Cajun Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients

700 gr beef
130 gr pork
2 eggs
55 gr fine bread crumbs
26 gr butter
210 gr onions
75 gr celery
65 gr green bell peppers
3 gr garlic
5 ml worcestershire sauce
2 ml tabasco sauce
7 gr cayenne pepper
8 gr salt
4 gr black pepper
8 gr pepper
2 gr cumin
2 gr thyme leaves
180 ml evaporated milk
575 gr potatoes
190 gr carrots
1 gr onion powder
1 gr garlic powder
190 gr zucchini
1 squash
1 cajun sauce

Instructions

NOTE: To julienne squashes, cut peelings 0 cm thick and cut these into strips 0 cm wide and 5 cm long; use only strips that have skin on one surface. Cut carrots and onions into similar strips. In a 13x9-inch ungreased baking pan, combine the beef and pork. Mix in the eggs and bread crumbs by hand until thoroughly mixed. Set aside. In a 1 litre saucepan, combine 3 tablespoons of the butter, the onions, celery, bell peppers, garlic, Worcestershire, Tabasco and meat seasoning mix. Saute over high heat about 5 minutes, stirring frequently and scraping the pan bottom well. Remove from heat and cool. Add the sauteed vegetable mixture and quarter cup of the milk to the meat and mix well by hand. Form into a 12x8-inch loaf and center in the pan. Bake at 230ºC until brown on top, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven; pour off drippings, reserve 2- half tablespoons. Set meat and drippings aside. Meanwhile, boil the potatoes until fork tender; drain, reserving about 1 cup of the water. Place the potatoes, while still hot, in a large mixing bowl with the remaining 1 stick butter, half cup milk, the salt and white pepper. Stir with a wooden spoon until broken up, then beat with a metal whisk (or electric mixer with a paddle) until creamy and velvety smooth. (NOTE: Mix in some of the reserved potato water if potatoes are not creamy enough.) In a large skillet (preferably non-stick) combine the reserved drippings with the carrots, onions and vegetable seasoning mix; saute over high heat 1- half minutes, stirring frequently. Add the zucchini and yellow squash and continue sauteing until vegetables are noticeably brighter in color, about 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Mound undrained vegetables on top of the meat loaf, away from the edges. Layer the mashed potatoes evenly over the top of the vegetables and top edges of the meat, using all the potatoes. Bake at 270ºC until brown on top, about 8 to 10 minutes. Serve immediately with about half cup Very Hot Cajun Sauce (see recipe) under each serving. From Paul Prudhommes "Louisiana Kitchen"