Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie

This fills a very large cast iron skillet.  You might want to make in two smaller fry pans or in a large electric skillet.

2 lbs. Hamburger
2 Cans Tomato Soup
2 Tbsp. Died Onion
4 Cans Green Beans
3 Lbs. Russet Potatoes
1 Pkg. Cream Cheese
1/2 C. Butter
1/2 C. Sour Cream
2 C. Cheddar Cheese

HOMEMADE MASHED POTATOES  

 Peel the potatoes and cut into quarters.  Place in a pot of hot water.  Get the water to boil.  Once the water is boiling, turn down the heat.  Make sure as you turn the heat down the water continues to boil.  This is technique is called -  simmering.

(Did you know water will boil faster if you place the lid on the pan?)

I keep the lid on my potatoes as they boil, but have it slightly off to let off the steam.  Otherwise, if the lid is all the way on, it boils over.  Cook for 30 minutes.  You want the potatoes fork tender which means, when you push a fork in them it goes in and out easily.  

While potatoes are cooking prepare your mixer for the ingredients to make your mashed potatoes.
 
Put the cream cheese into your mixer and add the butter.  Cream until well mixed.  










Heat oven to 350 degrees.  While the potatoes are cooking, brown the hamburger in a skillet (You can add an onion if you like. Drain off the grease and add the tomato soup. In this particular recipe, I like onion flakes.  Add them to the soup and mix together.  

Then add the drained green beans.  Mix all together.  You are now ready to put on the mashed potatoes.

Once the potatoes are done, drain them of the water and pour only the potatoes into the mixer.  Turn the mixer on and whip.  If they are too dry, add the sour cream.  If they are still not as soft as you like, add more milk.

Spread the mashed potatoes on the meat and then sprinkle with the cheese.

Place skillet in the oven for 30 minutes to melt the cheese and get everything nice and bubbling hot.  Serve!

From the pictures you can see this is a large skillet.  I doubled the meat portion of this recipe.  I like more meat than potatoes.