"Shepherd's Pie With an Attitude" Casserole

Ole Sweetie-Pi is the one the one who dubbed this casserole "Shepard's Pie with an Attitude."  Truth be told it is very much like a shepherd's pie. And like shepherd's pie, we loved this recipe.  Ole Sweetie-Pi, who ordinarily doesn't like leftovers, had an early lunch the next day to ensure that he could have this again.

It is satisfying, filling, inexpensive, made with everyday pantry ingredients, and one of those family-style meals that adults seem to wistfully recall their moms making.

This doesn't look fancy; there are no big assertive flavors, just good, simple home cooking that keeps you coming back for more.  Original recipe is found here at Food.Com. 


Hamburger, Green Bean, Tomato Soup, Mashed Potato Hot Dish

1 pound ground beef (hamburg)
1/4 cup white onion, diced
1 teaspoon fresh garlic, minced (I omitted it)
1 can (10.75 oz) tomato soup, undiluted
1 can (14.5 oz) cut green beans, drained
2 cups mashed potatoes, made in advance with milk and butter
salt and pepper to taste
Other spices as desired
Maybe a little cheese on top would be a nice addition??

Preheat over to 350* Fahrenheit.

Brown the hamburg in a fry pan, adding salt and pepper to taste.  Drain the fat and place the hamburg in a  casserole dish. 

In the same fry pay with a bit of butter or oil, cook the onions until translucent and combine with the hamburg. 

Add the garlic, tomato soup, and green beans.  Stir to combine.  Add the mashed potatoes and spread over the hamburg-tomato soup-green bean mixture.

You might want to put a baking sheet under this as it can bubble over.   Bake, uncovered,  for 30 minutes. 

Will serve 6 to 8, depending on how you "fluff" out the meal with another vegetable,  salad, dessert, etc.

Sloppy Joe Sandwiches

Sloppy Joes were a school cafeteria favorite but were not something that I particularly thought to  prepare at home in my adult years.  However, it happened that I had a couple of  leftover hamburger rolls, hamburg, and half a red and a green pepper.  I wanted something "different" but delicious and easy.

Sloppy Joes to the rescue!  I found this delicious recipe on Allrecipes and we were very pleased with it.  Ole Sweetie-Pi wishes it were saucier, and he may be right, but to me, any saucier, and you'll have a spaghetti  meat sauce. 

Sloppy Joe Sandwiches
(slightly adapted from this recipe at  Allrecipes.com)

1/2 pound ground beef

1./2 cup diced peppers

1/2 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons water

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon prepared mustard **

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 hamburger buns, split

In a saucepan, cook beef and diced peppers over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the ketchup, water, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes. Serve on buns. You'll need a fork!

**I found this to be a too mustard-y in flavor, and for our tastes will reduce it to 1/2 teaspoon.