I did a google search for shepherd's pie recipes and I think I get the general idea. I always thought it was supposed to be fairly simple fare, but some of the recipes seem to go absolutely berzerk! A lot of them use hamburger instead of minced lamb, some say use any old kind of meat (lamb makes sense to me--shepherd's pie, after all), and some go in for all kinds of exotic spices (probably a bit hard to find in the average shepherds panty). They don't seem to draw any distinction between shepherd's pie and cottage pie, they call them all the same. I, however, am devoted to the pursuit of authenticity.

But my vegan friends notwithstanding, I'll draw the line at "shepherd's pie" made with tofu!!

Don Firth