Im really shocked that people have taken offence to poor Neil who was merely just making a tongue in cheek point that the pie should be made in the traditional way and he is obviously proud of being British. I really dont think he intended to offend anyone and dont see why you are getting defensive ..... Its like you have missed the point of the recipe which Neil is obviously passionate about.... also, its spelled Shepherds not Shepards!!

My friends in England have always told me the shepherds pie is with meat only and cottage pie is when you add vegetables. I never put cheese in mine and I always add maramite.

I stumble on this site looking for a shepherds pie recipe.. wow! I had no idea cooking discussions could be so much fun to read! I will be checking back often just to read the dicussions. I am not sure what a "basket-like pattern" is but I will give it a go..and yes, I am using lamb..

I'm also from Delaware and this site was just too funny. I was looking for Chocolate Covered Cherries, but got side tracked. I have had Shepherds Pie many times and did not like it. When I have made a "bastardized" form, I love it. Well, I hope people keep adapting recipes for each and every countrys tastes.

I also thought cheese on apple pie was a horrific idea until I tried it will good ole velveta in the yellow box. It really enhances the taste. I love that kind of cheese. don

Oh My goodness, a bit snobbish, well I think so, I don't put cheese on everything however, do not knock it till you try it. Ever have a BIG MAC? What about the use of imagination with recipes? All of the greatest chefs that ever have been have created new and different recipes and variations of old recipes, by using their IMAGINATIONS. Here is a really good suggestion, you may like your recipe as it is but add or change just one thing and you may end up with a masterpiece. Think about it.

Lighten Up, everyone! I think this SHEPHERD's PIE controversy is upsetting the shepherds - they'll disappear and become very scare...thus no more SHEPHERDS PIE. New name for this dish, so that you can prepare it in whatever way you wish (with cheese, corn, caviar, kiwi fruit, etc) ARGUMENT PIE. Problem solved.

Quite frankly life forms, courtesy flush please. Don't care. In fact I made it BECAUSE of Neil's comments. I was looking for an authentic Shepherds Pie. Which I must say was absolutely AWESOME! The entire Tower loved it. Out of 52 people I had no complaints. By the way all you dissenters, I am laughing AT you not with you.

Neil has the right to express himself as he see's fit... this is a food website not a political soap box.

Clara behave. Humanity needs to respect our great diversity. Culture is culture... ty for your contributions.

Dan - Rochester NY of English Descent

PS diversity makes for a delicious meal!!!

Neil, very good. My mother taught me how to make shepherds pie when I was about 16 years old. I did not know this was a Brits dish, but my mother worked as what was called a downstairs girl before she married my daddy. She worked for a German family and this was used on their table. Thanks it is LAMB, and no I didn't find sarcasm. Rose

You have missed one REALLY important ingredient!!!
I see several other versions on line, and all of them miss out the prime flavouring, in shepherd's pie, which is SAGE. Every British kitchen has it, no one will use much of it....until they make a shepherds pie.
As for the cheese, I like to combine 2 recipes into one; on top of the precooked meat, I add raw sliced onion (as rings), and add cheese to, and on top of the mashed potatoes, but that's just how I like it!

Wonderful comfort food. Made this dish for a Brit themed party and it was a big hit. Braise inexpensive lamb steaks on the bone, and simply shredded the meat after the two hours cooking instead of taking the time to mince it before cooking. This way I was able to remove any fat and just enjoy the rich yummy lamb. I'll definitely be making this dish again.

What I offer here is an involved yet detached look at Neil A. Brit's allegations. Perhaps time, further study, and more reflection will either modify or enrich the analysis offered here, but it would help if Neil realized that education and wisdom aren't necessarily the same thing. In the first place, last summer, I attempted what I knew would be a hopeless task. I tried to convince Neil that larcenous lie-virtuosi in general, and Neil in particular, intend to put a clog on all attempts to limit Neil's power. As I expected, he was unconvinced.

I could substantiate what I'm saying about wayward buggers but I don't feel that that's necessary because we all know what they're like. For the sake of the universe, I hope that this is the only planet that contains unsavory ranters like Neil. He motivates people to join his cabal by using words like "humanity", "compassion", and "unity". This is a great deception. What Neil really wants to do is increase society's cycle of hostility and violence. That's why Neil says that power, politics, and privilege should prevail over the rule of law. This is at best wrong. At worst, it is a lie.

Some critics have called Neil mumpish. A handful insist he's sordid. His cronies, on the other hand, consider him to be one of the great minds of this century. Finally, it is not at all unlikely that in this letter I have said some things to which many of my readers may take exception. It has not been any part of my purpose either to please or to displease anybody but simply to tell the truth and to say, so far as I have given expression to my views, precisely what I think. And what I think is this: I will renew my resolve to straighten out Neil A. Brit's thinking.

Loved this recipe, so easy to make and tasted delicious. By the way when can you move in :)

Certain dishes aside (shepherd's pie included), I find it astoundingly funny that a Brit would criticize any other cuisine or variation on British cuisine.