"Pardon me, does anyone have any Grey Poupon?"

So, I pulled ground beef (as we cant afford lamb) out for shepherds pie, jumped on cooks.com and lo and behold, can't start the recipe until I stop giggling. Did not realize cooks were such a serious lot. Neil, please get over yourself dear, it's just sustenance. Yes, it's GOOD sustenance, but in the overall scheme of life on this planet, ... not really all that important. And Neil, thank you, now I will go look for cottage pie instead.

Want some more cultural fodder for discussion? Did you ever notice that there is 'gold' cheddar cheese, and 'white' cheddar? White originated in AMERICA when the new immigrants wanted to begin life here, and divest themselves from everything British, who added food color to the cheddar. So....if it's white, it has TRUE American origins! (Learned this during a tour at Cabot Creamery in VT).

It's the real deal folks. Quite nice flavor if you like lamb. I love the ad libs to the recipe as well. Sometimes people like to add things to recipes but sometimes things do not need to be changed. Sara a American with British taste buds.

But iI really think we all missed the point. It wasn't the writers real concern about putting cheese in shepherds pie, no one was going to make them eat it. Yes! We old Americans do strange things. We eat things different from the Brits, and the rest of the world.

Good stuff :) You know, it is merely logical to assume that shepherd's pie is going to be made with some variation of sheep meat since that is what shepherds typically have have access to.... I believe it would more accurately (historically that is) be mutton as I don't believe shepherds would eat what they typically make their money selling. Also, I've never even heard of it being made with cheese. But anyway, like most casseroles, this dish was just leftovers/whatever you can find cooked into dinner. But who cares anyway, right? ;)
P.S. a little worchestershire sauce and/or some dark ale or guiness is fabulous in this

Lamb or Mutton was very much cheaper than it is today. However generally Lamb would have been used. Shepherds Pie is named because shepherds herd sheep NOT because they made shepherds pie. Everyone made shepherds pie-regardless of their occupation.

As for Cheddar Cheese. Named after the place (Cheddar) in Somerset England where it was first produced.
It is naturally Off-White (cream) in colour, however some producers like to add Annatto (colouring) in varying degrees as they believe that is what customers expect.

Artisan Cheddar Cheese is the style of cheesemaking and nothing to do with the colour. The style has been copied throughout the world with varying success. In the USA Cheddar cheese is much more processed then is the UK and the taste is actually quite different. Although we can buy the very processed variety,it is much cheaper then the original Cheddar.

However it is still never used in a traditional shepherds pie as in the UK Lamb and Cheese would never be partnered.
In fact it wasn't until the 1950's/60's that Beef would have been accompanied with cheese at all. A transatlantic culinary habit probably starting with the cheeseburger.

Neil, Thank you thank you thank you!! I lived in Britain for 3 1/2 years and I never encountered putting ichy cheese in Shepherd's or Cottage Pie...My "other half" insisted that it was made with cheese (gross!!!)...You have helped settle a dispute, since I refuse to "cheese" it!!! lol...Great recipe, by the way! Annette

Wow. All over a recipe people? How old are all of you? Anyway...great recipe.

As a Jamaican-American, I can say that I agree completely! Americans tend to fry and add cheese to just about everything. I can't wait to try this dish, the way it was meant to be made.

Hey Neil, this is a great recipe....thanks for the clarification on the difference between cottage pie and shepherd's pie. Just knowing this alone should make a huge difference in my pathetic life!

By the way, I grew up eating shepherd's pie using an almost idential recipe to yours. Of course, I'm French. Guess we taught you Brits well! But you did leave out the garlic. Serious error on your part. You also forgot to mention that sage and rosemary add considerably to the less bland versions....but again....being a Brit and all, I suppose blandness is your genetic heritage. Also, I would imagine the early shepherds thickening their concoctions with barley and/or oats....not that disgusting Bisto stuff you Brits are so fond of.

Nonetheless....your version of the recipe with it's insulting delivery made me laugh and made me think you might not be half bad for a snobby lil brit! Thanks for the entertainment!

I have long been a devotee of Shepherd's Pie and Cottage Pie. I can make it almost with my eyes closed. It comes out differently every time. I was honestly amazed, after completing this recipe, at the difference the two-hour "stewing" of the ingredients made. Now my favourite method. Thank you for sharing it.

Neil you are famous!! Do you have a cookbook please send me an invoice! We need cooks like you and please continue to be honest it sells, obviously!

What's really entertaining is the amount of blog a simple recipe can generate. I don't disagree with Neil (now known as "The Neil") nor do I disagree with any of the other posts - hostile or helpful. It's all just opinion, glazed with a little bit of facts.

The educational aspect of "The Neil's" recipe suggestion for the pie is great. I never even saw Cottage Pie when I was over there, maybe I was eating at the wrong pubs. I love my lamb, but was putting it in the wrong place apparently. My wife has a Shepard's Pie recipe that I love, but it's obviously American-ized with the myocardial infarction promoting gooey cheese goodness. I won't divorce her over it, I'll just do it different.

It's all just information folks. Take what you want and modify as you please - I'm sure you do with all the other recipes - or at least you should. Douse it in Jolokia pepper extract if you like, just like it when you're done.

Cheers,

Gee go tell that to Chef Ramsey who always adds Cheese to the Mashed potatoes.........