I've never made Shepherd's pie, but by gum I'm going to give it a go! Probably try it both ways, lamb and then beef. One thing for sure is that while eating it, I will be laughing, remembering all the comments! I think I'll hold the cheese. Marian from Florida

Hey Neil, don't worry about the negative comments. If you say no cheese, then no cheese for your particular recipe.

Wow! Who would have thought all this controversy would evolve over these pies? I found the recipe to be comical but then I'm used to hearing Brits bash Americans on the UK talk radio stations. I'm married to a Brit and we spent the past 7 years in Kent/London area. I must admit that all this time I was making the mince on top of the stove as opposed to the recipe's direction to put it all in the oven. I'd like to hear what others have done or prefer. Mince on top or mince in oven?

What ho!? It's shepherd's pie...Not cowboy's pie!! I (we) have just returned from a third visit to London/Oxford/etc. Love the country...Respect the history...Getting used to the humor but will never adjust to the weather or the food. Sorry! Remember...It's two country's separated by a common language? Carry on mates!

Congratulations Neil....The longest thread i've ever seen, at least so far! Would love to use lamb (my favorite) but my girlfriend of 27 yrs lol prefers beef... I've done 99% of all the cooking... Her idea of cooking is the freezer isle in the supermarket! Actually had to smile at your description of how and why's to make the pie!! Thank you!

Lamb is gross, so I wouldn't use it anyway....but that is my opinion and I have a right to it, just like you all do, including Neil. Isn't lamb a baby sheep? It has a funny aftertaste to it. Other than that the recipe sounds good and I've been rather entertained by all the comments. Thanks Neil!!!

Julie, from Texas, USA!

Mia makes a good point. Beef is sooo much cheaper then lamb in the US, and lots of people use this as a inexpensive meal.
Many people read many different things into this posting, and as an American married to a Brit who has lived on both sides of the pond, I feel I need to add that there is "bad blood" on both sides. My father in law refused to speak to me or my husband for years, cause he married "a yank".

Hey Neil, my father inlaw is English and this is a staple food and I agree, i've never made it with cheese....I'm sure cheese will add another aspect to the meal....Let everyone have their own opinion....Somebody had to start the recipe and i'm sure people said they were crazy putting beef and potatoes in a pie.

Gonna have to agree with Neil on this one. I especially liked what he said about the cheese. Being American myself, I always find that we over do absolutely everything. It's gotta be quadruple cheese. Chocolate on fudge on more chocolate on chocolate ice cream with chocolate flavored whipping cream and top it off with a hersheys kiss. And don't forget to sprinkle coco on the plate for decoration. We tend to over do our food to the point where we cant enjoy the natural flavor of things anymore. Thanks for your honesty Neil!

Lamb is something one has to acquire a taste for. I always marinate my lamb in red wine and garlic which makes the meat taste less 'lamby'. I also grind a little bit of fresh rosemary in it. I don't use Bisto (I think they are buillon cubes) but I use beef most of the time. And often I cheat by using instant potatoes....
Lets give Neil a break. Sometimes when one writes something its not the same as if they are speaking and maybe comes across the wrong way.

NEIL is not the one who needs to get over himself. We Americans have slaughtered every ethnic dish in the world to accommodate our American taste. I am an American - I love our slaughter, BUT I love to know how an ethnic dish is SUPPOSED to be made, then I can appropriately apply my own variation a/k/a American slaughter. And Neil, just to make you cringe (cuz I think you like it), I WILL most assuredly use cheese. LOL. Thanks Neil!

My mother inlaw called it chinamans pie. I was 17 when I got married. I didn't no how to cook. My husband showed me how to make this. It was the first thing I cooked for him and it came out wonderful. Now my daughter makes it. My inlaws made it with ground beef, corn then mashed potatoes, with a little butter on top. I think you can put anything you want in it. They were from Massachusetts. To be honest I wouldn't want cheese on it. I've been eating it this way for 43 years and I like it this way.

Neil was just giving the traditional recipe for Shepards pie. By changing ingredients it is no longer shepards pie. Its like making a chocolate cake and not having chocolate, so add bananas. Not a chocolate cake then is it. I think it is quite funny actually, reading all the comments on it. A rose by any other name is not a rose.

I love all the comments. I have to say that I like using ground lamb, sauteing onion with the meat, then draining and setting aside. Saute more onion, carrots, celery, diced red potatoes, adding green peas, oregano, rosemary, thyme, fresh ground pepper & coarse sea salt. Mix beef or chicken broth & cornstarch to thicken, combine everything, then put garlic mashed potatoes on top & bake until browned. I have been guilty of adding red wine, white wine, brandy, cognac or whatever I want or have handy, sometimes Maggie, sometimes a little coffee. I'm not British or Irish & I like spice so may even throw in a little cayenne to kick it up a notch. I was just browsing to see how others cooked their shepherd's pie. I went to an Irish pub down the street from me and they put so much cheese on the top of theirs that it was horrible. My neighbor used ground beef with some sort of seasoning her Brit ex-boyfriend told her about & I hated it. It is all about great flavor and satisfying your own taste buds. So vive la difference!

I just wanted a simple shepherd's pie recipe.....