Shepherd's Pie

I bought a giant thing of russet potatoes last week, thinking that mashed potatoes would be a good post-wisdom-teeth food. I didn't really get around to eating them up. So I decided to make a shepherd's pie, with a nice mashed potato crust. I had never made one before but it was pretty simple, if a bit time-consuming. I went by the recipe in How It All Vegan (which I feel I should point out is on page 110, because it's not listed in the index, or at least I couldn't find it under Shepherd's Pie or Entrees).

I made the mashed potatoes first, in the morning. I also cooked some lentils. I didn't have green lentils like the recipe calls for, so I used brown. Later I came back and sauteed the veggies and assembled the pie and baked it. I was worried that the pie would be on the dry side, since there's no gravy. So, while it was baking, I made a batch of Sage Gravy from Vegan Comfort Food.

For me, the gravy really made the pie, but Tony preferred it without, so it's a matter of personal taste. I thought it turned out perfectly. It's comfort food but it's also healthy. Next time I make it, I'll add some cubed tofu, because the lack of protein made it hard to feel full. I also think it's a pain to cook the lentils first, especially when the recipe only calls for 1/2 cup. Next time I'll probably add 1/4 cup red lentils and 1/2 cup gravy to the veggie mixture, and let the lentils cook while the pie is baking. Red lentils cook up super fast because they are tiny, so I think that would work. Finally, the recipe calls for onion, carrots, spinach, celery and tomato, but you could throw in any vegetable under the sun and it would work, so it's a great way to clean out the crisper drawer in your fridge (or use up your garden bounty, for you lucky ones with gardens!)

Now I'm off to our local library for the first time to get a library card. They're supposed to have a great children's section, so I'm excited to get Jackson some new books to read, for free. Before I became a stay-at-home mom, I actually was a librarian, so I feel a little embarrassed that I've lived here for nine months and I'm just now visiting the library! Oh well, at least I'm doing it now. What are your plans for the day?