Shepherd’s pie special

Dinner last night was a fabulous shepherd’s pie (if I say so myself).  Made from delicious Hutton Vale lamb bought at the Barossa Farmers’ Market on the weekend, this pie tasted extra good.  I had added some bacon pieces (at the expense of a cut finger) and these really added something special to the flavour.

Special shepherd’s pie

The Hungry Twins were pretty impressed – we couldn’t quite keep up with their demand for lamb.  And they even managed to eat most of their dinner from bowls!

Lovely lamb!

This lamb is really special – no joke!

Not a lot on the floor either – poor dogs (looks like it’s diet time for them!).

http://www.barossafarmersmarket.com/home/

http://www.huttonvale.com/website/lamb/

 

 

Shepherd’s pie for dinner (more lamb)

Nice and relaxing day today.  The Hungry Twins were getting over the excitement of yesterday’s visit to child care (they had two massive naps today!) but were pretty happy all day.  At lunch time they tore into their peanut butter and vegemite sandwiches with an enthusiasm that had been lacking for the last week.  Perhaps really fresh bread (made this morning) had something to do with it?  The Hungry Twins then polished off the leftover meatballs from last night’s dinner.

Delicious (if I say so myself) shepherd’s pie

Dinner tonight was a household favourite – shepherd’s pie made with locally grown lamb (from our friends at Hutton Vale).  I leave the lamb in big chunks as it is so young that after a couple of hours it is fall-apart tender.  As my husband would say, mincing it would spoil it!  This time I made a traditional topping of mashed potato (instead of chunky potato and sweet potato).  I have to say that I think mash is far tastier!  The Hungry Twins seemed to agree….

They required a second helping!

Hmm, is this all there is?

That’s more like it – keep it coming!

Do I see seconds coming?

YUM!

It is very gratifying when the Hungry Twins devour all that is put before them and demand more!  The mash was spoon-fed to them and they seemed to enjoy it immensely.  Perhaps all that parmesan cheese that I added?  I have to say, I didn’t have any complaints either and neither did my husband!  There is even a little bit left for tomorrow, if the Hungry Twins are lucky (I might eat it first!).

http://thehungrytwins.com/2013/04/04/chunky-shepherds-pie/

http://www.huttonvale.com/website/lamb/

Chunky shepherd’s pie

My version of shepherd’s pie uses chunky pieces of lamb and is topped with diced potato and sweet potato to make it easier for the Hungry Twins to eat.  If you are lucky, you might get some leftovers (it tastes even better the next day).

Chunky shepherd’s pie

• Preparation time: 10 minutes
• Cooking time: 2 ¼ hours for lamb, 20 minutes to brown the top
• Makes: 4 serves

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
• 2 medium carrots, roughly chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 500gm diced lamb
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• ½ cup red wine (optional)
• 400ml chicken stock
• 400gm tin crushed tomatoes
• 1 large potato, diced to 1.5cm pieces
• 1 small sweet potato, diced to 1.5cm pieces
• 2 tablespoons shredded parmesan

Method

• Preheat oven to 170^oC.
• Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, onion, 2 cloves chopped garlic and carrot to a heavy based casserole dish and cook on medium heat until onions start to colour and carrot starts to soften (about 10 minutes).
• Add the diced lamb and brown (about 5 minutes).
• Add the Worcestershire sauce, wine (if using), stock and tinned tomatoes.  Stir well and bring to a simmer.
• Place lid on casserole dish and put in the oven to cook until lamb is tender (around 2 hours).  Stir lamb halfway through and add a little more stock if required.
• While lamb is cooking, blanche the potato and sweet potato for 5 minutes in a pot of boiling water.  Drain and transfer to a bowl.  Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 2 cloves of crushed garlic and mix well to coat.

Luscious lamb ready for chunky topping

And now for the parmesan….

• Once lamb is ready, transfer to an oven-proof dish and spread the garlic-mixed potatoes evenly over the top. Sprinkle with parmesan.  Place in oven until lamb is bubbling and top is browned (around 20 minutes). Serve with a green salad or vegetables.

Alfresco fun

A beautiful autumn day today so we had lunch outside.  Nothing fancy, just some vegemite and peanut butter sandwiches on homemade bread, a skerrick of last night’s chunky shepherd’s pie, some cheese and cherry tomatoes.

Hmm, what a way to have lunch!

There’s something about eating outside on a lovely day.  Not too warm (finally!) and not too cold (yet).  The Hungry Twins gave the impression that everything tasted better as well.  The sandwiches (pretty boring, really) were eaten with a little hum from Grace and Skye (their happy noise).  Skye eschewed the crust and demanded extra pieces , but Grace was content to eat every bit she was given, even the crust, which she normally tosses overboard for the dogs.

The view was clearly a little distracting as well.  The Hungry Twins spent most of their meal looking out!

What’s happening over there…..

A bit of nectarine and then an entire bunch of grapes for dessert (how many grapes can you really eat??).  Happy twins!

Shepherd pie special

A big day for the Hungry Twins – a morning spent in childcare.  They had a fabulous time (didn’t cry once, apparently) and not surprisingly, ate everything put before them!  Once home, they crashed and slept for three and a half hours…. (guess they had too much fun).

All that sleeping gave me plenty of time to put together a chunky shepherds pie.  Local lamb (Hutton Vale Lamb bought from the Barossa Farmers’ Market) left in large pieces, cooked slowly and then topped by potato and sweet potato, also in large chunks and served with some veg.

Chunky shepherd’s pie

The Hungry Twins were given corn on the cob first – Skye was nice enough to leave some for Grace to have as well as her own (Grace loves corn!).

I better save some corn for my sister…

Next was some broccoli cooked in the leftover stock from last night’s poor man’s potatoes.  Now, Grace is usually the broccoli-o-phile, but tonight, it was Skye!  She complained loudly every time there was no broccoli on her tray, eating almost her own bodyweight in green veg….

More broccoli!!!!!!

Hmm, broccoli or corn??

Then it was onto the chunky shepherd’s pie (now it was cool enough to eat!).  I think it tasted pretty good, if I say so myself.  The Hungry Twins thought it was absolutely awesome!  Well, they ate enough for two large people, so I’m guessing that they liked it!  They might have just been really hungry after their exciting day of socialising. The lamb chunks disappeared, followed by the potato and sweet potato.  After some loud protests, a second helping was provided…..

Where’s my shepherd’s pie???

A few grapes and dinner was done!  A tiny amount of shepherd’s pie for leftovers tomorrow (if the Hungry Twins are lucky – I might just eat it for breakfast).  None on the floor for the dogs…..