How To Store And Freeze Borscht
Borscht can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days. If you plan on freezing it, portion it out into freezer-safe containers, leaving about an inch of headspace for expansion. Borscht will keep in the freezer for about 2 months. Just be sure to defrost it in the fridge at least a day before you plan to serve it again.
Can This Noodle Casserole Be Made In Advance
Meal planners, rejoice! You can assemble the casserole up to a day in advance, cool it, then cover with foil and refrigerate. Pull the casserole from the fridge when you preheat the oven. Bake as directed in the recipe, though you may need to add a few more minutes, since the casserole will be going into the oven cold.
Freeze an uncooked, fully assembled casserole for up to 3 months. Cover the casserole in its dish with foil and then wrap with two layers of plastic wrap. To bake, remove the plastic wrap, and bake the frozen casserole with the foil on at 350°F for 1 1/2 hours, or until fully cooked through. Remove the foil 30 minutes before it’s done cooking.
Make Ahead & Storing:
P.S. Don’t be surprised to see ketchup on the table with this meal. It seems to be a common thing.
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Ultimate Comfort Food: Easy Shepherds Pie With Ground Beef
Home » Recipes » Ultimate Comfort Food: Easy Shepherds Pie with Ground Beef
I love layered or complex dishes that are complete meals: meat, vegetables and everything all together. These meals are filling, comforting, and generally easy to make. Thats why this recipe for shepherds pie with ground beef is one of my favorites.
First, what is shepherds pie? Its a meat pie usually made with a topping of mashed potatoes. Sometimes you can also have a mashed potato crust on the bottom, though I find that more difficult to clean up. Shepherds pie comes from the British Isles but has been adopted worldwide, particularly because of the Irish diaspora.
Sometimes called a cottage pie, shepherds pie always contains meat, which is usually ground beef, but can sometimes be lamb or mutton. The other shepherds pie ingredients are hearty and nutritious vegetables like carrots, celery, turnips, parsnips, onions, peas, and sometimes cornor any combination thereof. Shepherds pie with beef is cooked in a kind of gravy. Shepherds pie gravy recipes vary wildly, but I like mine with a tomato base since it blends the best with the vegetables.
Can I Freeze Shepherds Pie
Yes, this is a great freezer meal recipe. The best way to freeze this casserole is to let it cool down to room temperature. Then place at least two layers of plastic wrap over the baking dish. This will help prevent freezer burn. I also like to place it in Jumbo Freezer Bags to help keep it fresh. It will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Once you are ready to heat up the shepherds pie. Place it in the refrigerator over night to thaw it out. Then Place in a 400 degree preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes.
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How To Peel And Cut Beets
Dealing with beets can be a messy affair. Put on some food-safe gloves before tackling your root if you don’t want to stain your hands, but the color will wash out in a few hours. With a sharp, sturdy knife, cut off and discard the stubby stems on top. Using a vegetable peeler or paring knife, remove the peel like you would a potato or other root vegetable.
Then, place your beet on a cutting board, and cut in half. Place the flat sides down and cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
Did your beets come with greens? You can cook them! Wash and stem them and add them to the soup in the final 5 minutes of cooking. Or try them in a recipe of their own.
Easy Shepherds Pie With Ground Beef
03/21/18 | Beef, Christmas, Easter, Main Courses, Recipe for Two, Recipes, Valentine’s Day
This Easy Shepherds Pie With Ground Beef is a perfect dinner for two or three people. The ground beef filling, made completely from scratch, is rich and a little tangy, with a hint of sweetness from the carrots and the onions. Its so good that youll want to eat it with a spoon before it even goes into the oven. And the potato topping is buttery and creamy and glorious.
One of the perks of running a food blog is that my job makes it super easy to score bonus points with friends and family since I am constantly feeding them the food I make to the site. People love good food, and they love you a little more if youre the one giving it to them.
And I hit the mother lode of bonus points with my dad for todays recipe, Easy Shepherds Pie With Ground Beef.
My dad loves Shepherds Pie so leftovers from my test version went straight to him, and that single 7×5-inch dish of food immediately catapulted me to #1-favorite-daughter status.
And I feel like I totally earned that position because this is some really excellent Shepherds Pie Im sharing with you today. The ground beef filling, which is made completely from scratch, is rich and a little tangy, with a hint of sweetness from the carrots and the onions. Its so good that youll want to eat it with a spoon before it even goes into the oven. And the potato topping is buttery and creamy and glorious.
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A Word Of Caution: Easy Shepherds Pie With Instant Mashed Potatoes
A word of caution of here. While perfecting this recipe, I tried a number of versions of beef shepherds pie with instant potatoes. In theory, it makes the recipe easier and saves a tiny little bit of time.
In reality, what was supposed to be easy shepherd pie turned into a gross concoction and borderline inedible. The liquid consistency of the instant potatoes just isnt right for the baking step and they dont firm up the way they should.
I know were all looking for time saving steps in the kitchen, but dont let this be one of them. Make real mashed potatoes for shepherds pie. Youll thank me for it later!
Say Hi To Coco Morante
One last treat for all you readers out there: I thought it would be fun for you to get to know Coco a little more. Here’s a quick Q& A with the author herself!
1. How many Instant Pots do you own?
Right now, four. I’ve also given some to friends and family as I’ve upgraded or received new units for review. Currently I have two 6-quart models , as well as 3-quart and 8-quart pots.
2. Whats one recipe from this book that you really want people to try and fall in love with?
Cincinnati Chili . I adapted the recipe from a stovetop version shared with me by my friend Diana Pray. It’s full of spices, including a healthy dose of cinnamon — the Midwestern-meets-Greek flavor is so unique and delicious. You have to try it !
3. What three recipes from this book are best if you just got your first Instant Pot?
Risotto , because it’s so easy you won’t believe it. Split Pea Soup , because it tastes like my grandma’s did — I’m transported back to her kitchen when I eat a bowl. And Succotash — most all the ingredients come from the pantry or freezer, so you can make a hearty, nutritious vegetable side dish any time. Those are all really straightforward recipes that don’t require you to buy additional accessories, so you can make them right when you take your Instant Pot out of the box.
4. Latest food obsession?
5. Three ingredients that are always in your pantry?
Nutritional yeast, almond flour, and San Marzano-style canned tomatoes.
7. What are you working on now?
Thanks, Coco!
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Suggestions And Substitutions For Shepherds Pie
A true shepherds pie is actually done with lamb, not beef . Cottage pie is the term traditionally applied to one made with beef.
Regardless of what you call it, you can make this with basically any type of ground meat you like, knowing that they range widely in fat content. Ground lamb, turkey, bison, venison, and beefor half and half of any of the aboveare all fair game.
Nothing beats fresh vegetables and cheese youve grated on the spot to make this recipe, but if youre short on time, here are a few shortcuts:
- Swap in frozen mixed vegetables for the carrots, celery, and peas. Use two and a half cups and add them to the dish when it instructs you to add the peas.
- Use pre-shredded sharp cheddar. Take a gander at the ingredients, since some brands use additives to keep the cheese from clumping. Less is more, if you ask me.
- Buy screw-top wine. Every little bit counts when it comes to saving time. Plus, fussing with a bottle opener isnt my favorite pastime. You dont need fancy wine for this anyway, just something dry and drinkable.
Tips From The Betty Crocker Kitchens
- tip 1 Traditionally, shepherds pie is made with lamb . However, as the dish gained wider popularity outside of its native English homeland , beef became a common substitute, especially in America where its more widely available than ground lamb.
- tip 2 Refrigerated mashed potatoes cut a ton of prep time off of this recipe and are good to keep on hand. Try any flavored, refrigerated mashed potatoes to top this main-dish pie.
- tip 3 Looking for a few more ways to turn a pound of ground beef into dinner? Check out the rest of Bettys kitchen-tested ground beef recipes.
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How To Make Ground Beef Casserole Step By Step
- Prepare Oven: First, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Second, heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium high heat.
- Ingredients to Pan: Next, add ground beef, onion, garlic, House Seasoning Blend, thyme and Rosemary
- Brown: Meanwhile, brown and chop the beef. I love this Ground Beef Chopper. Then cook until beef is cooked through and then drain excess fat from the pan.
- Thicken: Later stir in flour. Then add tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and beef broth.
- Boil : Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes and then peas and carrots into the beef mixture.
- Cheese: Mix cheddar cheese to prepared mashed potatoes.
- Spread: Finally, spread potatoes on top of beef mixture
- Bake: Lastly, bake for 15 minutes or until potatoes are lightly browned.
LOVE EASY RECIPES? TRY THESE FAVORITES
How To Store Shepherds Pie
This easy shepherds pie recipe makes such good left overs. I love how all the flavors in the beef filling marinate and taste amazing the next day. When storing it in the fridge. Make sure to completely cover the the dish with plastic wrap. To try and form a air tight seal. The leftovers will keep for up to three days. If you plan on keeping it longer that that. Freeze the portions immediately that you are not going to use with in 3 days.
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Can This Be Made Ahead Of Time
Yes. Parts of this can easily be prepared ahead of time. The green beans can be trimmed and the meatloaf mixture can be prepared up to 3 days ahead. Store them separately in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
I dont typically chop potatoes ahead of time because I dont think they store well once chopped.
How To Make My Easy Shepherds Pie Recipe
Place frozen vegetables in a medium saucepot and cover with water.
Put over medium-high heat. Bring just to a boil.
Remove from heat and drain. Place veggies in a bowl to the side.
In that same saucepot, because there is no reason to dirty up another one, place the French onion soup, gravy mix, and dry Italian seasoning.
Stir that together well and cook over medium-high heat until well blended and heated through, about 5 minutes or so.
Or until you get tired of fooling with it
A lot of things in my kitchen are done on that kind of timescale Until I get tired of fooling with it
Stir in your veggies and beef.
Mix this meat mixture together well.
In a large bowl, place the leftover mashed potatoes, cheese, and sour cream.
Stir well to combine.
Spread the ground beef mixture into the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish and top with mashed potatoes.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top of the mashed potato.
Bake, uncovered, at 350 for thirty minutes until the top is golden brown.
I told you this was an easy shepherds pie recipe. Enjoy!
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How To Freeze Healthy Shepherds Pie
Once the shepherds pie is baked, cool completely and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Place it in the freezer until fairly firm, about two hours. Then, cover tightly with plastic wrap, followed by aluminum foil. Mark the date on the outside and store in the freezer for up to two months.
When ready to serve, remove the foil and plastic wrap. Use the foil you just removed to loosely cover the pie. Make sure that your casserole dish can go straight from freezer to oven if not, set the casserole in the oven while the oven preheats so that the dish warms slowly.
Bake the casserole for an hour, or until the pie is hot all the way through. Remove the foil for the last 15 minutes to allow the top to brown.
How To Make Shepherd’s Pie In A Pressure Cooker
When I first came across this recipe, I was puzzled. Maybe I hadn’t had my coffee yet, but I imagined tossing ground beef, veggies, and a few whole potatoes into the Instant Pot and then lifting off the lid to reveal a table-ready Shepherd’s Pie topped with mashed potatoes.
In reality, there are a few more steps involved — though not many!
Coco has you start by prepping the filling using the Sauté function on the Instant Pot. Then you place a tall steamer rack in the pot and place the peeled potatoes on top.
Then the lid goes on and everything pressure cooks together. At the end of cooking, the potatoes are perfectly cooked and ready to be mashed with milk.
For a traditional casserole-style shepherd’s pie, you transfer the filling to an 8×8 pan, top with the mashed potatoes, and broil until the top is golden. You can also serve this in bowls by scooping out some filling and topping it with a generous dollop of mashed potatoes. So easy!
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