Shepherd’s Pie

**This recipe has just been re-edited from the archives. It was one of the first posts I think I ever wrote and the photos were bad, bad, bad. I can’t say these are much better, but Josh and I are under the impression that this is one dish that is not easily photographed, lol! But it is a dish you don’t want to pass up making.**

When I first married Josh, I was a very basic cook. I don’t even really think you could call me a cook, since everything I made either came out from a box, jar, or a freezer bag. I think our first year of marriage would of turned out differently in the cooking department had I not been pregnant or been sick the entire length of my pregnancy.

 I still remember the list I wrote for my pre-marital counseling about what expectations I was placing on myself for our first year of marriage. The two things that stand out in my mind are A) I would have dinner ready and waiting for Josh when he got home (haha) and B) I would brew him coffee daily. (This is pretty laughable now). In our 7 years of marriage I have not made him coffee once. I’ve poured him coffee…but never actually made it. He on the other hand, makes me coffee all the time.

The first real meal I do remember making for him after Gracie was born was Sheperd’s Pie. I was juggling a new baby, trying to keep a clean house (err, apartment), and basically just survive and many of our dinners still consisted of ready-made items. But this shepard’s pie was so incredibly easy and so delicious. It gave me hope that I was not destined for ruin in the kitchen just yet.

As a bridal shower gift, my sister in love, Jennifer made a recipe box with a bunch of family favorite meals inside it. That gift has proven to be priceless to me and this particular recipe has become a family favorite of ours as well.

This is probably one of the meals I make the most often when I have brought a meal to someone who needed it. It can be thrown together ahead of time and baked up whenever you’re ready. Throw in a side salad, and you are ready to go! Easy Peasy Japanesey!

*A side note on the choice of protein you use. I use ground turkey breast because it’s healthier than beef and I think it is also gentler on the system if you were to give this as a meal to someone. But if you like ground beef or ground chicken even, that would be delicious too.