Shepherd’s Pie & South Beach

I can’t be the only one that thinks of the classic Friend’s episode when, thinking she was making a trifle, Rachel inadvertently made a trifle topped with a shepherds pie.

“It’s a trifle. It’s got all of these layers. First there’s a layer of ladyfingers, then a layer of jam, then custard, which I made from scratch, then raspberries, more ladyfingers, then beef sauteed with peas and onions, then a little more custard, and then bananas, and then I just put some whipped cream on top!”

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Ew.

Up until that point, I don’t know that I’d ever had a shepherds pie, let alone made one. My first experience with a shepherd’s pie was early in my weight watchers days, and the recipe made so much that we were eating it for days and days.

While grocery shopping today, we had the idea of making a more South Beach Diet-friendly shepherds pie, using mashed sweet potatoes instead of mashed regular potatoes on top. Something about that sounded odd to me though…and then I remembered an old South Beach stand by: mashed cauliflower.

I’m not going to tell you that mashed cauliflower tastes like mashed potatoes because, honestly, it doesn’t. It tastes like mashed cauliflower. But, with a bit of sour cream, some milk, and a bunch of salt, it makes a delicious substitute that’s more SBD friendly.

I’m pretty proud of my creation. While the flavor was a little bit different than the standard shepherd’s pie, and thankfully different than Rachel’s trifle, Adam and I both agreed that it’s a keeper of a recipe. It was satisfying enough that small helpings did the trick, but when I went back for seconds, I didn’t feel guilty.

Can you believe that tomorrow is December?? Where has the time gone?

Also, since Thanksgiving got in the way, I’m taking entries for BSI Pears for another couple of days. The winner will be announced this Sunday, December 4!

Tagged as: BSI, cheese, simple recipe, South Beach Diet, vegetables