Gardener's Pie

I read the name Gardener's Pie in a cookbook the other day and loved it so much that I had to make my own version. I think that this recipe goes to show that eating a vegetarian meal can lead to sentences like "this is delicious" instead of "this is delicious, for a vegetarian meal". 

I packed a lot of flavours into this dish and it is really quick to make, especially if you make a double batch of my Garlic Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes, one for the night before and one to save to top this dish the next night. 

The ground soy product tastes great to me, but you could always substitute ground meat if prefer. 

Gardener's Pie - serves 4-6

1 onion, peeled and diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon oil
1 large or 2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
1 package (340 g) of ground soy product - I used the Italian seasoned kind
1 can if black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup of frozen corn
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup of tomato paste, about 1 small can
1 cup of water
Salt and pepper to taste
1 recipe Garlic Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes, recipe follows

1. In a large frying pan, cook the onion garlic, and carrots in the oil until soft.

2. Add the soy, beans, and corn. Stir together. Add the flour and stir again.

3. Add the tomato paste and water, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil and stir to allow mixture to thicken. Empty into a 9 x 9 square baking dish.

4. Top with Garlic Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes and bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes or until warm and the potatoes start to brown.

5. Let pie cool, scoop onto plates or bowls and enjoy.

Garlic Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes - 1 recipe tops the pie or serves 4

4 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
6 cloves of garlic, peeled and left whole
1/3 cup cream cheese
1/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Add potatoes and garlic to well salted cold water. Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are soft, about 20 minutes depending on how large the potatoes are cut.

2. Mashed potatoes well, add cream cheese, butter, and enough milk to reach desired consistency.

3. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Enjoy.