Shepherd’s Pie

I love to have a Christmas theme with our holiday meals.  This Christmas Eve we will have Shepherd’s Pie and Angel Food Cake!  You can’t beat that for sharing the Greatest Story while enjoying a family meal.  We will talk about how the shepherds were just sitting in their field, talking and watching their sheep as they did every night since they could remember.  When, boom, up in the sky appeared an angel, proclaiming to them:

…“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

 “Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”   Luke 2:10-14 (NKJV)

And what did the shepherds do when they heard this Good News from the angels?  They left their posts and headed straight into town to find the baby Jesus.  Let’s leave what we are doing to find Jesus, too. Pop this shepherd’s pie in the oven or crockpot on Christmas Eve and head out to church.

Ingredients:
3 large white potatoes
1/2 teapsoon basil
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1/4-1/2 cup almond milk
salt and pepper
A variety of veggies, making 4-6 cups, including:
green or red onion
garlic (optional)
carrots
yellow peppers
kale/spinach leaves
pumpkin or zucchini cubes
tomatoes, diced
1/2 teaspoon taragon
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 bay leaf
1 cup water or vegetable broth
1/2 cup Daiya non-dairy cheese shreds
parsley flakes or fresh
paprika

Peel and quarter the potatoes. Put in a pot and cover with water.  Bring to a boil, and boil gently for 20-25 minutes.  (Prepare your other veggies while the potatoes are cooking.)  Drain water.  Mash the potatoes, then add basil, olive oil, almond milk, salt and pepper.  Beat until fluffy.  Set aside.

Saute the onion in olive oil.  Add remaining veggies and seasonings, add firmer vegetables first (garlic, carrots, peppers), then add (kale/spinach, pumpkin, zucchini) and finally tomatoes right at the end. Cook 5-10 minutes total, or until veggies are starting to soften.  Transfer sauted veggies to a 2 quart casserole dish or crockpot.  Add the bay leaf and 1 cup water.  Spread the mashed potatoes on top.

Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes (set oven timer if you are going to church), or in the crockpot for 1-2 hours on high.  Just before serving, top with Daiya cheese shreds, parley and paprika sprinkles.

And for dessert, the day before, whip up this easy Angel Food Cake mix!

 

Now you can enjoy Shepherd’s Pie and Angel Food Cake and tell the Christmas story while you eat!  Have a blessed Christmas, everyone!!!

Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men! Luke 2:14 (NKJV)

Scripture taken the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson

Thank you to Jesus The Good Shephed Clip Art!