Shepherds belong in fields, not in pies....

I love food. I love comfort food. (I even love food that makes me uncomfortable...sometimes). I love mashed potatoes with peas mixed in.

I'm starting a bible study with some of the girls from youth tonight. I am vegan...they are not. So I find myself wondering what can I make that they WILL eat and I CAN eat. You're probably wondering the exact same thing!

Vegan Shepherd's Pie....what's not to love? Mashed potatoes, carrots, onion, peas and "gravy" all baked in layers till hot and gooey and creamy??? Nothing I tell ya, nothing!!



Here's my recipe....

4 cups mashed potatoes (you know how to make mashed potatoes, so I'm not gonna tell you!)
1 onion diced
1 8oz pack crimini mushrooms, quartered
1 tbsp olive oil
1 bag frozen organic peas and carrots
1 cup cooked brown rice or cooked wheat berries
7 cloves garlic, sliced or diced
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 1/4 cups broth (I used Imagine No-Chicken Chicken Broth)
1 12oz package Smart Ground® Original (for you meat eaters...cooked ground beef or turkey)
salt
pepper
thyme
turmeric
oregano


Heat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. In a large prepared saute pan, cook onions until just starting to brown. Add mushrooms and 1 tbsp olive oil. Cook until onions and mushrooms are nicely browned. Add 1/4 cup broth and deglaze pan. To deglazed pan add 2 cups broth, 1 cup brown rice, garlic cloves, smart grounds, tomato paste and seasonings. Stir to combine, breaking grounds apart and mixing in tomato paste. Add frozen peas and carrots and cook for about 10 minutes or until everything is hot and bubbly. Pour mixture into baking dish, top with mashed potatoes. I usually sprinkle parsley and paprika over the top. Bake in oven for 25-30 minutes, until potatoes are slightly crispy and golden brown. Serve with fresh green beans.


**warning...you may need to let this dish cool slightly before serving as it is HOT!!


Here is a picture of the finished product....but of course since we don't have smell-o-vision or taste-o-vision (YET!!!) this doesn't do it justice. Believe me when I say; vegan or not, this is a delicious dish!!