Easy Shepherd's Pie (Beef And/or Lamb Combo)

Ingredients

• 1 cup beef stock 
• 2 tablespoons butter 
• 1  carrots peeled finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons cream cheese sour (or cream)
• 1 large egg yolk 
• 2 tablespoons flour all-purpose
• 2 tablespoons parsley fresh chopped for garnish
• 2 teaspoons thyme sprigs fresh ()
• 1.8 pounds ground beef 
• 0.5 cup cup heavy whipping cream for richer flavor (or heavy cream )
• 1 tablespoon olive oil extra virgin extra-virgin
• 1  onion chopped
• 0.5 cup peas frozen
• 2 pounds potatoes such as russet, peeled and cubed
• 6 servings pepper black freshly ground
• 1 teaspoon paprika sweet
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste 
• 2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• whisk
• casserole dish
• broiler

Directions

1. Boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 12 minutes.
2. Drain potatoes and pour them into a bowl.
3. Combine cream cheese (or sour cream), egg yolk and milk (or heavy cream).
4. Add the cream mixture into potatoes and mash until potatoes are almost smooth.While potatoes boil, preheat a large skillet over medium high heat.
5. Add oil to hot pan with beef and/or lamb.Season meat with salt and pepper. Brown and crumble meat for 3 or 4 minutes. If you are using lamb and the pan is fatty, spoon away some of the drippings.
6. Add chopped carrot* and onion to the meat. Cook veggies with meat 5 minutes, stirring frequently.NOTE:*by finely chopping the carrots, they will cook a little faster.
7. Add the thyme.OPTIONAL
8. Add the tomato paste, which gives the meat filling a richer flavor.In a second small skillet over medium heat cook butter and flour together 2 minutes.
9. Whisk in broth and Worcestershire sauce. Thicken gravy 1 minute.
10. Add gravy to meat and vegetables. Stir in peas.Preheat broiler to high.Fill a small rectangular casserole with meat and vegetable mixture. Spoon potatoes over meat evenly.Top potatoes with paprika and broil 6 to 8 inches from the heat until potatoes are evenly browned. Top casserole dish with chopped parsley and serve