Week Night Shepherd's Pie

Wondering what to make for dinner when you've used up all your go-to's and want something new? Try my version of Shepherd's Pie. It is made with a homemade gravy - no canned soups! And... it's topped with ranch flavored mashed potatoes. Yum!!

 

 

Drizzle of olive oil

1/2 cup minced onion

2 gloves minced garlic

1/2 cup chopped carrot (I use julienned)

1 lb 93% lean ground beef

1 can green beans

Salt & Pepper to taste

 

For Gravy:

2 tbsp butter

2 tbsp flour 

1-2 cups beef broth (eye ball it)

1 tbsp tomato paste

2 tbsp of worcestershire sauce

Few dashes of McCormick Montreal Steak Grill Mates Seasoning

(secret ingredient... 1 tsp bacon grease - optional)

Mashed Potato Topping:
4 large russett potatoes, boiled to fork tender
1 tbsp butter
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2-1 cup milk
2 tbsp of ranch dressing mix

Heat oven to 350 degrees. 

Start of pot of water boiling for the potatoes.  Peel the potatoes and chop into cubes.  Also, chop the carrots into bite sized pieces.  Boil the potatoes until fork tender.  Meanwhile, in a large skillet add the olive oil, onion, garlic, and carrots together and cook until soft.  Add the ground beef and cook thoroughly.  Salt & pepper to taste.  Add the green beans. 

In a small saucepan, melt the butter and add the flour to make a roux.  Gently wisk in the beef broth to make a gravy.  When the gravy forms, wisk in the tomato paste, worcestershire sauce, and grill seasoning.  Add the gravy to the beef mixture and combine well (you may need to add more broth).  Add mixture to baking dish.

Drain the potatoes and add them back to the pan.  Mash together with the butter, milk, sour cream, ranch dressing mix, and salt liberally.  Top the beef mixture with the mashed potatoes (as seen in the picture).  Bake the dish until the potatoes are brown, approximately 20-30 minutes.

For a yummy touch, serve with Pillsbury Crescent Rolls :-)

A mom's job is never done

It's so true!  A mom's job is never done.  Another meal to cook.  Another diaper to change.  And... laundry, laundry, laundry!  It is easy to get caught in the never ending tasks.  How do we cope as mothers?

I invite you to see the video below.  Erin Davis has written a book titled "Beyond Bath Time" which illustrates the sacred calling of motherhood.  In her book, she is brutally honest and shares all angles - the good, bad, and ugly.  I encourage you to read Erin's book.

 

Finding the Time

What child doesn't want to come home from school to their mom baking cookies? My Mom was a working mom when I was growing up. I always secretly wished to have her home baking cookies for my after school snack. I believe this idea is rooted in creating lasting memories and also warm and fuzzy feelings.

There's something to be said about a traditional wife and mother.  One who cooks and cleans for her family and creates a home not just a house.

My own words haunt me when I find it's impossible to be the perfect mom.  Finding the "time" is sometimes the hardest thing to do.  Laundry, dishes, cooking, etc. take my time.  However, homemaking is the perfect way to show love.

I found this text in an article titled The Art of Homemaking on Focus on the Family.  It's a perfect illustration of homemaking...

Homemaking happens when we fully understand the value of home in our lives. Homemaking happens when we intentionally make home a safe house, a trauma unit, a pep rally, a playground, a school and more. Somebody has to have the time and energy to bring those roles alive in a family's life. Somebody has to make a house a home. Homemaking is majoring in family relationships.

When the kids come home from school and smell cookies baking in the oven, they feel nurtured and cared for. No matter what challenges the school day brought, it fades at the smell of fresh-baked cookies.

When my husband comes home from work and dinner is cooking, he immediately feels that home is a safe place. A refuge. A place where he is cared for. Whatever stress was experienced at work begins to melt as he walks in and knows that food and comfort go hand in hand.

When a friend stops by and smells a pot of coffee brewing, she knows someone was anticipating her arrival. She feels welcome. There is relational warmth extended to her.

When my family comes home to the smell of Pledge or Lysol, they know someone has been caring for the home they live in. There's something about the smell of cleaning products that says, "Everything's okay at home."

Our home is designed to be a place where we can relax, find comfort, feel safe and receive love. Smells can never substitute for quality conversation, physical affection or words of encouragement, but they can have a powerful effect on our emotions and sense of security in the family unit.