" Okey Dokey " ..... So this is a recipe that I found years ago on the web ..... But I really wasn't happy with it and decided to make quite a few changes ..... and after about two tries ..... It came out absolutely " DELICIOUS " and it quickly became one of my wife's favorite meals to boot ..... ( I think this meal convinced her that I should always do the cooking around here ! )

" You really need to try this one out ! "

A slight taste of an original Irish Shepherd's Pie ( which I also make but haven't posted the recipe as of yet ) with a touch of Italy !

         One of the biggest visual differences between an original Irish Shepherd's Pie and my Italian Shepherd's Pie is the topping ..... Irish Shepherd's Pie, of course, has mashed potatoes as the topping ..... However " My Italian Shepherd's Pie " actually has more of a " breading style topping ! " ( no mashed potatoes here ) And my wife thinks the breading on top of this Italian Shepherd's Pie taste a lot like " Red Lobster's " dinner rolls.

  Ingredients:

•     1  ~  lb. of hot, mild or sweet Italian Sausage  ~  ( See Tip #1 )

•     1  ~  14.5 oz. can of tomato sauce such as Contadina which includes " Italian Herbs "  ~  ( see photo below )

•     1  ~  14.5 oz. can of petite diced tomatoes ~ ( " We normally use 1/2 of the can "   ~  ( see photo below )

•     1/2  ~  cup of pasta  ~  ( Elbows, Ditalini, Rotini, etc. )
                ( We use either elbow's or ditalini's }

•     1  ~  2.25 oz. can of sliced black olives ~ ( " Optional " ~ But we always use )

•     10  ~  pieces of pepperoni  ~  ( cut in quarters ) ~ ( " Optional " ~ We use if we have some already in the fridge )

•     1  ~  cup of shredded mixed Italian Cheese  ~  ( or cheese of choice )

•     1  ~  small or medium onion  ~  ( diced )

•     1  ~  glove of garlic  ~  ( minced )

  Topping Ingredients :

•     1  ~  cup of all-purpose flour

•     1/4  ~  cup of grated parmesan cheese

•     1 - 1/2  ~  teaspoons of baking powder

•     1/2  ~  teaspoon of salt

•     1/4  ~  teaspoon of pepper

•     1/4  ~  teaspoon of italian seasoning

•     1/2  ~  cup of milk

•     1/4  ~  cup of butter  ~  ( melted )

  Possible Cooking Dishes To Use :

•      4  ~  12 - oz. Ramikens  ~  ( see photo below )

•      2  ~  16 - oz. Oven Proof Bowls  ~  ( see photo below )

•      1  ~  8" x 8" Casserole Dish

Directions:

1.   Cook the pasta in salted water until it's the consistancey you like.
     ( the pasta " won't cook more " when this goes in the oven )

2.   While the pasta is cooking, in a large skillet, cook the sausage ( or meat of choice ), onion, and garlic over medium heat.

3.   When sausage is cooked, drain and put back in skillet.

4.   Then add the tomato sauce, olives, diced tomatoes, and pepperoni into the skillet and mix together.

5.   Cook over medium heat and stir the mixture for 8 - 10 minutes or until it thickens some.

6.   Once the mixture has thickened stir in your pasta.

7.   Turn your oven on and set it to 450^o.

8.   Then spoon the mixture into your choice of oven proof dish or dishes.  ~  ( see photos below )

9.   In a medium bowl, combine the flour, grated parmesan cheese, baking powder, salt, pepper & Italian seasoning and stir to combine.

10.   Then Stir in the milk and butter just until moistened.

11.   Spoon dough over meat mixture then place the oven proof bowls on a baking sheet.

12.   Bake on the center rack at 450° for 12 - 15 minutes or until golden brown.

13.   Take the " Italian Shepherd's Pie " out of the oven and .....

    

There are a lot of possible meat options for this meal ..... such as :

• Hot Italian Sausage .....
  
• Mild Italian Sausage .....
  
• Sweet Italian Sausage .....  ~  ( One of our favorites to use )
  
• Ground Sage Turkey .....  ~  ( One of our favorites to use due to it's soft cooked texture )
  
• Ground Pork .....
  
• Ground Burger .....
  
• Half Italian Sausage and Half Ground Burger .....

         

Other brands with " Italian Seasoning " are also great to use !

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or at ( russpickde@comcast.net )

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