Unfortunately, I won't be around today. Soccer game this morning, and I have to drive over an hour to get there, and a second game right after. Then my grandson is coming back here with me to clean the gutters and move leaves. After that, we are embarking on a Dr. Who marathon until Sunday night.
So everyone have fun! Enjoy the Shepherd's Pie!
As you can see by Itzl's concerned look, this group is for us to check in at to let people know we are alive, doing OK, and not affected by such things as heat, blizzards, floods, wild fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, power outages, earthquakes, or other such things that could keep us off DKos. It's also so we can find other Kossacks nearby for in-person checks when other methods of communication fail - a buddy system. Members come here to check in. If you're not here, or anywhere else on DKos, and there are adverse conditions in your area (floods, heatwaves, hurricanes, earthquakes etc.), we and your buddy are going to check up on you. If you are going to be away from your computer for a day or a week, let us know here. We care!
IAN is a great group to join, and a good place to learn to write diaries. Drop one of us a PM to be added to the Itzl Alert Network anytime! We all share the publishing duties, and we welcome everyone who reads IAN to write diaries for the group! Every member is an editor, so anyone can take a turn when they have something to say, photos and music to share, a cause to promote or news!
Ok, we do have a diary schedule. But, when you are ready to write that diary, either post in thread or send FloridaSNMOM a Kosmail with the date. If you need someone to fill in, ditto. FloridaSNMOM is here on and off through the day usually from around 9:30 or 10 am eastern to around 11 pm eastern.
Monday:
BadKitties
Tuesday:
ejoanna
Wednesday:
Caedy
Thursday:
art ah zen
Friday:
FloridaSNMOM
Saturday:
Most Awesome Nana
Sunday:
loggersbrat
Shepherd's pie? From a vegetarian? Yes! And a delicious one it is. How do you make shepherd's pie without meat, you ask? With LENTILS, I answer! Don't laugh - I have served this dish to confirmed carnivores and they loved it. Just don't tell them what's in it until after they have had a bite. ;-)
Before I give you the recipe, there are a few tips I have learned to make this even more delicious.
First, use French lentils. They don't become mushy or end up with the inside mushy and the skin hard. Also, cook the lentils with a diced carrot. Makes the beans sweeter.
Second, use Yukon Gold potatoes. They have a hearty flavor and the golden color browns up lovely. Makes a nice presentation.
Third, make it the day before you plan to serve it. It holds together better and like many savory dishes, it improves with time.
I cannot tell you how many people this will serve. I make it in a 1 quart oval deep dish casserole, but I also add more veggies than the recipe calls for. At first I made it exactly as written here, but I like to add more carrots and mushrooms. And it works better in a smaller but deeper dish. Large, shallow dishes have too much potato to filling ratio in each serving. Hope this isn't too confusing. Experimentation is a good thing.
Shepherd's Pie (sans meat)
2 cups cooked lentils
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1/2 cup celery, sliced
1 cup mushrooms (any type), chopped
2 gloves garlic, minced
oil to coat dish and saute vegetables
1 tsp mixed dried herbs (basil, oregano, thyme - or your favorites)
15 oz can diced tomatoes
2 T soy sauce
2-3 T chopped parsley
salt & pepper to taste
4 med potatoes, mashed
paprika
1. Preheat oven to 350*
2. Saute onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms & garlic
3. Add herbs, tomatoes, soy sauce, lentils, parsley, salt & pepper (just heat through)
4. Spoon into oiled baking dish
5. Spread potatoes over the top, make ridges with a fork, sprinkle with paprika
6. Bake 45 minutes
Add a green salad and you are good to go. I find this to be a good dish to have for after snowshoeing - or any cold weather exercise. It's delicious, filling without being heavy, microwaves well without drying, and makes the house smell wonderful. Enjoy!
And speaking of cold weather exercise (or any exercise), today's totally gratuitous picture:
M.A. Daughter on top of Mt. Quandary, a Colorado Fourteener. I believe she has climbed more Fourteeners than Paul Ryan. ;-)