Martie Duncan's Easy St. Patrick's Day Food to Feed a Crowd: Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie is a great, inexpensive recipe for St. Patrick's Day or any time you need something comforting to feed a big crowd. Ground meat, potatoes, onions.... the ingredients are simple, the prep time is minimal and you can bake it off right before guests arrive. With the ground beef and potatoes, your picky eaters will never notice the carrots or peas hiding in the filling. I normally use the ground beef for this recipe but made it once with the traditional ground lamb and it was fantastic.

TRADITONAL SHEPHERD'S PIE

Makes 4-6 small ramekins or 1 medium casserole

1/2 T. olive oil

1 1/2 pounds ground beef (or use ground lamb if you prefer- or a combination of both)

1 t. kosher salt

1/2 t. black pepper

1 small yellow onion, diced small (about 1 1/4 cup)

2 carrots, diced very small

2 cloves garlic, finely grated

2 T. Worcestershire sauce

3 T. tomato paste

1/2 cup red wine

1 cup chicken stock

1/2 cup frozen English peas

1 t. fresh Thyme leaves, minced fine

1 t. fresh rosemary leaves, minced fine

For the mashed potato topping:

2-3 large potatoes, peeled and diced small

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided n half

1 egg yolk

1/3 cup whole milk

1/2 t. kosher salt

1/4 t. black pepper

Preheat the oven to 350

Dice the potatoes. Rinse in some cool water. Fill a pot with water. Add the potatoes. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are just fork tender. Drain well. Use a fork to mash the potatoes while they are hot and allow to cool slightly. Add the milk, salt, and pepper. Using a hand mixer or any method you prefer, whip the potatoes until they are fluffy. Add the egg yolk and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan. Reserve.

In a large skillet or pan, heat up the olive oil. Add the ground beef and brown. Add the onion and carrots. Brown until they are softened, about 3-4 minutes. Drain off excess fat if there is any. Add the tomato paste and brown for about 2 minutes. Add the Worcestershire sauce and cook that for about 1 minute. Add the red wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up any bits of flavor on the bottom of your pan. Add the thyme and the parsley. Cook until the wine is mostly evaporated. Stir in the chicken stock. Cook 3-4 minutes more. The mixture should be quite thick and paste like. If it is not, cook and stir until most of the liquid is cooked out. Check the seasoning- you may need a bit more salt and pepper at this point. I often put a dash of Tabasco or a pinch of cayenne pepper into mine also...

Spray your ramekin or casserole dish with non-stick spray if you want a shortcut. I prefer to lightly brush the ramekin with a little olive oil and then dust it with some of the grated Parmesan cheese. Fill the ramekin 2/3 full with the meat mixture. Top with the potatoes. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.  Use a fork to pierce the top so the juice will bubble up through the potatoes. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly hot.

Irish Beer Cheese FondueMORE ST. PATRICK'S DAY RECIPES FROM MARTIE KNOWS PARTIES:

HOW TO MAKE GREEN BEER

EASY RECIPES FOR COLCANNON AND IRISH SODA BREAD

IRISH WHISKEY LEMONADE

IRISH COFFEE

IRISH BEER CHEESE FONDUE

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Kiss Me, I'm Irish: St. Patrick's Day Party & Food Ideas from Martie Duncan

For one day each year, all of us are Irish! St. Patrick's Day is March 17. Time to don some green, dance in the streets, drink a Guinness and kiss the leprechauns! Whether you have a simple St. Paddy's Day dinner at home with the family or make it a big event with a neighborhood parade and green beer, here is the 411 on St. Patrick's Day fun and food. Now, kiss me quickly, I'm only IRISH for the next 24 hours! Happy St. Patrick's Day. (PS, I miss you, Chicago)

ST. PATRICK'S DAY TRADITIONS

St. Patrick is the best known of the Patron Saints of Ireland and St. Patrick's Day has been recognized as a holiday in Ireland since the early 17th Century. Shamrocks and "wearing of the green" have been a part of the celebration since that time. Even today, those caught not wearing the customary green clothing receive a pinch. Lots of cities get in on the St. Patrick's Day fun; in Chicago, they dye the Chicago River green for the day and in Seattle, they paint the stripes on the street green on the parade route. In Ireland, St. Patrick's Feast Day, as it is known, is all about the food... so that's where I want to start!

Corned Beef and Cabbage from MyRecipes.comST. PATRICK'S DAY RECIPES

Corned Beef and Cabbage and Irish Stew... I've been researching these and other St. Patrick's Day menu options and have discovered things like Colcannon, Soda Bread, Shepherd's Pie, and Boxty Pancakes...

I even have a little rhyme for that one sent to me by my friend Jean: 'Boxty on the griddle, boxty on the pan; if you can't make boxty, you'll never get a man'... :)

I am in the adventure stage of Irish cuisine and am trying everything.... and so far, I'm a fan. The food is hearty and comforting. And even better when you add a Guinness, Harp, or any nice Irish stout. Here are a few of the recipes I've tried and liked. My favorite? Colcannon!

Authentic Colcannon from SimplyRecipes.comColcannon is a staple in Irish kitchens. I eat it all the time, I just didn't know it. Basically, it is mashed potatoes, bacon, and cabbage or kale. I almost always mix my potatoes in my cabbage, don't you? I made this recipe with kale from SimplyRecipes.com and it was very delicious. Try Tyler's recipe with cabbage; it's also simple and authentic. 

Martie's Bacon, Leek and Potato SoupPotato Soup: What's not to love about potato soup? My Bacon, Leek and Potato Soup recipe is perfect for a crowd for St. Paddy's Day. Make up a big pot and serve it when you get home from the parade to warm up! Add a little cheese to take it to the next level but I love it just like this.

 Irish Soda Bread: Now, I must admit, I have not been a fan of Irish Soda Bread until I tried this recipe. It is the perfect partner to Colcannon. Try Mummy's Brown Bread, an authentic Irish farm bread that is also really good.

Corned Beef & Cabbage Try this version from MyRecipes.com Full of taste and flavor!

Shepherd's Pie: Not unlike Chicken Pot Pie since it is stuffed full of meat and veggies but the big difference is the thick layer of mashed potatoes on the top! Yum! My recipe is so simple and a very affordable way to feed a big crowd. Get the recipe...

Boxty Pancakes: These potato pancakes are not unlike the potato pancakes my mom would make on Sunday nights when there were leftover mashed potatoes. My mom didn't use recipes, but I think I got this pretty close to hers: Grate 2 small raw potatos in with 4-5 cups leftover mashed potatoes. Add a little finely chopped onion, 1 cup buttermilk (you can use milk), 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and about 1/2 cup of all-purpose flour to bind it together. Heat a large skillet and brush with vegetable oil. Form pancakes with 1 tablespoon mixture and drop onto the pan. Slightly flatten. You can do several at one time but don't overcrowd. Cook 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown.

Irish Beer Cheese Fondue: The perfect recipe to start any party, my Irish fondue is made with Irish cheddar and Guinness, the famous Irish stout. It's delicious... an obsession!

ST. PATRICK'S DAY DRINKS: GREEN BEER, IRISH COFFEE, THE BLACK & TAN

Green Beer from MyRecipes.comI guess the drinking is what St. Patrick's Day is really known for, right? While my days for drinking Green Beer are long gone by, it's still a fun tradition. Try it and some of these other St. Paddy's Day favorites!

Of course, Guinness and Harp are the premier Irish beers found here in the USA.

There are lots of brands of Irish Whiskey. I like Bushmills. Check out the Top Five Irish Whiskey list from Epicurious.com

Learn how to make Green Beerfrom our friends at MyRecipes.com!

Irish Coffee: Add one shot of Irish whiskey to a cup of strong coffee. Add a teaspoon brown sugar and a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

Make a Black and Tan: 1 part pale ale (usually Bass) and 1 part Guinness Stout. If you use a lager, then it's called a Half and Half. Half lager, half stout. The Irish don't really drink Black and Tans; it's an US Irish thing:)

Belfast Lemonade: My signature cocktail for St. Paddy's day parties is also perfect for your BBQ, lake, or wedding celebrations! Made with fresh lemonade and Irish whiskey.... smooth and easy!

Happy St. Patrick's Day... May the luck of the Irish be with you all year long!

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