Skip to main content

Cottage Pie?

I've recently learned that Shepherd's Pie is made with lamb - well duh - now that makes sense. I guess I never really gave it much thought. Cottage pie is made with beef. I made this with ground chicken and threw a total curve ball and used sweet potatoes.  So I'm not entirely sure what this actually should be called? I think I'm still going to call it Cottage Pie.

So I was getting all ready for Thanksgiving and I got carried away making the candied sweet potatoes. I had 3 extras sweet potatoes - what was I going to do with them? They were extra large too. So I thought they would make a nice topping for some ground chicken.

Cottage Pie

2 large sweet potatoes, baked or steamed
1/2 milk, may need additional
2T butter

1 large onion, chopped
2 large carrots, cubed
olive oil
1 t thyme
1/2 t sage
1 lb ground chicken
1 c chicken stock
1t Worcestershire sauce
2T flour - preferably Wondra
salt/pepper
1t smokey paprika

You can either bake or steam the sweet potatoes (or boil them for that matter). Add milk and butter and mash until a smooth consistency. Add some salt/pepper. Set aside.

In a large skillet (I was lazy and used a cast iron so I could pop it right into the oven. Sometimes I can be so all about not using a million dishes/utensils) add onions, carrots and about 1 T olive oil. Add thyme, sage and salt/pepper. Saute until the onions start to caramelize and carrots start to get a little tender - about 15 minutes. Add ground chicken. Saute until the chicken starts to look done. Remove sage leaves and thyme sprigs. Stir in flour and cook for a few seconds. Gradually add chicken stock and Worcestershire sauce. Saute until the stock starts to thicken.

If you didn't use an oven-proof skillet now is the time to put the chicken into a buttered casserole dish. Spread mashed sweet potatoes over the chicken. Sprinkle with smokey paprika. Bake in 350 oven for about 15-20 minutes or until heated through. If you want you can throw it under the broiler for a few minutes to get the sweet potatoes a little browned.

Since I had such large sweet potatoes (and 3 of them), I had a lot covering the chicken - it might have been overkill but it was still pretty tasty. This would make a nice dish with left over turkey - don't even ask me what that's called!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

I appreciate your comments!

Popular posts from this blog

Waffled Hash Browns

I'm not that much of a fan of one-trick ponies taking up real estate in my kitchen. I know that a waffle iron can be classified as that, but now I can rationalize that it's not. Who knew you could make hash browns in it? Waffled Hash Browns (Adapted from Cooking Light ) 1 1/2 lb russet potato (shredded) salt/pepper to taste 1/4 t garlic powder 1 1/2T butter, melted Preheat waffle iron. Squeeze liquid out of potatoes by blotting between two paper towels. Toss potatoes, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Brush both sides of the waffle iron with butter. Spread potatoes evenly on waffle iron. Close and cook 2 minutes. Press iron closed completely and cook about 12 minutes or until golden brown. I did not feel that they browned as nicely as in the picture on the original recipe, but then again I don't have a food stylist do I? The drawback of this recipe is that you have to share this. Since they take about 15 minutes, it's a little difficult to make a second one...
Post a Comment
Read more

Citrus Shortcake

In my mind, this cake is sort of a blank slate. The cornmeal gives it a little crunch but it is quite versatile. I drizzled a citrus icing on it this time around. I think there are many other things that you could do. You could macerate some berries in sugar and top the cake with them. I think some heated jam (orange, strawberry, or raspberry) drizzled over would be nice. I scoop of ice cream never hurt anyone. A dollop of whip cream never did either. I think you get the idea. Citrus Shortcake (Adapted from Cooking Light circa 2010) 3/4 c sugar 1/4 cup butter 2 eggs 1 T orange rind, grated 2T fresh OJ 1/2 t vanilla 1 c flour 2T cornmeal 3/4 t baking powder 1/2 t baking soda 1/4 t salt 2/3 c buttermilk Grease a 9" square pan set aside. Cream butter and sugar for 5 minutes in a mixer.  Meanwhile, combine dry ingredients (flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl). Set aside. Add eggs one a time to butter mixture; beating well after ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mensa Member?

I think Mickey is a member of Mensa. We heard him last night but could not determine where he was in the kitchen (or should I say the Sous Chef could not locate him - I certainly was not looking). He had been lurking in the toaster cabinet the night before and averted the glue trap. This is absolute torture. Still no cooking going on.
Post a Comment
Read more