Shepherd's Pie

Traditional Shepherd's Pie is made with lamb. I use brown lentils. It provides a comparable texture to ground meat in a casserole setting, and its flavor is rich and contributes to the dish.

1 cup dry lentils
3 red potatoes
1/4 cup milk
1-2 tbsp butter
garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste
1 lb frozen corn

Prepare the dry lentils according to the instructions on the package. Always use a large pot for making lentils. It might seem ridiculous when you are putting it in at first, but believe me -- lentils boil over like nothing else i've ever seen.

While the lentils are cooking, make mashed potatoes according to your preferences. I like it with the skin still on it. Here's what i do: i wash the potatoes well, chop them, cover with water, and boil them for about 15-20 minutes. While the lentils and potatoes are boiling, hang out. Check your email. Call your Mum. When you can puncture the potatoes with a fork, remove from heat and drain immediately. Return to the pot in which you cooked them, mash them up, and add in the milk, butter, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mash well.

Drain the lentils.

Use a casserole dish that looks kinda like this.* There are two layers to this Shepherd's Pie, but there are three layers of mashed potato (you begin and end with it. Your layers should go like this from top to bottom: potato, corn, lentils. Potato, corn lentils. Potato. Layering it this way helps to keep everything moist. In the cooler months, there's nothing better than a good, moist, shepherd's pie. Any time of the year, there's almost nothing worse than a dry shepherd's pie. When you have finished layering, cover with the lid. If you do not have a lid, use aluminum foil. Don't like this baby dry out.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.

*If you do not have a dish shaped remotely like this, that's ok. Just be sure to use a baking pan that is large enough to hold all of the ingredients. Play around with it. You might only be able to do one layer, and that's OK too. Just remember to finish with a layer of potato and cover the whole shabbang with foil, and it'll be just fine.