Simple Shepherd's Pie

Ok, so I realize this may not look like the most appetizing dish in the world, but it is truly one of my favorites. I make it all the time when my hubby is out to sea (and a lot even when he's not). It heats up great in the microwave for leftovers, but most importantly, my son loves it. He gets everything in one big mess on his plate..meat, veggies, and potatoes...perfect! I never liked traditional Shepherd's Pie recipes, mainly because they have too much 'junk' in them. I like to keep mine simple, and this recipe is my version of the best Shepherd's Pie I've ever had...Flanagan's Shepherd's Pie, courtesy of Chef Mookie. Flanagan's is the restaurant in a hotel I worked at many years ago in Groton, CT, and whenever they brought this out for Happy Hour, I alone would eat half of it. I realized one day just just how easy this would be to make, so I started doing it at home. I just love this recipe, and if you try it, I think you will too. It's also open to tons of personal touches. If you want to season the meat, or add other veggies, you could always do that. Personally, simple works best for me :)

'Simple Shepherd's Pie'

Source: My version of Flanagan's

1 lb ground beef

1 can whole kernel corn, well drained

1 container of pre-made mashed potatoes (the best is Diner's Choice followed by Country Crock)

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350. Brown ground beef in a skillet; drain. Place ground beef in a greased 8×8 baking dish. Pour drained corn on top of beef. Cook mashed potatoes in microwave as directed. Spoon the majority of the potatoes over the corn (you can always use the whole tub if you like a LOT of potatoes). Bake for 20 minutes. Top with shredded cheese, bake an additional 5-7 minutes.