Shepherd's Pie that won't make you want to take a nap!

...not that there is anything wrong with naps. I'm 7 months pregnant. I dig a good nap. But after you eat dinner and still want to clean up and hang out with your husband and child...it's nice to not feel like you're going to slip into a food coma. Now I want to watch "While You Were Sleeping."

Anyway. 

Pie. 

Yes.

It's not really pie, is it? I propose that all pies be topped with mashed potatoes. Actually no, that's a terrible idea.

So. I was at the grocery store looking for Colman's mustard (don't buy any other mustard) and I saw this

"You know what I haven't made in a while?"

You can surmise what the answer was.

I don't normally go for gravy or seasoning packets or whatever, but it was Friday, I was tired, and until that moment I had no idea what I was going to make for dinner, so I felt I owed it to this little sachet to take it home.

I love the idea of taking something very heavy and making it...less so.

Shepherd's pie is traditionally made with lamb or beef. Don't get me wrong, I love lamb, but I have about 4 pounds of ground turkey in my freezer. So turkey it was. 

I use fresh carrots, as they maintain their integrity during cooking. Also because any other version of carrots is positively vomiticious in my book. Frozen peas, so they don't become mushy. Some people put in corn. Ignore those people.

Potatoes. I love white potatoes. Buuuuut we all know sweet potatoes are better for you, I had one on the counter, and they're pretty. And my child likes them. 

I'm terrible at writing recipes so I'm sorry in advance. Okay? 

Make some mashed potatoes, using a mix of sweet potatoes and white potatoes. Mash them to your liking, season with salt and some butter (duh), and set them aside.

In a large skillet with high sides, heat equal parts butter and olive oil. I don't care how much of each. Guess.

Brown your turkey, crumbling it up as you go. Season with salt and pepper. Add some chopped onion and garlic, letting that sweat down, then add your carrots (chopped little) and frozen peas. Don't thaw the peas. Surely you know that. Cook until your carrots are softened (I like mine still crunchy.)

Mix the "gravy mix" with 3/4 cup of water and mix in, then heat until simmering and thickened.

Now, in a buttered casserole dish (I used a 9x9) spoon in your meat mixture. On top of that, you can just spread the potatoes over, or you can pipe them on decoratively. Guess which one I did. ;)

Top the whole thing with a little shredded sharp cheddar cheese and pop it under the broiler to melt the cheese and brown the potatoes.

It will look like this, and it will make you happy. I like to sprinkle mine with paprika and parsley. Then I like to forget to take pictures.

Serve with a nice pint of Guinness for your husband and a boring glass of stupid water for your pregnant self.