Homemade Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie is one of those recipes where everyone makes it a little different. I actually make about 4 different variations of this in our house. This is just one of the recipes I use when I decide to cook this for meal.

Homemade Shepherd's Pie
Serves: 6
Adapted by: http://picky-palate.com/2010/09/07/homemade-shepherds-pie/

Ingredients
2 1/2 pounds peeled potatoes, diced
3 tablespoons light butter
1/2 teaspoon lite salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon Lawry's garlic salt
1 cup skim or reduced-fat milk

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh minced garlic
1 pound lean ground beef
1/4 teaspoon lite salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups green beans (can be frozen or canned, just drain if using canned)

3 tablespoons light butter
3 tablespoons all purpose flour OR white whole wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon lite salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup reduced sodium chicken broth

1 cup reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese

Directions
-Place potatoes in a large pot of boiling, salted water. Boil for 15 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. Drain water and add butter, salt, pepper, garlic salt and milk. Use a mixer or potato masher and make mashed potatoes. You want them nice and creamy.
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and saute about 5 minutes. Add ground beef, garlic, salt and pepper; cook until browned. Drain any grease and then return to pan. Stir in green beans and turn heat to low.
-To prepare the sauce, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour, salt and pepper, and slowly add in chicken broth. Mixture will become thick and creamy. Add this sauce to the meat mixture and stir together. Pour into a 9x13 baking dish and pour mashed potatoes over the top. Sprinkle with shredded cheese.
-Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until cheese is melted.
-Serve warm

Enjoy! :)