shepherd's pie

Or is it cottage pie?  I'm not sure.  Anyway this shepherd's pie is good with leftover roast.  I made some last week or a couple weeks ago and froze it, and then made this from here. 

It took quite a while; next time I would consider just using frozen vegetables.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds cooked beef roast, chopped up
• 2 cups sliced, cooked carrots (I simmered them about 8 minutes)
• 2 cups green beans (I used my other recipe for green beans)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 cups milk
• 1/3 cup flour
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 1/2 pounds of potatoes (about 3 to 4 large potatoes)
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup butter
• (1 cup shredded cheddar) - I don't use

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375F.
2. Grease a baking dish and add the beef in an even layer.
3. Cover with the carrots, then the green beans.
4. Set aside.
5. Melt the 1/4 cup butter in a heavy frying pan.
6. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly until it is a golden color, about 2 minutes.
7. Whisk in the milk and simmer until the gravy is smooth and thick.
8. Pour over the meat and vegetables.
9. Set aside.
10. Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks.
11. Boil them in salted water until they are very tender.
12. Mash them with the 3/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup butter.
13. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
14. Spoon over the meat and vegetables and sprinkle the cheddar over the top.
15. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until the cheese it bubbly and the dish is heated all the way through.

granola

I do love me some homemade granola.  The storebought stuff is too sweet, too many chemicals, etc.

This is good and not too sweet, with lots of room for creativity and pantry emptying.  From here.  I especially like it with pecans and maple syrup.

Ingredients

• 2 cups raw, whole rolled oats (AKA old fashion oats), preferably organic
• 1 cup raw nuts or seeds, chopped
• 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup or raw honey (or a combo of both)
• 2 tablespoons oil
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract
• 1 large pinch fine sea salt
• ½ cup unsweetened dried fruit, chopped (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 300º F.
2. Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Use your clean hands to mix well and toss to coat; it will be sticky and messy but that's the fun part.
3. Spread the mixture in a thin layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 30 minutes, until lightly toasted.
4. Cool before serving or storing.
5. This granola can be kept in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 2 weeks.

black bean patties

These black bean patties are tasty and will be amazing with the plantains I'm getting soon on the food buying club order.

I made them plain and ate them with sour cream but they can definitely be spiced up.  They were very tasty.

*2 cups cooked black beans, mashed with potato masher*
*1 egg
*1/2 c. panko (more if the beans are wet)
*salt and pepper

Mix together.  Form into eight small patties and fry in skillet for six minutes or so on each side.

Yum!


*I generally can beans in pint jars.  For this recipe, I use two pint jars, drained (with a couple of spoonfulls for the dog).