Long Time...shepherd's pie

It's been a harrowing couple of weeks. Not really, just really busy. I've had to go and work outside the house as a data entry specialist. It's not a tough job. It's second shift in a city about an hour drive from my house though. It's worth the extra money coming still.

It hasn't given me much time to cook except on the weekends. This weekend I made my version of shepherd's pie. I've heard it named different things but that's what we call it.

What You Need:

1 lb hamburger
1 can creamed corn
1 can regular corn (or 2 cups frozen corn thawed)
Mashed potatoes
1 small yellow onion
3-4 garlic cloves

Put olive oil in a large pot and heat it on medium to medium high. While waiting for the pot to heat up, dice the onions and garlic. Add to the pot. Saute until the onions and garlic start to turn opaque. It shouldn't take long, mabye two to three minutes. Add the hamburger and cook until it's done.

While you wait for the hamburger to cook, you can start the mashed potatoes. I use instant. If you want regular mashed potatoes, start boiling the potatoes 15 minutes before you start the hamburger. That way by the time the hamburger gets done you will be ready to mash up those potatoes.

I add spices such as rosemary and basil to my instant mashed potatoes. I fill up the bottom of a pan with water, about an inch thick or so. Then I add some chicken, beef or vegetable stock (whatever I have handy really) to it. Add about a cup or so of milk and heat it up. I sometimes add a couple tablespoons of butter too especially if I don't add much milk or have much milk to add. Heat it no higher than medium or you might end up with scalded milk. That doesn't make for good mashed potatoes. Once the mixture is heated, I add the instant potato flakes. I have a container I keep the mashed potato flakes in. It takes about half the container I have. I don't measure normally. Read the directions on the box to see how many you need.

Once the hamburger is done, add the cans of corn and stir to mix completely. Turn the stove down to low. Add the mashed potatoes right on top of the hamburger corn mixture. You can add some mozzarella cheese or some other cheese on top. Add a lid to help melt the cheese.