The Real Deal "Shepherd's Pie" Recipe

The "Real Deal" Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Happy St. Patrick's Day, friends! What better way to celebrate the day than to share this lovely Shepherd's Pie recipe? I have been waiting to post this recipe, and today could not be more perfect for paying homage to Ireland and our new Irish friend.

Did you know? Traditional Shepherd's Pie consists of Lamb, and according to our Irish friend, "Cottage Pie" is the correct name for the ground beef version we know in the United States. And apparently, "we do everything backward in the United States" (a little Irish joke).

My new love for Ireland and St. Patrick's Day blossomed last summer when I first traveled to this beautiful, peaceful country to celebrate 25 years of wedded bliss with my dear hubby;). We had the most fantastic time. We toured Southern Ireland, enjoyed new foods, learned about the country's traditions, and laughed until we cried with our new funny friend, Dave, from Dove Chauffer Drive. (He's "a bit of a leprechaun," as he will tell you himself). He's witty and a wisecracker but a lovely new friend and an excellent tour guide. Consider looking him up if you travel to Ireland. He had a lot of funny quotes and stories, and he proudly shared his recipe for Shepherd's Pie and permitted me to add my Cherchies® touches.

Dave, I hope I did your recipe justice! Friends, this recipe is the real deal if you want to make an authentic, savory Irish Shepherd's Pie! It will become one of your favorite dishes you can enjoy anytime.

Comment below and let us know your thoughts on this delicious Irish recipe.

Thanks for stopping by, and we hope you visit again!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground lamb (ground beef for a cottage pie)

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) olive oil

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Minor's Beef Base

• 1 teaspoon (tsp) Worcestershire Sauce

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Champagne Mustard

• 2 teaspoons (tsp) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning

• 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) pepper

• 1 can (14.5 oz.) of diced tomatoes

• 1 large carrot, finely sliced

• 1 cup frozen peas

• 2 teaspoons (tsp) Cherchies Basil Pizzazz

• 1 teaspoon (tsp) Marjoram

• 1 Bay leaf

• 1 teaspoon (tsp) Thyme

• 6-8 potatoes, peeled, boiled, and mashed

• 4 Tablespoons (Tbsp) salted butter

• 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Half and half or milk

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Wash and peel the potatoes.  Boil the potatoes until thoroughly cooked (prick with a fork to check). While potatoes are cooking, dice the onion and slice the carrots.  In a medium skillet, cook the onion in oil until they are translucent.  Add the ground meat, 1 teaspoon Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, pepper, and beef base to the skillet.  Stir.

When the meat is brown, drain the meat. Return the meat to the skillet and add the canned tomatoes, Worcestershire Sauce, Cherchies® Champagne Mustard, water, the rest of the Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, Cherchies® Basil Pizzazz, Marjoram, Thyme, bay leaf, carrots, and peas.  Simmer for ten minutes or until carrots are cooked. 

While the meat is cooking, prepare the potatoes.  Drain the potatoes.  Add butter to the pan and mash the potatoes with a fork.  I usually use a hand mixer to do the rest of the mixing.  Add the milk, a little at a time, until the potatoes have a thick consistency.  Set aside.

Pour cooked meat and vegetables into a small casserole dish.  Spoon the mashed potatoes over the meat and vegetables.  Place the Shepherd's Pie in the oven and cook until potatoes are a lovely golden brown. 

Enjoy!

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Cajun Seafood Chowder Recipe

Cajun Seafood Chowder Recipe

Prep Time:  10 minutes

Cook Time:  20 minutes

Difficulty:  Easy

Whether there is any truth in the saying, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb," it sure is apparent that old man winter is not finished with us here in the northeast.   Ahhh, the sun is shining once again here in Pennsylvania, but it is still drearily cold.   Winter Storm Quinn blanketed our region yesterday with almost a foot of snow, and as another nor'easter looms on the horizon, I can't help but think of warmer days to come.   For now, I will just stay inside, think warm thoughts, and make soup- one of my all-time favorite comfort foods.  This savory Cajun Seafood Chowder is the perfect recipe to keep you warm and snuggly on these chilly winter days.

As I watched the snow pile up yesterday, I thought this to be the perfect opportunity to play around with our Cajun Seasoning and come up with a new recipe to share.   I researched a bunch of cookbooks (remember those?) and recipes on the internet and stumbled upon this delicious chowder recipe, which I adapted from Closetcooking.com.  The result was a tasty, hearty chowder, brimming with fresh seafood and vegetables, and smothered in creamy Cajun goodness.  Soup for the soul.  It was a huge hit with our family, and I guarantee yours will enjoy it too!

Thank you for visiting!

Ingredients

• 1/2 Tablespoon (Tbsp) butter

• 1/2 Tablespoon (Tbsp) oil (Having the two, helps prevent burning)

• 1 onion, diced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Garlic 'n Herbs Seasoning

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Cajun Seasoning Blend

• 4 cups chicken broth (homemade is always best) or vegetable broth

• 4 medium sweet potatoes (2 lbs.), peeled and diced into 1/2 inch cubes

• 1 tablespoon (Tbsp) fish sauce

• 1 cup fresh corn (could substitute canned corn, drained)

• 2 tablespoons (Tbsp) fresh Tarragon, chopped, or dried Tarragon

• Juice of half a lemon

• salt and pepper to taste

• 1/2 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined

• 1/2 lb. scallops

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) olive oil

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Cajun Seasoning

• 1 Tablespoon chopped parsley (optional for garnish)

• 1/4 lb. cooked bacon, crumbled for garnish (optional) or 4 oz. diced andouille sausage for garnish (optional)

• 1 green onion, chopped (optional for garnish)

Preparation
In a medium pan or dutch oven, heat the butter and oil over medium-high heat.  Add the chopped onion, and cook until onions are translucent about 3-5 minutes.  Add the garlic, Cherchies® Garlic 'n Herbs, and Cherchies® Cajun Seasoning to the pan, and cook for an additional minute.  

Add the chicken broth, sweet potatoes, and bring to a boil.  (* For more intense flavor, add the shrimp shells to the soup pan).  Reduce the heat and simmer the potatoes until fork tender, about 20 minutes.  (Remove the shrimp shells at this point, if used).  **I didn't have full shrimp with the shells in this picture, rather shrimp with tails.  I threw them in for only a few minutes).

After about 10 minutes, add the fish sauce, corn (I didn’t have for this picture), lemon juice, and tarragon.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Once the potatoes have cooked, remove half of them and place them either in a blender or a large bowl.  If using the blender, puree the potatoes, and if using the bowl, use a hand emulsion blender to puree.  Return the pureed mixture to the soup pot.  This will act as a thickener for the chowder.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss the shrimp and scallops with 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) olive oil and Cherchies® Cajun Seasoning.  Heat a large skillet to medium-high and cook the shrimp and scallops until golden brown, about 2-4 minutes per side.  Add the shrimp and scallops to the chowder and simmer for an additional 2 minutes.

Add the shrimp and scallops to the chowder and simmer for an additional 2 minutes. 

Serve the chowder.  As an option for a pretty presentation and even more flavor, garnish the chowder with the chopped parsley, cooked bacon or andouille sausage, and the green onion.

Enjoy and let us know what you think!

Cajun Seafood Chowder Recipe

Irish Vegetable Soup Recipe

Irish Vegetable Soup Recipe

Happy 2018! Now that the holidays are behind us, I am sure many, like me, have a plethora of leftovers, including vegetables from the vegetable tray. Am I right? Instead of tossing the veggies, dice them up to create this unique, flavorful Irish Vegetable Soup.

Vegetable soup is very satisfying and full of fresh vegetables and herbs, but not necessarily noteworthy, in my opinion. But travel across the ocean to The Emerald Isle (Ireland), and you will find not only breathtaking countryside with warm and friendly native folk but also delicious vegetable soup presented entirely differently than in the States. Instead of chunky vegetables swimming in a sea of full-bodied broth, the Irish version is a smooth, pureed blend of root vegetables, garlic, herbs, cream, and butter.

There is nothing like travel to cause a bit of culture shock, particularly in the cuisine, but I am rarely shocked by soup! My hubby and I traveled to Ireland last summer to celebrate our 25th Anniversary, and this humble dish graced almost every pub and fancy restaurant throughout the country. I admit that I was initially skeptical about pureed vegetable soup, but my husband and I sheepishly smirked at each other and indulged.

Wow! If I had been alone, I might have licked the entire bowl clean! It was so tasty and filling that I had to recreate this pool of deliciousness at home!

When I re-created this soup, I thought the texture alone would indeed send my teenagers running, but it didn't! The aroma drew them out of their rooms. "Mom, what smells so good?" "Vegetable soup," I replied. "Would you like to try it? It is Ireland's version." They liked it so much that this soup now appears often in our meal rotation.  

So, for my version, I used potatoes (sweet or regular), garlic, Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning, celery, parsnips, carrots, onions, and sometimes leftover vegetables like broccoli or spinach. And, because you puree the entire batch, even the most discerning vegetable haters might enjoy this dish. It is a great way to get your family to eat more veggies. You need to try this version of vegetable soup. It is easy, delicious, and satisfying, and you may never return to the chunkier version again!

Thanks for stopping by:) Comment below if you have tried this recipe. Visit us again for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using all our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

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Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons (Tbsp.) butter

• 1 small onion, diced

• 2 ribs of celery, washed and diced

• 3 carrots, peeled and diced

• 1 parsnip, peeled and diced

• 3 potatoes with skins on, diced (feel free to substitute sweet potatoes)

• 1 tomato, chopped

• 1/2 cup spinach (optional)

• 2 cloves of garlic

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Garlic or Cherchies® Garlic'n Herbs Seasoning Blends, divided

• 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) ground pepper

• 2 cups vegetable broth (ok to substitute chicken broth)

• 1/4 cup half & half (substitute fat-free greek yogurt for a lighter version)

• Blender

Preparation  

Add butter, celery, onions, garlic, parsnips, and carrots to a large soup pot or dutch oven.  Season with 1 teaspoon (tsp) Cherchies® Garlic or Garlic'n Herbs Seasoning blend and pepper.  Sauté the vegetables, until onions are translucent.

Add the vegetable or chicken broth to the pot.  Add potatoes, tomato, and rest of the Garlic Seasoning to the soup pot.   Throw in some Kale or Spinach of leftover broccoli if you have it on hand (optional).  Simmer until potatoes are soft and then add the half and half.

Once vegetables are finished cooking, turn off the stove and allow the soup to cool for five minutes.  Now onto the blender.  Carefully add the soup ingredients to a blender, making sure to only fill the blender half-full.  You may have do a couple of batches.  To ensure the hot soup does not explode everywhere, remove the center portion of the blender to allow steam to escape and put a clean towel over top.  If you have a blender that is equipped to handle soup, then this step is not necessary.  Hold the lid covered with the towel down and puree.  Or, wait until the soup has cooled about 20 minutes or so and then puree.

Pour the pureed soup into your favorite soup bowl, serve with bread, and enjoy this tasty version of Ireland's vegetable soup!  If you are feeling fancy, carefully add a little half and half and make a fun design.   Enjoy!

Irish Vegetable Soup Recipe

Sweet & Savory Ham and Cheese Pinwheel Recipe

These savory morsels are perfect for those busy days as an after-school snack, a make-ahead appetizer, a game day treat, or a different twist to your usual dinner routine. Easy, peasy!

We embellished on our stromboli recipe from our blog and came up with these sweet and savory pinwheels to share with you.  Instead of pizza dough, we substituted refrigerated crescent roll dough and added Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread as a glaze to these tasty tidbits, with a pop of texture from the poppy seeds.  

The result was a deliciously sweet and savory, flaky pinwheel tinged with tangy mustard, salty ham, and glazed with fruity apple butter. A must-have recipe for holidays, game day, or any celebration. Make sure to grab some for yourself, because these morsels will disappear before your eyes! Serve them with our Homemade Applesauce and our Cranberry Spinach Salad for a complete meal!

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Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 package refrigerated crescent rolls

• 1-2 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Champagne Mustard, Cherchies® Hot Banana Pepper Mustard, or Cherchies® Cranberry Mustard

• 4-5 slices deli ham or leftover holiday ham, sliced thin

• 4-5 slices Swiss or Provolone cheese

• 2-3 Tablespoons (Tbsp) Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread

• 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) poppy seeds

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  On a floured surface or on parchment paper, roll out the crescent roll dough into the shape of a rectangle.  (If using traditional crescent roll dough, press the triangle seams together to form a rectangle.  There are now long sheets of crescent dough on the market, either of which is fine).   Spread the dough with the mustard of your choice.  

Next, layer the dough with the cheese, followed by the ham.  Starting with the long side of the dough, carefully and tightly roll up the dough and place the dough seam side down.  Refrigerate the rolled up dough for about 15 minutes to allow for easier cutting.

Once the dough has chilled, remove the rolled dough from the refrigerator and carefully slice into 1 inch segments and place on a parchment papered baking sheet. 

Lightly brush the pinwheels with the Apple Butter Spread and then sprinkle the pinwheels with the poppy seeds.

Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Enjoy!