Shepherds pie filling recipe

Cooking a shepherds pie filling does not always mean you have to make a shepherds pie recipe.

A shepherds pie filling can be served with mashed potatoes on a plate for the whole family to enjoy. It not only tastes fabulous but takes less time to prepare.

This delicious shepherds pie filling recipe is very simple to cook and very nutritious to eat.

Chef uses a combination of vegetables - leeks, onions, carrots, mushrooms and peas all diced small to fit perfectly into the filling.

Leeks, carrots, garlic and onions give a fantastic flavor to the lamb filling.

Chef adds a lamb stock cube, if you can only find liquid stock then use part water part stock for this recipe.

This shepherds pie filling recipe is a great way to get the whole family eating a good hearty and nutritious meal.

Simply follow the recipe below and get cooking.

Ingredients for shepherds pie

500g Lean minced lamb
2 medium Leeks (washed/diced very small)
1 small Onion (diced very small)
5-6 small Carrots (diced very small)
4 large Garlic cloves (minced)
2 Cups/500ml Water
3-5 White mushrooms (diced very small)
1 Lamb stock cube
1 Tbsp Tomato puree
1 tsp Dried thyme
1 tsp Dried parsley
1/2 - 3/4 Cup Frozen Petite pois peas
1 tsp Paprika
Few drops Browning


How to make a shepherds pie filling

Take a large pan drizzle a dash of oil and lightly sweat/fry the leeks and onions until it starts to soften.

Add the garlic, turn down the heat a little stir well and and cook for a few more minutes.

Add the water, carrots, puree, paprika, thyme, parsley, lamb stock cube (crumbled up) and mushrooms.

Stir well bring to the boil then simmer on low for 20 - 30 minutes or until the vegetables have cooked and softened.

Once cooked add the minced lamb.

Place the minced lamb on top of the vegetables and chop at the mince using a spatula.

Stir well and simmer. Do not be tempted to add more water.

After a few minutes cooking the lamb and stirring, add the green peas.

Simmer with a lid for another 10-2- minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add a few drops of browning for the lovely dark brown color.

Use as a shepherds pie filling or simply serve with fresh creamy mashed potatoes.

Enjoy.

]

Chipotle Lime Chicken

When you see the flowered plates, you know I'm back in Sarasota, the winter haven of B. J. Palmer, and me! What is it about the South that makes us want Mexican food? Whatever it is, this recipe was inspired by an absolute craving that began when I saw the sign for Chipotle, a fast food chain which uses only naturally raised chicken and beef in their tacos and burritos. I had heard about this restaurant before I arrived here, and wanted to investigate. Unfortunately, tacos and burritos are not on the Advanced Plan (as I am), so I was left to develop a taco-less and burrito-less version of what looked amazing when I visited Chipotle.

Chipotle is a wonderful flavor. It is not only hot, but has a smokey element to its taste. I assume it comes in mild, medium, and hot versions. I definitely got the hot variety. When you make the marinade for this chicken, taste your chipotle chili pepper. Depending on the heat of your spice, adjust the amount used in the recipe.

I used an indoor grill pan and the results were wonderful, but this would make a wonderful summer bar-b-que staple as well.

Enjoy.

Ingredients:
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 to 1 tablespoon chipotle chili powder
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons (preferably organic) mustard, any style as long as it has no sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper (optional)
4 organic, antibiotic free, free range, boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

Preparation:

1) Combine all ingredients except chicken.
2) Pour 80% to 85% of the marinade into a heavy duty zip-lock bag. (Reserve the remainder of the marinade for basting the chicken during grilling.)
3) Add chicken; close bag and zip to close. Place in bowl or baking dish and refrigerate for 2-6 hours.
4) When ready to cook, discard the marinade left in the zip-lock bag. Prepare and preheat grill. Cook chicken for 12-17 minutes, turning once and brushing frequently with reserved marinade, until chicken is thoroughly cooked.

Serve with guacamole, salsa, tomatoes, and possibly a dollop of organic sour cream. Depending on the heat intensity of your chipotle chili powder, you will need the guacamole and sour cream to cool your mouth!

Pickled beetroot and beetroot salad

Pickled red beets (beetroots) can be served as a side dish with all kinds of meats, and also in salads, such as herring salad and the salad I have included a recipe for below. This is a slightly different variety from the one I posted earlier.

1 kilo red beets
600 ml white vinegar
150 g sugar
1/2 tbs caraway seeds
a few mustard seeds

Cook the beets with the skins on, in boiling water or bake in the oven, until al dente but not watery. Peel and cut into slices, about 1/2 cm thick. Commercially pickled beets are usually cut into waffled slices, but if you don't have a waffle slicer just cut them with a knife.

Layer into a sterilised jar and sprinkle caraway seeds between the layers.

Heat the sugar in the vinegar until melted, bring to the boil and pour over the beet slices. Sprinkle some mustard seeds on top and close the jars.

Allow to ripen for at least a couple of weeks. Should keep for several months if kept cool.


Beetroot salad:

2 green apples, peeled, cored and diced (1-2 cm)
250 g pickled red beets, diced (1-2 cm)
250 ml whipping cream

Pat the beet slices dry before dicing. Whip the cream to soft peaks and add the apple and beets. Chill.

Best if made a few hours before serving. Great with smoked meats, e.g. hangikjöt.

Here is another variety

HOMEMADE INSTANT BOULLION

In the bad old days, when I used processed foods, one of my favorite things to enjoy on a winter afternoon was a cup of boullion, which I made using a pre-packaged square of heaven-knows-what and hot water. I love this recipe because the cup of steaming soup I can enjoy is at least as good as the "mystery boullion" I used to make, it is actually quicker to prepare than the pre-fab cube, and, most importantly, I know exactly what's in it.

This recipe requires a food processor. I have a 8-cup / 2 liter / 2 quart model, and needed every cubic inch of it. I found the best approach if you are tight for space in your food processor is to add a few of the ingredients, then pulse a few times. The ingredients collapse and free up more space for the next few ingredients.

I would suggest making half of the batch described below for your first attempt. I would also encourage you to add and subtract ingredients according to your taste. For instance, I added a red pepper, and omitted the cilantro.

This may seem like a long list of ingredients to put together, but remember that you will have "instant" boullion for the rest of the winter.

Ingredients:

5 ounces / 150 g leeks, sliced and well-washed

7 ounces / 200g fennel bulb, chopped

7 ounces / 200g carrot, well scrubbed and chopped

3.5 ounces / 100 g celery

3.5 ounces / 100g celery root (celeriac), peeled and chopped

1 ounce / 30g sun-dried tomatoes

3.5 ounces / 100g shallots, peeled

3 medium garlic cloves

9 ounces /250g fine grain sea salt

1.5 ounces / 40 g flat-leaf parsley, loosely chopped

2 ounces / 60g cilantro (coriander), loosely chopped

Preparation:

Place the first four ingredients in your food processor and pulse about twenty times. Add the next four ingredients, and pulse again. Add the salt, pulse some more. Then add the parsley and cilantro.

You should end up with a very moist, loose paste of sorts.

Keep 1/4th of it in a jar in the refrigerator for easy access in the coming days, and freeze the remaining 3/4 for use in the next month. Because of all the salt it barely solidifies making it easy to spoon directly from the freezer into the pot before boiling.

Start by using 1 teaspoon of bouillon per 1 cup (250 ml), and adjust from there based on your personal preference.

Makes roughly 3 1/2 cups.

To give credit where it's due: I found this recipe online, and it is apparently inspired by The River Cottage Preserves Handbook by Pam Corbin. The U.S. edition of the River Cottage Preserves Handbook will be available this summer.

ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS

I know. The idea of Brussels Sprouts used to make me less than enthusiastic, too. To be blunt, I didn't like them at all. I had heard from so many people that the traditional method of preparation, boiling, was my problem. Well, they were right. This recipe is one that we all look forward to when I prepare it for Sunday Dinner. Chillis, parmesan cheese, and lemon juice make these beautiful little cabbages pop!
Enjoy.

Ingredients:
1 pound Brussels sprouts, rinsed, ends trimmed
1 Tbsp minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
1 minced fresh red chilli
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 Tbsp olive oil
Kosher or Sea Salt, Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup freshly grated (raw if possible, or imported Italian) Parmesan cheese
Method:
1) Preheat oven to 350°F. Place Brussels sprouts in a cast iron frying pan (or a roasting pan, but a cast iron frying pan works beautifully for this recipe). Toss in the red chilli and garlic. Sprinkle Brussels sprouts with lemon juice. Toss with oil so that the sprouts are well coated. Sprinkle generously with salt and a few turns of black pepper.
2) Put Brussels sprouts in oven on top rack, cook for 20 minutes, then stir so that the sprouts get coated with the oil in the pan. Cook for another 10 minutes. Then sprinkle with Parmesan and cook for another 5 minutes.
The sprouts should be nicely browned, some of the outside leaves crunchy, the interior should be cooked through.

Cooked, fermented shark – Hákarlsstappa

I have no idea whether people still use this recipe, but I am publishing it here as a historical curiosity.

The shark is fermented as instructed here.

Remove the skin from the shark piece. Cook in boiling water until firm and cooked through. Remove and allow the liquid to drip off over night. Cut into pieces and mash in a cooking pot. Add sour butter (I never said this was good) or stale tallow. Serve hot with potatoes, or cold as a topping for rye bread.

Butter Chicken Recipe Video (Indian Murgh Makhani)

How to make Butter Chicken - Murgh Makhani

Watch Chefs video recipe so you too can cook some delicious aromatic butter chicken.

Click on the video screen to play this butter chicken video recipe or see Chefs text and picture butter chicken recipe here

CRUSTLESS BROCCOLI QUICHES

Elegant, healthy, romantic, and delicious! What more could a valentine ask for?

Enjoy.

Ingredients:
Organic Butter, for ramekins
Kosher or Sea Salt
1 cup Broccoli florets, very lightly steamed and cooled
6 large organic, free range eggs
½ cup organic half-and-half (or ¼ cup each organic milk and cream)
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (freshly grated is best)
¾ cup shredded organic (hopefully raw) cheddar cheese (3 ounces)


Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter 4 8-ounce ramekins (or a 9-inch pie dish); set aside
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, and seasonings. Stir in broccoli and cheese.
Place ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet. Ladle quiche mixture into ramekins, dividing evenly. Bake until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes.
Serve immediately -the beautifully puffed quiches will fall somewhat as they cool.

Valentine's Day Dinner Menus

My friend, Joanne, had the idea to make up a "Maximized Valentine's Day Dinner Menu." I was immediately inspired, and couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it myself. Here are some ideas for a three course menu - all mix and match of course, and all delicious. For each suggested recipe, remember to use quality ingredients - organic if at all possible in the case of the fruits and vegetables, and free range organic, or wild caught in the case of the meats and fish. The recipes can all be found in GOOD FOOD, MAXIMIZED LIVING NUTRITION PLAN, or here within the pages of this Blog. Enjoy.
Appetizer Choices:

Spinach Salad with fennel, pine nuts, sliced strawberries, and Roasted Shallot Vinaigrette

Leek and White Asparagus Soup

Roasted Cauliflower, Garlic, and Leek Soup

Main Course Choices:
Crust-less Broccoli Quiche with grilled Asparagus

Lemon Chicken on a Bed of Pureed Cauliflower, with Mediterranean Zucchini Boats

Pan Seared Salmon with Avocado Remoulade and Green Beans
Grilled grass-fed steak with Chimichurri Sauce and mixed vegetables

Dessert Choices:

Strawberry Shortcake

Raspberry Frozen Yogurt

Chocolate Pecan Torte with Strawberry Sauce or Whipped Cream

Strawberry Shortcake for Valentine's Day

I had a brilliant idea last week as I posted the recipe for the Chocolate Cupcakes. I mentioned that both "chocolate" and "vanilla" cupcake recipes could be found in GOOD FOOD, the "vanilla" being the Basic Almond Flour Cupcake recipe. I realized then that these adorable yellow cupcakes would make the perfect cake base for Strawberry Shortcake, a Valentine's Day dessert favorite.

If I were making this dessert, I would simply use the "Strawberry Sauce" recipe in GOOD FOOD, spoon it over split Almond Flour Cupcakes, and then top it with stevia sweetened, whipped organic Cream.

Ain't love grand?

Enjoy.