Cottage Pie (aka Shepherd's Pie)

Imbolc traditions have a Celtic flair in our house as elsewhere, and this first recipe from my Imbolc holiday menu is a tater-topped pie that fits both the cultural flavor as well as symbolically reflecting what is occurring within Mother Nature – for buried beneath a bed of luscious, fluffy white potatoes is a warm and hearty stew, mirroring the still dormant seeds buried deep in the snow-covered earth just waiting to sprout.



Cottage Pie
CORE
POINTS® Value: 3
Servings: 8

12 oz Lightlife Smart Ground Original Vegetarian Meat Substitute
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/8 tsp black pepper, or more to taste
1/8 tsp table salt, or more to taste
1/2 cup onion(s), chopped
2 cup zucchini, or yellow summer squash, sliced
14 1/2 oz canned tomatoes, undrained
1 ½ cups canned black beans, drained & rinsed
6 oz canned tomato paste
cooking spray or oil mister
1/4 cup vegetable broth, or more, as needed
1/4 cup Silk Unsweetened Plain Soymilk
8 medium uncooked red potato(es), peeled and quartered
6 oz Follow Your Heart Monterey Jack flavor Vegan gourmet cheese alternative

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Place potatoes in a large pot and fill with just enough water to cover, boil until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain potatoes and place back in pot. Add soy milk, 1/4 cup of FYH cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Mash until fluffy, adding veggie broth if needed; set aside.

Meanwhile, heat a large skillet misted w/grapeseed oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and zucchini or squash and cook till vegetables are tender crisp, deglazing with veggie broth as needed. Next add Smartground and saute for a minute or two till beginning to color. Finally add undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, allspice and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper; bring to a boil.

Coat an 8 1/2- X 11-inch baking dish with cooking spray; fill with veggie & Smartground mixture. Spread potatoes on top, covering it completely. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup of soy cheese and bake until potato mixture is golden brown, about 30 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before dividing into 8 portions.