Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie is a delicious and simple comfort food that most enjoy any time of the year but is particularly welcome in the winter.  It is a great dish to experiment with.  The basic concept for a complete dish is a mixture of vegetables and a protein such as lentils on the bottom and mashed potatoes on top.  This is then baked until the top is the level of golden you like.  I baked it at 350 for about half an hour.  I topped it with some olive oil for a slightly crispy crust and a dash of paprika for flavor and a nice color. 

Experiement with the spices you like to saute the lentils and vegetables with.  You could try Italian seasonings or others such as cumin and paprika.  You can make the dish as spicy as you want by simply sauteeing the vegetables with green chili or add some hot sauce to the mixture or to the mashed potatatoes. 

You can easily make the dish ahead of time and freeze.  You can bake it when you want.  I made the dish vegan by using rice milk in the mashed potatoes.  Alternatively, you could use soy or another milk.