Shepard's Pie With Bling

Ahhh, look.  He's so happy I made dinner. :)

While eating Shepard's Pie at dinner Jessa remarked
"it tastes better than it looks mom."

She's right.  It does taste better than it looks.  Shepard's Pie can be a yummy quick dinner. 

 Here's my recipe (more or less...sometimes I don't measure). 

Shepard's Pie With Bling

8 servings of mashed potatoes
 (I used Betty Crocker Instant Roasted Garlic Potatoes - only $1 at Wal-mart!)
about 1 lb of ground beef
2 cans of green beans or about 10 oz frozen mixed vegetables
2 - 3 tsp Italian Seasoning
1 - 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
1 cup of French's Fried Onions (this is the bling!)

Brown ground beef, drain fat.  Add Italian Seasoning, Worcestershire Sauce, green beans or mixed veggies, and French's Fried Onions to beef.  Spread meat mixture on the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan.  Spread mashed potatoes over meat mixture.  Cook for 25 - 30 minutes at 350, or until food is nice and hot. Serve with a fresh green salad.  I just always wanted to say that last part. 

Jenn's Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken

This recipe is from my sister's sister-in-law, also a sweet friend of mine, Jen Jones.  It doesn't get easier than this.  And it tastes yummy.  :)

Jenn's Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken

6 frozen chicken thighs
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup soy sauce


Cook on low for 8-10  hours or on high 4 - 6 hours in crock pot.  Serve over rice.
P.S. If you use chicken thighs that are thawed already, add 3/4 cup water (all equal ingredients).  I just omit the water since mine are always frozen and ice glazed.

Mine were frozen but not ice glazed, so I added the water.  Enjoy.

Mary Jane's Deep Dish Meat Pie

This is the perfect dish for using your leftover roast beef. 

Mary Jane's Deep Dish Meat Pie

 Pastry for Single Crust Pie (make or buy)
1 cup chopped potato (cut small)
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp sage, crushed
1 1/4 cups beef broth (I sub 1 1/4 cup water and add 2 bullion cubes)
1 1/2 cups peas and carrots (I eye ball this - I use fresh carrots that I have cut up and boil for a bit and then put in about a third of a bag of frozen peas)
2 cups cubed or shredded cooked roast beef

Prepare pastry.  Roll pastry into a 12 inch circle.  Cover and set aside.  In a medium saucepan cook potato and onion in butter over medium heat, stirring constantly for 5 to 6 minutes or till onion is tender and not brown.  Stir in flour, herb, and 1/8 tsp pepper.  Add broth all at once.  Stir in peas and carrot.  Cook and stir till bubbly.

Stir in meat.  Transfer mixture into 1 1/2 quart casserole dish.  Top with pasty; trim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond rim.  Turn under and flute edges of pastry.  (I know this part may sound hard but I don't do it this fancy - I just lay the pasty on top and roll up the edges to fit the casserole dish and then go around and pinch the edges to "seal it.")  Cut slits for steam.  Place on baking sheet.  Bake in a 425 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or till golden.  Let stand 10 minutes.

Pastry for Single Crust Pie

1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup shortening
3 - 4 Tblspns cold water

In a bowl stir together flour and salt.  Cut in shortening till pieces are the size of small peas.  Sprinkle in 1 Tblspn water over part of the mixture, gently toss with a fork.  Push to side of bowl.  Repeat till all is moistened.  On a slightly floured surface, flatten dough with hands.  Roll dough out from center to edges. 

Honey Glazed Chicken

This recipe is from my sister Mary Jane. It is a favorite at our house, and a good one because I usually have all the ingredients.

Honey Glazed Chicken

1/2 cup flour

1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 cup butter 4 chicken breasts (you could use chicken tenders too! I used about 3 of the frozen chicken breasts from Costco cut up)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix flour, salt and cayenne pepper together in a large Ziploc bag. Drop chicken in bag and shake to coat. Melt butter and place in a 9 x 13 baking dish. Place flour coated chicken in baking dish and turn to coat both sides with butter. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

Honey Glaze Sauce

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup lemon juice*
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1/4 cup butter, melted

Combine all ingredients. Pour over chicken until well coated. Bake for an additional 45 minutes. Serve over rice. (Keep your eye on it, mine started to burn a little bit).

* The last two times I made this I had no lemon juice. I subbed grapefruit juice (weird I know - I was desperate) and the other time I used lime juice. Both times it turned out delicious! No weirdness. :)