So, the picture up there looks very similar to Shepherds Pie, right?
Well, it is.
There are a couple of different seasonings, like adding in thyme and bay leaves. Otherwise, it's awfully close to being the same thing. The big difference? It contains only root vegetables. Carrots, onions, potatoes. There are no peas and other items. So, both were good, but I liked the extra variety in the Shepherds version. Here's the recipe:
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
2 cups beef broth
2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup diced onions
2 carrots, peeled and small dice
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 sprigs fresh thyme
2 bay leaves
prepared mashed potatoes
INSTRUCTIONS
Cook the beef in a skillet, then add the onions, carrots, celery and garlic.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
The veggies will soften after roughly 3 minutes. After that, add the remaining ingredients. Mix well and allow to cook over medium heat until most of the liquid has been absorbed which should take about 15-20 minutes.
Remove the thyme and bay leaves and place the meat mixture in an oven safe casserole dish, then top with the prepared mashed potatoes.
Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown.
While eating the pie, we needed to watch something. So, on to our Irish movies!
Our first movie as we journey into Ireland was a movie called War of the Buttons. It seems it is based on a French novel, but this version is set in Ireland, complete with Irish settings. Two schools of children from neighboring towns in 1960 Ireland battle each other, ratcheting up the battle as the competition heats up. Though "war" is in the title, it's a fun and funny tale even though the boys let things get a bit out of control. Captured prisoners get their buttons cut off their clothes, so in one hilarious scene one set of boys decide to fight naked so as not to get their clothes messed up. Naturally, the second set of boys quickly runs away from the naked assault! Lessons are learned by the end of the movie and differences are put aside.
Here's our Ireland to do list -->
Movies:
War of the Buttons
Darby O’Gill and the Little People
Secret of Kells
Far and Away
Tristan & Isolde
Michael Collins
Patriot Games
Waking Ned Devine
Leap Year
Short History of Ireland (YOUTUBE)
Celts Part 1 and 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU1dKfMIEUQ
Irish Pubs Documentary
Food: Irish Stew, Boxty, Cottage Pie
Music: Celtic, U2
Stories: Tir Na Nog, Princess Finola and the Dwarf
Craft: Celtic Knot Valentine
http://www.extremepapercrafting.com/2013/01/celtic-knot-valentine.html
Custom: Learn Irish Step Dancing to become the Lord of the Dance! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWDxLxFFpZY
Check out more of our World Culture Tour.
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