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YUMMY ... I scored with DINNER TONIGHT!

During the 3x a week that I run at the gym, I usually set myself up to listen to music and watch whatever they show on the many television screens placed in front of the cardio machines. Mostly the shows are news, cooking, or comedy. I try to find my inspiration with the cooking shows. Running while watching good food being made seems like an oximoron sometimes, but I enjoy it.





Yesterday I caught wind of this segmant of Rachael Ray ...
Turkey Sweet Potato Shepard's Pie


It isn't the prettiest of recipes, but it was soooooooo yummy. I did some modifying of my own, but basically I cooked it as described. ALL OF MY GIRLS loved it.


  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 pounds ground turkey or chopped leftover turkey
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
  • 2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 1 onion, cut into 1-inch dice
  • 2 carrots, peeled and grated
  • 4 ribs celery, chopped
  • 4 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups turkey or chicken stock (recommended: Kitchen Basics)
  • A few dashes Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 (10-ounce) box frozen peas
  • 1 very ripe banana
  • A few dashes hot sauce
  • 2 cups sharp shredded yellow Cheddar
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

In a deep skillet or a Dutch oven heat 2 tablespoons oil over high heat.
Add meat and break up with a wooden spoon, season with salt and pepper and poultry seasoning.

Place sweet potatoes in a pot, cover with water, cover pot, bring to a boil, add salt and cook 15 minutes until tender.

Add onions, carrots and celery into the turkey. Stir, and cook for 5 minutes.

While vegetables are cooking, heat 2 tablespoons butter in a small pot over medium heat.
Add flour to melted butter and whisk 1 minute. Whisk in stock and season with salt, pepper and Worcestershire. Cook a few minutes to thicken.

Stir peas into meat and turn heat off.

Drain potatoes and return pot to heat. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and melt over medium heat. Peel and slice banana and add potatoes to the pot. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper and a few dashes hot sauce. Mash potatoes and banana to combine, adjust seasoning.

Top the meat with the potatoes. Cover potatoes with cheese and place in the oven to melt cheese, about 5 minutes.

*I did not use a banana. My girls love whipped sweet potatoes that are sweet. Instead I added about 4 oz of sour cream and 4 tbs. of butter to my cooked sweet potatoes. Then I added 1/3 cup of brown sugar and a good shaking of cinnamon. I also mixed in a little of the hot sauce recommended. After I added my meat mixture to my casserole dish, I topped it with the potato mixture and then the cheddar. I thought that sounded strange to add cheese, but it was really good.


Comments

Cindy said…
That sounds delish! Thanks for sharing.
Hen Jen said…
oh goodness, I love sweet potatoes, and this sounds so yummy! Thanks for sharing it, I will have to try this one for sure.
Yes, this looks amazingly good. One can't go wrong with Rachel Ray's stuff, I've found, yet I also like the substitutions you made.

I'm off to make a shopping list...
Anonymous said…
Sounds yummy, {E}! I am pretty sure I would leave the banana out too although I'm curious as to how it would affect the flavor of the dish?? Although banana and dinner don't really go together in our house!

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