Saint Patrick's Day Dinner for the Working Person

What do you do when you want to commemorate Saint Patrick's Day when it falls on a weekday? When going out to the pub and drinking Guinness to celebrate is not an option because you have an important 8am meeting the next day, here is a quick and easy version of the class Irish dish Shepherd's Pie that you can put together even after a long day at work. This recipe will serve approximately 4 people.

First, stop by the grocery store on the way home and purchase a pound of lean ground beef, a can of carrots, a can of peas (the ones with the pearl onions added if you can find them), a dry package of beef gravy mix, a package of dried mashed potatoes (and some milk if required in the mix), and some fresh parsley. Also, pick up some salt and pepper if you don't already have some.

Your first step is to brown the ground beef in a large skillet. While the beef is cooking, you can preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Next, make the gravy, following the directions on the package. Once the gravy is ready, add it to the ground beef. Then add the canned veggies and stir to mix. This is the time to season the mixture with salt and pepper to your taste preference.

Keep the combination warm while you make the mashed potatoes according to the package directions. Once the potatoes are finished, pull out an oven-safe casserole pan. Pour the meat and vegetable mixture into the pan, spreading evenly. Next, add a layer of mashed potatoes as thick as you like.

Cook the casserole in a 350 degree F. oven until the gravy bubbles, approximately 20 minutes. Garnish the mashed potatoes with chopped parsley (or 4 leaf clovers if you can find them). This is a hearty dish that you and your friends and family can enjoy to celebrate your Irish spirit on March 17.