Week 31: Recipe #5--Mini Shepherd Pies

These were really good!  The meat had a great flavor and they were pretty easy to put together.  I found these on a website called Quick Dish (see link below).  They are 8 WW+ points a pair--not bad!  I served these with a green salad and applesauce.  Makes 12 "pies", or 10 if you use the biscuits like I did.

Photo from Quick Dish

You'll Need:

• 2 large whole potatoes (I used four small)
• cream for mashed potatoes
• 1/2 lb. lean ground beef
• 1 tsp. steak seasoning
• 1 Tblsp. ketchup
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (I used a tablespoon...I like worcestershire sauce...)
• 1/3 c. frozen vegetables (peas, carrots, or mixed--I used mixed; always trying to get more veggies into the girls)
• 1 can (8 oz.) Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations refrigerated seamless dough sheet (I could not find these, so I just used refrigerated biscuits--there are 10 in a can)

Preparation:

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.  Lightly spray 12 standard muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Peel and quarter potatoes, boil in salted water until tender (about 15 minutes).
3. While the potatoes cook, heat a large nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat then add olive oil and ground beef.  Add steak seasoning then cook, occasionally using a spoon to break up meat, until browned.
4. Add ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and frozen vegetables, then cook 2-3 minutes until heated through.  Taste for seasoning and add salt or pepper as necessary.  Remove from heat and set aside.
5. Unroll crescent dough on lightly floured work surface.  Press dough into 12 x 9 inch rectangle.  Cut into 12 evenly sized rectangles.  Fill each muffin cup with 1 square, gently pressing dough into bottom and sides of cup.  (Or, use the biscuits and save time and this extra step.)
6. Drain then mash potatoes with cream and season to taste with salt and/or pepper.
7. Fill each dough cup with 1-2 tablespoons of beef filling, then top with a spoonful of mashed potato.  Bake in oven 15-20 until dough is golden brown.  Cool 5 minutes then serve.

**Original recipe suggests to save time, you can use instant mashed potatoes--I can't do it.  I'll spend the extra time and use real ones.

Recipe and link:  http://quick-dish.tablespoon.com/2012/03/10/mini-shepherds-pies/