can i do differently to improve?

Worcestershire sauce.

Red wine.

Lamb mince Beef stock.

TBH I would have used veg stock.

yeah, i know i wasn't sure what to use!

I used to make it with beef mince (cottage pie really) veg buillion, shallots, red pepper, 2 tins of chopped tomatoes and peas.

I then put the whole lot in the blender to make the meat mixture more palatable to my toddler (but we now always eat it like this!)

Then I use either plain potato to top or half potato/half parsnip or half potato/sweet potato mash.

You can also put grated cheese on top for a crusty cheesy topping.

Please try and keep up juicychops! We had this discussion about shepherd's pie only a few days ago.

I always think it tastes better if you thicken the mince mixture with flour a little. I add garlic, and worcestershire sauce as bree suggests. Perhaps a little tomato puree. I use Marigold Swiss Bouillon powder to make stock for EVERYTHING now. It's fab. Cheesy topping as becaroo suggests is lovely. I sometimes mix cheese with breadcrumbs for the topping for extra crunch. Also used to grate carrot/courgettes into the cheese mixture when DCs were going through a no veg stage. Have tried sliced/cubed pots to make a change from mashed. Mine are a bit older now, so am running out of ideas to vary this. Would welcome any other ideas....

thanks wheresthehamster lots more ideas now!

Mixed mash swede in with the mash potatoe, and melt red leicester cheese on top, yum yum.

Add Marmite/Bovril to the meat when it's browning - extra yummy!

Left over baked beans are always nice added too.