Shepherd's Pie - What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
July 12, 2011 11:39am CST
EVERYTHING, that's what!
Now, I've made Shepherd's Pie loads of times as I tend to keep things simple. The only way it's different from a traditional Shepherd's Pie is that I use beef as opposed to lamb mince. I guess I should call it Cattle Farmer's Pie instead.
Anyway, some Evil Force (Goblin) was preventing my Shepherd's Pie from being a culinary delight. For starters, the potatoes John bought from the Pioneer Food Hall had more bad bits in them than good so it took me ages to peel them!
Oh, well, can't be helped.
The beef mince looked fine until I started cooking it on the hob. As you know, I don't use real onions, I use onion granules so I took the pot and sprinkled a few in.
"Strange!" I thought. There seemed to be loads left in the jar (we're supposed to be running low on them) until I realised that I was using the identical GARLIC GRANULES jar. The granules are sodding well identical as well, which doesn't help!
Before long the whole house started to wreak of garlic. I had to do something, so I emptied the WHOLE of the onion granules jar into the meat. I then seasoned (what a laugh) with salt and pepper. Drastic measures were called for so I made some gravy (as I would do normally) but made waaay too much and the meat is now swimming in the stuff.
As for the mash..well, to bulk it up (didn't have enough) I grated some cheese into it and it now resembles dumplings on top of the garlic gravy meat as there STILL wasn't enough to cover it.
What a disaster! I'm not eating any of it..absolutely no way, even the smell is knocking me sick.
I think I'll stick to baking cakes from now on. I'm good at those!
Before long the whole house started to wreak of garlic. I had to do something, so I emptied the WHOLE of the onion granules jar into the meat. I then seasoned (what a laugh) with salt and pepper. Drastic measures were called for so I made some gravy (as I would do normally) but made waaay too much and the meat is now swimming in the stuff.
As for the mash..well, to bulk it up (didn't have enough) I grated some cheese into it and it now resembles dumplings on top of the garlic gravy meat as there STILL wasn't enough to cover it.
What a disaster! I'm not eating any of it..absolutely no way, even the smell is knocking me sick.
I think I'll stick to baking cakes from now on. I'm good at those!2 people like this
19 responses
@epicure35 (2814)
• United States
16 Jul 11
Usually it's more difficult to bake cakes than to make Shepherd's Pie, but I can understand your predicament.
I, too, use beef instead of lamb. I do use real onions and garlic. I'm careful to make a thick gravy.
But, I sometimes have trouble with the potatoes "weeping" once I put them on top of the meat mixture. I do make them thicker than thin, but, I can't figure out why the "weep". I wonder if it has to do with "sealing" the beef mixture with the potatoes, as in, complete coverage.
I do add veggies to the meat mix, such as peas and carrots. I sometimes add cheddar cheese to the potatoes, on top, that is.
But, the "weep" shall remain a mystery, unless someone might advise me.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Jul 11
It could be the type of potatoes you are using, perhaps? If I use one of the following...Maris Piper, King Edward, Nadine or anything that has a red skin on them..they're all fine. I tend to have problems if I don't cook the right amount of potato as I can't cover the meat properly.
@owlwings (43914)
• Cambridge, England
12 Jul 11
I think that the only problem with 'mistaken identity' I ever had was when I mistook egg powder for milk powder. Have you ever tried coffee flavoured scrambled eggs?
I ALWAYS use real onions and real garlic when cooking. I have been known to try garlic paste but I very soon went back to the real thing! There really is no comparison.
Yes, Shepherd's Pie is made of minced sheep (lamb is the only variety available these days but it used to be mutton, of course). It should, traditionally, contain peas and probably some root vegetables, such as swede and turnip and carrot to eke out the meat, which was (and still is) expensive.
PLEASE, never use 'granules'! They have lost all the 'top' flavours of both onion and garlic and certainly all of the goodness (protection against colds and flu) which real onion and garlic have. They are MUCH more expensive than good, honest vegetables and ... well, they are just CRAP!
@owlwings (43914)
• Cambridge, England
12 Jul 11
I have been using coffee in a beef stew for many years. It's called 'Brazilian Beef' and it always disappears as soon as I make it because people not only come back for seconds but clean the casserole for me with bread!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
12 Jul 11
Not as convenient though lol.
My Mum told me earlier that she once mistook coffee granules for gravy granules for her Shepherd's Pie many years ago. She had to go grovelling off her neighbour for something to serve us all that was edible..so accidents even happen to master cooks like Ma!
My Mum told me earlier that she once mistook coffee granules for gravy granules for her Shepherd's Pie many years ago. She had to go grovelling off her neighbour for something to serve us all that was edible..so accidents even happen to master cooks like Ma!
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
16 Jul 11
hi janey oh my g granules no wonder. oh my use real garlic its not as expensive as granules and real onions, those granules have extra salt and crap thats not good for one.use really fresh real veggies and your Shepard pie will be good, I hate those granule things as its hard to measure and they make me ill. I am hungry we had one time shepard pie here and they really did a great job but think they would repea it no way. I love garlic but too much is too much lol lol what a time you had wow. I have had disasters too there must be a bad cooking day gremlin somewhere aroundl lol when I was yet in an apt. I used red potatoes for my topping and they were so mealy and good. took a little more time peeling but the taste was great.wow your dish was oops too much seasoned. If you had not gone overboard on the garlic and onion granules it might have turned out all right but me I prefer fresh onions and fresh garlic and control the amount forgive me but I have had the best laugh imagining the potent smell of garlic wow
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Jul 11
Haha! Well, I can laugh about it now but I wasn't at the time. Anyway, I redeemed myself by making ANOTHER Shepherd's Pie 2 days later..this time without the garlic in it. It was well scrummy!
I know it's odd that I use the granules but I do like them. I don't possess a garlic crusher and I feel that it would be an unnecessary purchase, to be honest. I've had real onions in the past and I wasn't that impressed with the quality of them..so I've reverted back to granules.
Earlier I made some potato wedges. As soon as I boiled the potatoes I transfered them to a bowl, added olive oil and a couple of herbs (from jars lol), tray-baked them in the oven with the skins on and I'm not kidding you, they were AWESOME! Far better than the frozen rubbish you get in bags. Now I know they're good I can use other ingredients too..as Nigella Lawson said, "anything that sticks to a spud!"
I shall remember that!
Well, I can laugh about it now but I wasn't at the time. Anyway, I redeemed myself by making ANOTHER Shepherd's Pie 2 days later..this time without the garlic in it. It was well scrummy!
I know it's odd that I use the granules but I do like them. I don't possess a garlic crusher and I feel that it would be an unnecessary purchase, to be honest. I've had real onions in the past and I wasn't that impressed with the quality of them..so I've reverted back to granules.
Earlier I made some potato wedges. As soon as I boiled the potatoes I transfered them to a bowl, added olive oil and a couple of herbs (from jars lol), tray-baked them in the oven with the skins on and I'm not kidding you, they were AWESOME! Far better than the frozen rubbish you get in bags. Now I know they're good I can use other ingredients too..as Nigella Lawson said, "anything that sticks to a spud!"
I shall remember that!
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
16 Jul 11
I love Shepherd's pie but I never have luck making it. Each ingredient has to mix together just right. One day I will get it right.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Jul 11
I know what you mean. I made another cake tonight and it's nothing like the previous one I baked..and it's an identical recipe. Can't understand it!
I find that, with the Shepherd's Pie at least, keeping it simple with the minimum of ingredients certainly works for me.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
13 Jul 11
I think that where you really went wrong was that you forgot to put the shepherd in there! 
Why do you use granules instead of the real thing? There is nothing quite as good as fresh food. I cannot imagine that the granules would be anywhere near as tasty or beneficial in health. Surely that would be a more expensive way to buy too? 
If you bought the real food instead, then you would not have made the mistake! You are not the only one who has over garlicked a dish. My wife stuffed up a soup a few years ago by putting way more garlic in than there was supposed to be. There was no way of getting it right. Even after doubling the rest of the ingredients, it was still nasty and got thrown out.
Why do you use granules instead of the real thing? There is nothing quite as good as fresh food. I cannot imagine that the granules would be anywhere near as tasty or beneficial in health. Surely that would be a more expensive way to buy too?
If you bought the real food instead, then you would not have made the mistake! You are not the only one who has over garlicked a dish. My wife stuffed up a soup a few years ago by putting way more garlic in than there was supposed to be. There was no way of getting it right. Even after doubling the rest of the ingredients, it was still nasty and got thrown out. @Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Jul 11
I very nearly bought some "proper" garlic today but chickened out as I've got loads of granules I need to use up lol. I've also stocked up on onion granules and the reason I use them (onion) is that I can't stand to see REAL onion in food. If I see real onion in food I take it all out and leave it on the side of my plate. However, using granules has been a revelation as we all know onion HAS to be used to flavour food, in some instances. I can't see it, therefore I eat it.
I haven't got a gizmo for crushing garlic either, another reason to go down the granules route, which, incidentally, aren't bad at all...if used sparingly!!
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
14 Jul 11
"I can't stand to see REAL onion in food" Really, why is that? Everyday, something you write amazes me Jane!
You don't need a gizmo for crushing garlic. You just turn your chopping knife sideways on top of the garlic and press down. It crushes it nicely doing it this way and you already have the tool! 
You don't need a gizmo for crushing garlic. You just turn your chopping knife sideways on top of the garlic and press down. It crushes it nicely doing it this way and you already have the tool! 
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
13 Jul 11
heehee. I've had days like this in the kitchen. You know, where you accidentally put one cup of sugar and a half of a cup of flour when it was supposed to be the other way around. You just have to laugh and hope that you can salvage the ingredients to make something else.
Too bad, though, because I do like shepherd's pie.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Jul 11
I've bought some more "mashers" which will do the trick as they're maris piper's, the best spuds money can buy. Already had some today but tomorrow it's going to be my Shepherd's Pie Mark II and I have my new pot of onion granules, so no excuses..it's gonna be "top" lol.
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
13 Jul 11
Sorry to hear that your whole meal was such a disaster. I know that sometimes it can seem as though everything that I cook is a disaster, but I still keep trying. I am thankful that I am fairly good at cooking. I don't usually make shepherd's pie, so I really don't know how to tell you what went wrong.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Jul 11
I shall make amends by making another one. I have some beef mince left and I've stocked up on some more proper mashers and onion granules, so I really have NO excuse, as I have made it loads of times..just never with garlic and I never shall again use garlic in this dish!
@margerydaw14 (735)
•
12 Jul 11
Hahaha, your shepherds pie is just like a big snowball, its rolls downhill all the way, from one disaster to the next. Thankyou so much for cheering me up. I am a similiar sort of cook,"let's add something, its got to get better....?". Thank you for being a normal lady who cooks, not one of these goddesses in the adverts, who don't need to measure something to get a perfect pie, perfect goulash(yah I call it stew!) perfect fish dish etc., Must admit though, do not like garlic, but never heard of garlic granules. 
Happy cooking! xx
. Thank you for being a normal lady who cooks, not one of these goddesses in the adverts, who don't need to measure something to get a perfect pie, perfect goulash(yah I call it stew!) perfect fish dish etc., Must admit though, do not like garlic, but never heard of garlic granules. Happy cooking! xx@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Jul 11
Some people poo-poo Garlic Granules but I think they're great (rather like the Onion Granules) as I don't have the gizmos to crush garlic cloves, etc, and I can't be bothered buying them lol.
Regarding onions, the reason why I use granules is simple...I can't stand the SIGHT of real onions in my food. To Mum's dismay I always fish them out if I see them. However, I do know that onion is great for flavouring food..hence the granules.
I guess I do the same with the garlic granules although I REALLY shouldn't have used them in my Shepherd's Pie. In my opinion I ruined it although hubby would disagree, Ganet that he is lol.
Regarding onions, the reason why I use granules is simple...I can't stand the SIGHT of real onions in my food. To Mum's dismay I always fish them out if I see them. However, I do know that onion is great for flavouring food..hence the granules.
I guess I do the same with the garlic granules although I REALLY shouldn't have used them in my Shepherd's Pie. In my opinion I ruined it although hubby would disagree, Ganet that he is lol.
@Shellyann36 (11384)
• United States
13 Jul 11
Oh goodness, sounds as if it was way too much garlic. I decided to make garlic bread once in my bread machine and I put way too much garlic powder in it. It turned out so terrible that I threw away the entire loaf. Good luck with your shepherd's pie.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Jul 11
I have some incredible "mashers" in the form of Maris Piper potatoes, the best money can buy for such a dish as Shepherd's Pie. I've used them many times before so I know they work.
I shall make sure I get the onion granules out (bought some more) IN ADVANCE so I don't get them mixed up with the garlic ones.
Wish me luck!
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
14 Jul 11
Happy your John ate it all. SO you see, it wasnt that bad lol.
Even though I owned a restaurant a few years back, I still have my bad days. It happens to all of us who cook even renowned Chef.....the only difference is that the Chef will know how to save the dish!! Ive learned those tricks over the years and can salvage just about any mistake.....almost!!
I dont use gravy in my shepperd's pie. I use beef cubes that I'll brown with onions (yes real ones) carrots, celery and peas if I have them. Then I'll put everything through the food processor. Of course the only way I can eat shepperd's pie is with lots and lots of Ketchup on top
Im sure the second try will be delicious!!
Im sure the second try will be delicious!!
@changjiangzhibin89 (16697)
• China
13 Jul 11
You should have differentiated the onion from the garlic according to their colour.the onion is pale purple and the garlic is white.
@bouncybug (614)
• South Africa
12 Jul 11
Haha oh dear this is hilarious!! It really did seem as if everything went wrong for you with that meal.. Oh well, take it as a lesson - maybe you should, as you say, stick to baking :) Oh just write it off as one of those trial and error kind of situations - I'm sure the next time you make shepherd's pie you'll be sure to check whether the granules are onion or garlic! :) Put a BIG label on the jars :)
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
12 Jul 11
Yes, my Mum suggested labels. Funnily enough, John brought some home from work last week!
The day didn't start off well so I should've known. First thing I did was spill Greek Yoghurt down my top!
@Gwenog (3)
• United States
13 Jul 11
You sound like you are in the UK. Maybe shepards pie isn't your strong suit. Can you teach me a chicken and ham pie?
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
13 Jul 11
Erm, maybe not as I have never made one. I've eaten a shop-bought chicken pie and it was hideous so it puts me off somewhat, even though if I made one it would be miles better lol.
And yes, I am from the UK.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
12 Jul 11
that sounds pretty much how we always make it anyhow.
lots of garlic,onion and gravy.
sometimes even kidney beans too.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
12 Jul 11
I'm not used to it though. However, John loved it so what do I know lol.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
12 Jul 11
LOL. Now you should slip into your frilly apron, give John a "come hither" smile, adopt a French saucy accent and offer him the garlic Shepherds Pie (isn't it Cottage Pie with beef?). It's a winner! You'll both end up smiling and convinced that it was a gastronomic triumph!!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
12 Jul 11
Fortunately for me he did his Noo-noo (vacuum cleaner from the Teletubbies) impression and polished the WHOLE LOT OFF.
Result!
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
12 Jul 11
Open all windows, spray some Fabreeze and call John and tell him you want to eat out today. During dinner out tell him that though you really tried hard today, everything in the Kitchen cupboards decided to stare back at you.
Though you were not going to allow them to out win, you began to cook, as you were cooking the ingredients took on a mind of their own. So after dinner where he is full and content, remind him that it is the ingredients fault and not yours. This way when he walks in and smells the left over odors he sill remember you did try and nothing worked out well today. lol
Nice try though as you really improvised big time.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
12 Jul 11
Fortunately, John ate the whole lot, even my share that I refused to eat due to it being way too potent for me. He has been known to come home with a really strong-smelling kebab in the winter (for himself after the snooker) so I should've known that he likes that type of food.
@lacieice (2060)
• United States
12 Jul 11
It's very easy to make mistakes when cooking. I am sure I've made more than a few over the years, but none come to mind at this minute. I do remember, however, a mistake my sister-in-law made one year at a family Christmas dinner. She was making a roast with some kind of sauce...and she grabbed a bottle off the shelf and poured it on the meat. A little later, she thought something didn't seem right, so she checked and found out that she had actually used anti-freeze. Why it was around stored food containers I will never know. I am just very thankful that the mistake was discovered before anyone got poisoned.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
12 Jul 11
Oh my God! You're right, it IS a good job the mistake was discovered my friend.
At school I always remember my friend shaking some ICING SUGAR instead of flour onto her dumplings! They were both in identical shakers. Why do they do this? It increases the risk of making a c*ck-up!
