Shepherdess pie

How sweet is the Shepherd’s sweet lot!
From the morn to the evening he stays;
He shall follow his sheep all the day,
And his tongue shall be filled with praise.

- William Blake

For a shepherd, one of the main perks of the job is the abundant supply of the famous pie. However, I can now vouch for the fact that Shepherd’s pie is very tasty even without meat. For some reason, this dish is sometimes referred to as Shepherdess pie. Hans Christian Anderson told of a romance between two china figures, a Sheperdess and a Chimney Sweep, who lived on a table top. They were forced to escape up the chimney to evade the clutches of an evil Satyr, also a china figurine. Guided by the stars above, they slowly made their way to the top of the chimney. Once there, the Shepherdess, overcome by the vastness of the outside world, wanted to return back down the chimney. To eat more of her pie probably.

I had no Satyr to contend with, nor any chimney sweep for my house is gas heated, but Shepherdess pie was the my chosen dish to mark the arrival of my Domestic Goddess gf last Friday. The basic ingredients of the pie filling were leek, celery, carrots and, as they are so abundant right now, pumpkin. These were stir-fried for a few minutes and then some mixed beans, chopped tomato and herbs added to the mix (mixed herbs and cumin). See the details over at good old BBC recipes

This was served to my discerning dinner companion with a glass of Shiraz. My heart fluttered with anxiety as I awaited her verdict. “Its very professional!” came the answer. I agree with her. The pie was so moreish we consumed three large portions between us that evening. All in all, Shepherdess pie was a great success.

~ by Slackenerny on October 28, 2008.