BACON CHEESEBURGER
COTTAGE PIE
This really is the tastiest Cottage pie I have had low-carb or high-carb! Cottage pie is similar to Shepherd's pie which is made with ground lamb instead of ground beef. Try it and you won’t be sorry. You also will not miss mashed potatoes on top of this at all. The Cheddar Cheese in the cauli mash is what gives it that lovely golden color. This meal is very tasty with a simple salad on the side. or some cooked tomato or broccoli or tender green beans. It's a meal in itself and by itself. Very good.
COTTAGE PIE
This really is the tastiest Cottage pie I have had low-carb or high-carb! Cottage pie is similar to Shepherd's pie which is made with ground lamb instead of ground beef. Try it and you won’t be sorry. You also will not miss mashed potatoes on top of this at all. The Cheddar Cheese in the cauli mash is what gives it that lovely golden color. This meal is very tasty with a simple salad on the side. or some cooked tomato or broccoli or tender green beans. It's a meal in itself and by itself. Very good.
2 tbsp bacon fat (30 mL)
4 oz onion, chopped (120 g)
21/2 oz chopped carrot (70 g)
1 celery stalk, sliced thinly
1 cup chicken, OR beef broth (250 mL)
21/2 lbs lean ground beef , OR lamb for real shepherd's pie! (1.1 kg)
2 tbsp minced garlic (30 mL)
(I used the bottled kind)
Cheese Sauce (x 2) - see RECIPE BELOW
2 tbsp sugar-free ketchup, OR to taste (30 mL)
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, optional (5 mL)
Seasoning salt, to taste
Cauli-Mash for the top:
1 small to medium cauliflower, cut into florets
1/2 cup Cheese Sauce (see recipe below) (125 mL)
3 eggs
1/2 tsp salt (2 mL)
1/2 cup grated Cheddar cheese (125 mL)
4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
In frying pan, in bacon fat over medium heat, stir fry, onion, carrot and celery about 5 minutes. Add chicken, OR beef broth and cook until vegetables are tender. Set aside.
In frying pan, brown ground beef and garlic. Add Cheese Sauce (withhold 1/2 cup (125 mL) Cheese Sauce), ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, if using and seasoning salt, to taste. Cook until heated through completely. Stir in cooked vegetables. Place in glass 9 x 13-inch (2 L) casserole dish.
In pot of boiling water, cook cauliflower florets until very tender. Drain and place in salad spinner, if you have one, to remove excess moisture, otherwise pat dry with paper towels. In food processor, process cauliflower, the reserved 1/2 cup (125 mL) Cheese Sauce, page___, eggs and salt until smooth. Smooth cauli-mash over top of meat mixture in casserole dish. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese and bacon bits. Bake 25 minutes.
Yield: 8 LARGE servings
1 serving
450.6 calories
45.1 g protein
51.1 g fat
1.5 g fiber
6.4 g net carbs
CHEESE SAUCE
This cheese sauce will amaze you! You can normally use whatever cheese you have on hand. It is a super-useful recipe and you'll never ever miss flour-filled cheese sauces again, as this tastes better and is nice and thick too.
Cheese Sauce:
4 oz regular cream cheese (125 g)
3 tbsp butter (45 mL)
1/3 cup Low-Carb Milk, (75 mL)
OR whipping cream
1/4 tsp salt, OR to taste (1 mL)
1/8 tsp white pepper (0.5 mL)
2/3 cup grated Cheddar cheese (150 mL)
1 tbsp water, optional (15 mL)
In nonstick pan or pot, combine cream cheese, butter, Low-Carb Milk, page 25, OR whipping cream, salt and white pepper. Whisk occasionally. Stir in Monterey Jack, OR Cheddar cheese until it melts and sauce is smooth. If necessary, add a tablespoon (15 mL) of water.
Helpful Hints: *Spreadable cream cheese may be used to make a less expensive sauce. It will be a slightly thinner sauce. Buy the spreadable cream cheese in the bigger tubs, if possible. Double the recipe when needed for covering a very large dish of vegetables, such as the Vegetable Au Gratin Casserole.
Yield: 1 cup (250 mL) Cheese sauce
2 tbsp (30 mL) per serving
125.2 calories
4.0 g protein
11.9 g fat
0.7 g net carbs