We’ve been having the most beautiful winter this year, with snow on the ground since Christmas time.
The small amount daily snow that we have been receiving keeps the snow white and dream like.
The other day, I had a craving for shepherd’s pie—technically, a cottage pie since I was using ground beef instead of lamb. I am not a lamb person because I don’t like the flavor.
I keep my recipe simple by browning the ground beef, adding minced onions, garlic, thyme, rosemary, salt, pepper, a slight touch of tomato paste, beef broth, and peas.
My mashed potatoes are simple and basic. I always add one can of creamed corn to top the beef mixture to add moisture and additional corn as well.
After I top the corn with the mash, I grab a fork and make a design. This design reminded me of an Irish sweater!
The photo I took of the sweater pie I took on our Aga stove made me feel really Irish! I am very Irish, almost 80%, so it felt very fitting.
It was the perfect meal on a cold and snowy day. I served it was short rib gravy that Sam insisted I freeze from our Christmas dinner.
Oh, how I thanked him! It was perfect! I always make a gravy to serve with my cottage pie so this saved me a big step!
I never had shepherd’s or cottage pie growing up in New Jersey. Was it just my family Jersey friends or is it a New England?
The funny thing about me making shepherd’s pie for dinner was that Noah made one the night before! He must have been channeling me or our ancestors. 😂
My adopted mother Eileen’s family came from Ireland but we never had shepherd’s or cottage pie.
She rubbed it in my face every St. Patrick’s Day telling me I was allowed to be Irish on St. Paddy’s Day because everyone was. Thanks, mom.
This was what growing up as an adopted person hurt the most. I hated not knowing where the fuck I came from.
I guess since I didn’t find out I was Irish until I was 48 years old, I didn’t think I belonged in Irish pubs so I never saw shepherd’s pie on a menu.
Even though I don’t drink anymore I still want to visit Irish pubs. It’s more of the feeling and charm than the alcohol itself to me. I’d love to go to Ireland one day as well.
By the way, I forgot to take photos of my plate and my cottage pie. I was hungry, and so looking forward to eating it that I scoffed it right down.
Before I start writing my blog posts, I usually do some research. When I looked at images of Irish sweaters, I hit the nail on the head, thinking my pie design looked like one of the traditional Aran stitches.
My birthday is at the end of the month. Don’t tell Marty I told you this, but I really want a traditional Irish sweater for my birthday.
It’s a personal thing to pick out the design choices since they can mean different things. I do love the design the model below is wearing though. 😉
It is so weird to me asking for a specific gift. For so many years, I could never think of anything I wanted or deserved (mental illness thinking) for a gift.
I didn’t want anyone to spend money on me let alone something I didn’t need. I would always say I don’t need anything when asked what I wanted for Christmas or birthdays.
My mother Eileen took this as face value and listened to what I said and would remind what I told her, I didn’t need anything. A piece of gum would have been better than nothing.
I had a seriously warped sense of my self-worth and worthiness to others. Thank goodness I’ve worked through that bullshit!
That’s water under the bridge now, and even though I have forgiven Eileen, those painful memories pop up.
I acknowledge them, feel them, and let them go.
It’s healthy for me to do this because it makes the forgiveness continue to make me feel free from what those memories used to do to me.
I’m unsure if anyone else will see an Irish sweater woven into my cottage pie, but I do. Being Irish has slowly woven itself into my life, and I love it!
For the record, the cottage pie was delicious and delivered exactly what I was craving and feeling, a comforting meal that made me feel like I was wrapped up in an Irish sweater. ☘️
Beautiful pie and sweater too. I too have “finally” learned to express my desire for a special gift. Its taken far too many years learning that it’s ok to do so. Thankfully, I have a thoughtful husband with a darn good memory and those little requests turn up magically when least expected. Enjoy the snow…we have lots and lots of it over here too!