Proper English Cottage Pie

Ingredients

• 1.5 cups beef broth 
• 0.3 cup butter softened
• 3  carrots diced
• 2 tablespoons flour all-purpose
• 2 tablespoons parsley fresh chopped
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 1 tablespoon penzey's southwest seasoning italian
• 1 pound ground beef lean
• 1 cup milk 
• 1  onion diced
• 4  potatoes diced peeled
• 6 servings salt and pepper to taste
• 0.3 pound cheddar cheese shredded
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste 

Equipment

• bowl
• frying pan
• sauce pan
• oven

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. Place a large skillet over medium heat. Crumble in ground beef and saute 1 minute.
3. Add onion and carrot, then continue to saute until meat is no longer pink and onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes.
4. Mix in flour, cinnamon, mixed herbs, and parsley.
5. In a small bowl, combine beef broth and tomato paste.
6. Mix together, then add to beef mixture.
7. Add salt and pepper to taste. Lower heat and simmer mixture for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until almost all of liquid has been absorbed. Spoon mixture into a 9 inch pie plate.
8. Place diced potatoes in a medium saucepan. Cover with water and place over high heat. Allow to come to a boil. Boil for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
9. Drain.
10. Mash potatoes until smooth, then add butter or margarine, followed by milk. Whip until fluffy.
11. Add salt and pepper to taste.
12. Spread potatoes over beef filling.
13. Sprinkle with grated Cheddar cheese.
14. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes, until top is browned and cheese is bubbly.