St. Patrick's Day Recipe

St. Patrick's Day Shepherd's Pie

Freeze it now and you'll be ready for St. Patrick's Day!

Spoon  mashed potatoes around edge of Shepherd's Pie filling.

Shape more mashed potatoes into one or more shamrock shapes.

Put on lid, attach a label, tuck it away in the freezer until St. Patrick's Day.

When you are ready to bake the Shepherd's Pie, bring it out of the freezer and allow it to thaw.

Melt about a tablespoon of butter in a small glass dish.

Add 2 drops of green food coloring to the butter.

Stir the butter to completely mix the green into the butter.

Using a pastry brush, paint the shamrock(s) with the green butter.

Bake the uncovered pie at about 375 until filling is bubbly and the potatoes are browned. This can take from 30 to 60 minutes depending on the size of the pan and how completely thawed the pie and potatoes are when you put it in the oven. It will take even longer if it is baked from frozen. It's best when the potatoes are browned and a little crunchy on top. Be sure to bake it uncovered.

Have fun with the shamrock potatoes! You could make one shamrock in the middle, like the photo above, or if your pan is large enough, make several shamrocks. You could even make a shamrock for each serving. How cute is that?

Shepherd's Pie

4 carrots

1 onion, chopped

1 pound lean ground beef

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons flour

1/4 cup ketchup

1 1/2 cups beef broth

1/2 cup frozen corn

1/2 cup frozen peas

3 to 4 cups mashed potatoes

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese, if desired

Peel and slice carrots. Cook in salted water until tender, about 15 minutes. Cook onion and ground beef until onions are clear and ground beef is browned. Push onion to the side in the pan and add butter and flour. Stir together until bubbly. Add ketchup and beef broth. Stir all together in pan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and spoon into the bottom of disposable foil baking pan(s). This recipe serves about 6 to 8. Freeze it in multiple pans if this is too much for one meal at your house. Increase the recipe if you need more for your family.

Spoon mashed potatoes over the top of the filling. For St. Patrick's Day, spoon potatoes around the edges of the pan. Form more potatoes into shamrock shape(s) and arrange over the filling. Cover, label and freeze.

When you are ready to bake, remove Shepherd's Pie from the freezer and allow to thaw. Melt about a tablespoon of butter in a glass dish. Add 2 drops of green food coloring. Mix well. Using a pastry brush, color the shamrock(s) green. Bake 30 to 60 minutes (depending on the size of the pan) until the filling is bubbly and the potatoes are browned. Top with cheese, if desired, and bake about 5 minutes longer.

Happy St. Patty's Day! Don't forget to wear green...and be sure to serve green for dinner!

More freezer recipes here.