Shepherd's Pie

Total Time: 1 1⁄2 hours
Yield: 6 Servings
Source: www.cookingclassy.com
Category: Beef

Ingredients
2 1⁄2 pounds Russet Potatoes (peeled, cubed)
6 tablespoons Butter
1⁄3 cup Heavy Cream
1⁄3 cup Sour Cream
1 whole Onion (or 1 1/4 cups, chopped)
2 whole Carrots (or 1 cup, diced)
1 whole Celery Rib (or 1/2 cup, diced)
3 cloves Garlic (minced)
1 1⁄2 pound Ground Beef
3 tablespoons Tomato Paste
2 tablespoons Flour
2 teaspoons Rosemary (minced)
2 teaspoons Thyme (minced)
1⁄2 cup Red Wine
1 1⁄2 cup Beef Broth
2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
2 tablespoons Parsley (chopped)
1 cup Peas (frozen)
1 tablespoon Salt (plus 2 teaspoons)
  dash Ground Black Pepper

Directions
  1. Place potatoes in a medium pot cover with water by 1-inch and season water with 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Let gently boil until potatoes are fully tender when pierced with a fork, about 10 - 15 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse under hot water for about 5 seconds to remove excess starches. Put potatoes back into the same pot.
  2. Melt 5 tablespoons butter in the microwave and add to potatoes along with cream and sour cream. Mash potatoes with a masher while seasoning with 2 teaspoons salt and dash ground black pepper. Cover and set aside.
  3. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a 12-inch cast iron skillet. Add onion, carrots, celery and saute for about 6 minutes. Add garlic and saute 1 minute longer. Add ground beef and break until no longer pink, about 6 minutes.
  4. Add flour and tomato paste and saute 1 minute. Pour in red wine, beef broth, Worcestershire, thyme and rosemary. Bring to a simmer stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low and let simmer until reduced by about 2/3, about 8 - 10 minutes.
  5. Stir in peas and parsley and heat through, about 1 minute. Season filling with salt and pepper to taste. Spread beef filling into an even layer. Dollop spoonfuls of mashed potatoes evenly over top then spread into an even layer. Run a fork along top to create a pattern of wavy rows.
  6. Move oven rack about 5-inches below broiler and preheat broiler to high. Transfer to oven and let broil until golden brown on top about 4 - 6 minutes (keep a close on it as every oven varies). Let rest a few minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.