Gretchen McKay | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS)

When making a casserole for a mom-to-be, the dish should be as hearty as it is rich and comforting. Being pregnant can make you hungry.

While the tasty meat pies are often associated with Irish cuisine, cottage pie is actually thought to have originated in Scotland sometime in the 18th century as an easy-to-make, frugal peasant food that made the most of leftover meat and whatever vegetables might be at hand. Originally topped with a pastry crust, the recipe changed to include a layer of baked potatoes once the starchy root vegetable was introduced as an affordable, edible crop in the late 1700s.

They soon became hugely popular in Northern England and Ireland, where they were known as shepherd’s pie and made with ground mutton or lamb instead of minced ground beef and beef gravy.

Over time, lamb was used less frequently and ground beef became the filling of choice, but the two names were used interchangeably.

Some versions put mashed potatoes on the bottom of the dish along with the top, or even on the sides of the pan to completely encase the meat. You also can make them with a crust of very thinly sliced potatoes.

Whether you use lamb or ground beef, no meat pie is complete without a tender mix of veggies. I used frozen peas and carrots, but you could also use beans, mushrooms, celery, lentils, tomato or any favorite vegetable. The casserole freezes beautifully once cooled and wrapped in foil or plastic.

For filling

For mashed potato topping

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Prepare filling: In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, heat the oil, then add onion, garlic, peas and carrots and meat. Cook until browned, 8-10 minutes.

Drain the fat and add broth, tomato paste and herbs. Simmer until the juices thicken, about 10 minutes. Pour the mixture into a 1 1/2 -quart baking dish; set aside.

Meanwhile, make mashed potatoes. Bring the potatoes to a boil in salted water. Cook until tender, about 20 minutes; drain.

Mash potatoes with butter, milk and salt. Spread potatoes over the meat mixture, then crosshatch the top with a fork.

Bake until golden, 30-35 minutes.

Serve hot.

Makes 8 servings.

— adapted from epicurious.com

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