Shepherd's Pie: British Gastropub Classic Meets Mediterranean Sunshine

Fans of the British gastropub know there's nothing better than escaping the rain in a cozy corner by the fire while enjoying a piping hot dish of shepherd's pie and a pint of your favorite ale. But is there really... nothing better? We'll let you be the judge! Here's a sunny, more Mediterranean twist on the original that will have you reminiscing about your vacation in Tuscany... or better yet, planning one!

You will need:

• 35 oz boiled potatoes
• 9 oz cream cheese
• 1 pinch nutmeg
• salt and pepper
• vegetable oil
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 diced onion
• 3 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1 tbsp rosemary
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 2 chopped tomatoes
• 3/4 cup shredded parmesan
• 1 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella

Here's how:

1. In a large mixing bowl, mash the potatoes and mix in cream cheese, nutmeg, and salt. 
2. Heat a thin layer of oil in a cast iron skillet (or frying pan if you plan on baking in a casserole dish), brown the ground beef and add the onions, garlic, salt, pepper, and rosemary.
3. When the ground beef mixture is cooked through, add the tomato sauce and chunks of tomato. 
4. If cooking with a cast iron skillet, you can simply add the next ingredients to the pan and bake. If not, transfer the ground beef to a casserole dish first. Then add the parmesan to the beef mixture, layer on the mashed potatoes, and finally, cover with a generous helping of mozzarella. Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes.

Now — as the British would say — all you need are a few "mates" to help you "tuck in." And what was that we said about a pint? ;-) Or if you really want to keep the Mediterranean theme going, a glass of red will do nicely too. Enjoy!