When I was a teenager, I spent a lot of time with my aunt and uncle. Both my parents were working full time jobs with a long commute. My brothers had their own social life. So I spent my free time watching movies, riding around the neighborhood, and enjoying the company of my closest aunt and uncle.

There are a lot of things that I remember about those days. Great conversations at the dining table with my aunt about my family, its history, and my dreams. My uncle taking care of me when I sprained my ankle. And meals. A big part of our time together included meals made together.

My favorite was Shepherd's Pie, which my aunt would make fairly often because it was one of my favorite dishes at their house. Tonight, I'm making my first ever Shepherd's Pie for Marvin and I. I wanted to share the recipe with you guys since it's really one of my all time favorite dishes.

Shepherd's Pie Ingredients:
Ground Beef
Baking potatoes
Can of mushroom soup
Can of your choice of vegetable (we use corn, green beans, or tomatos; I'm making mine with corn and tomatos tonight)
Cheese for topping (this could be optional if you want lower calorie/no dairy)

**I used around one and a half pounds of ground beef and 3 large baking potatoes. However, you can make more or less depending on your wants.**

You'll peel and boil the potatoes to be mashed. This is the hardest part of this meal so once you get through this step you're in the clear. Mash the potatoes and set them aside.

Brown the ground beef. Add the can of mushroom soup.

Place the beef in a square baking dish. Layer or mix in vegetable(s) - chef's choice.

Place mashed potatoes over this mixture. Top with cheese.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is melted/slightly browned.

The thing that I love about this dish is that it's fairly simple to make plus it contains a balanced meal all in one dish. I'm sure it doesn't hurt that it was an integral part of my adolescence and brings back pleasant memories.

Let me know if you enjoyed it!