i wasn’t planning dinner.
just needed something hot.
with potatoes.
and meat.
and not too many questions.
opened the freezer. saw the peas.
opened the fridge. saw the beef.
opened a window. didn’t help.
so i browned the meat.
boiled the potatoes.
pretended i had it together.
martha calls it shepherd’s pie.
i call it edible survival.
What the Original Looked Like
her version is clean.
lean ground beef, onions, frozen veg.
flour and ketchup make a sauce.
mashed potatoes crown the top like a snowy lid.
then it bakes golden, crisped at the edges.
looks like something you’d serve with a napkin on your lap.
i ate mine with the spoon i stirred it with.
What I Did Differently
used instant mashed potatoes.
don’t judge me. they were already in the cupboard.
added a splash of Worcestershire and way too much pepper.
forgot to defrost the veggies. tossed them in anyway.
used the back of a wooden spoon to spread the mash.
no peaks. no forks. just flattened anger.
The Way It Happened in My Kitchen
the beef browned fast.
onions softened while the radio played something sad.
i stirred in ketchup and thyme like i was apologizing to the pot.
threw in the flour.
watched it thicken.
tossed in the frozen bag of “vegetable medley.”
didn’t even check the date.
the mashed potatoes were quick.
creamy, yes—but from a box. don’t care.
i piled them on top.
no art.
just coverage.
baked it till the top started to crack.
smelled like home, even though no one had said the word all day.
A Few Things I Learned
you can burn out and still make dinner.
you can forget the rules and still get it right.
and mashed potatoes don’t care how you made them. they just show up.
What I Did With the Extras
left them in the dish.
covered with foil.
ate the rest cold two nights later with hot sauce and a spoon.
mae didn’t want any.
she said it looked “too beige.”
she was right.
but she still took a bite.
Would I Make It Again?
yes.
especially when nothing else makes sense.
That’s As Much As I Remember
the fork marks never happened.
the ketchup bottle’s still on the counter.
and my stomach was the first thing that felt full that day.
if you need something just as grounding, i made martha’s baked potatoes the week before. they helped too.
FAQs
yes. that’s the traditional way. but tradition doesn’t pay my grocery bill.
absolutely. i did. add extra butter if you’re feeling something.
anything frozen. peas, carrots, corn, green beans.
fresh if you feel ambitious. i didn’t.
yes. cool completely. wrap tight. reheat in oven till bubbly.
simmer longer. or stir in a spoon of breadcrumbs. no one will know.
Martha Stewart’s Shepherd’s Pie – Nell’s Version
Description
A humble meat-and-potatoes bake with a crisp top and soft center. For the nights when everything feels like too much—except this.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat the oven. 425°F (220°C). grab a baking dish. no need to measure if it fits.
- Brown the beef. throw it in a hot pot. break it up. no pink. about 5 minutes.
- Add onions + garlic. soften them. stir slow. don’t let the garlic burn.
- Add thyme, ketchup, flour. stir until coated.
- Add frozen veg + water. no need to thaw. simmer till thick-ish. season well.
- Spread in a dish. press it down like you’re covering something up.
- Top with mashed potatoes. fork them, spoon them, smooth them—just make it even.
- Bake. 10–15 minutes till golden on top and bubbling at the edges.
- Eat hot. or warm. or from the fridge in the dark.