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The Good Hearted Woman

Home Cooking & Cozy Living

  • SOURDOUGH RECIPES & RESOURCES

Homemade Fortune Cookie Recipe | Takeout Box DIY + FREE Printable Fortunes

January 30 By Renée 15 Comments

Our easy Homemade Fortune Cookie recipe provides an easy, step-by-step directions. Add a DIY Takeout Box and personalized fortunes for an extra-special touch! 

Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

No matter how old you are, the moment when you crack open a fortune cookie still holds a little magic, and personalized fortune cookies are a great way to say I Love You! (Or Happy St. Patrick’s Day, or Joyous Arbor Day, or whatever day you want to celebrate.)

This post included everything you need to create personalized homemade fortune cookies, and deliver them in an adorable, easy-to-make Takeout Box!

  1. Chinese Takeout Box DIY

  2. Printable Valentine’s Day Fortunes

  3. Homemade Fortune Cookie Recipe & Instructions

Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman

Post Updated January 30, 2020 (Originally published February 12, 2015)

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How to Make a Chinese Takeout Box

Just print out the handy Chinese Takeout Box Pattern [PDF] and follow the easy instructions. 

One box will take the seasoned crafter about 5 minutes (and those with four thumbs about 15 minutes). 

Yield: 1 Takeout Box

Chinese Take-out Box DIY

Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman

Printable pattern and instructions for an easy-to-make folded Chinese Takeout Box, perfect for gift-giving!

Active Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Estimated Cost 50¢

Materials

  • Cardstock

Tools

  • Scissors

Instructions

  1. Print out the Chinese Takeout Box pattern. Be sure to hit “fit for page” before you print. Chinese Takeout Box Template
  2. Trace the pattern onto the back of a piece of heavy scrapbooking paper or cardstock. 
  3. Use scissors to cut along the SOLID BLACK lines. blank
  4. Valley fold along the DOTTED BLUE lines. - In a valley fold, the crease is at the bottom and the paper is folded forward into itself. The paper should form a "V" when you unfold. Valley Fold - Takeout Box
  5. Mountain fold along the SOLID ORANGE lines. A mountain fold is the opposite of a valley fold. The paper folds to the opposite side. Mountain Fold - Takeout Box

Notes

scrapbooking paper and cardstock

Did you make this project?

THANK YOU for being a reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman.  Be sure to Pin this post!

© The Good Hearted Woman, Harmony Cat LLC
Category: Arts & Crafts

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Printable Personalized Fortune Cookie Fortunes

Personalized fortune cookies are perfect for kids, friends, family, teachers, and anyone else you want to surprise! 

Here are plenty of printable fortunes for your sweetheart, plus a page full of blanks for you to personalize! 

TIP: Look to your favorite songs for fast fortune-writing. 
Valentines Cookie Fortunes

Free Printable Fortune Cookie Fortunes | The Good Hearted Woman

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Fortune Cookie Recipe & Instructions

Following the fortune cookie recipe below, it will take about 40 minutes to make 24 cookies. (Add about 15 minutes plus cooling time if you want to dip them in chocolate.)

Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman
5 from 1 vote

Homemade Fortune Cookies

Personalized homemade fortune cookies are a great way to say I Love You!
Prep Time35 mins
Cook Time5 mins
Total Time40 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Sweet Treat
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Cookies, Holidays, Valentine's Day
Servings: 24 Cookies
Calories: 74kcal
Author: Renée | The Good Hearted Woman

Equipment

  • Cookie Sheet
  • Silpat Mat
  • Standard Muffin Tin

Ingredients

  • 5 tablespoons butter melted
  • 4 egg whites
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup all-purpose
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Optional:

  • Dipping Chocolate
  • Sprinkles
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Before you make the first cookie:

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Gather your materials: you will need a cutting board, a coffee mug and a muffin tin.
  • Print out and cut fortunes.
    Be sure to do this before you bake the cookies. You will not have time to do it when they come out of the oven!

Mixing the batter:

  • In a blender or mixer, combine egg whites and sugar.
    Beat for about a minute, and then add flour and salt and beat another 30 seconds. (I do this all in my blender.)
  • Add melted butter, heavy cream, and vanilla and almond extracts and beat until mixed.

Making the cookies:

  • Spoon 1 tablespoon of dough onto silicone baking sheet or parchment paper. (I use a Silpat sheet.)
    Spread batter with the back of a spoon into a thin 4-5 inch circle.
    Start by making 2 circles at a time. (I don’t ever do more than 3 at a time.)
  • Bake for 5-6 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned.
  • Remove from the oven.
    Immediately take one cookie and place it on a wooden cutting board.
    Keep bottom (the side that was "down" while cooking) down.
  • Place a fortune in the middle of the cookie and fold in half.
    Place the middle of the flat side over the edge of a coffee mug.
    Pull the corners down to shape.
    Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman
  • Immediately place the formed cookie into a muffin cup and allow it to cool completely.
    Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman
  • Repeat process until all the batter has been used.

Notes

  • No matter how crafty you are, plan on a few broken cookies.  They are going to happen – accept it.  It’s OK though – just dip them in chocolate and enjoy.
  • Be sure to have everything ready before you put the first cookie in the oven. I know I already said this. I’m saying it again.
  • Cookies are HOT when the come out of the oven. (Can a get a “Duh”?) You can wear non-cotton gloves if you want, but I find that very cumbersome. Instead, I use my fingernail to peel the cookie off the Silpat sheet, and then handle them gingerly with the tips of my fingers.  Either way, you have been warned.
  • DO NOT try to make more than 3 or 4 cookies at a time, no matter how awesome you are. It won’t work. Really.
  • If your cookies cool too fast, 15-30 seconds back in the oven will soften them… a little.
  • Wait until the cookies are completely cool before attempting to dip them. This just makes sense, but some people try to rush the process. Don’t be one of them.
  • There are many recipes for fortune cookies out there, but in my experience, this is the best one. (It has 25% less sugar than most and the cookies are still plenty sweet, just so you know.)

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

How to Form a Fortune Cookie – A Closer Look 

  1. Place a fortune in the middle of a warm cookie and fold in half.
  2. Place the middle of the flat side over the edge of a coffee mug.
  3. Pull the corners down to shape.

Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman

Immediately place the formed fortune cookie into a muffin cup and allow it to cool completely.

Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman

PRO TIP: Color code your homemade fortune cookies!

If you choose to dip-n-sprinkle your cookies, you can avoid fortune-awkwardness (like giving your daughter a fortune that says “You are my Knight in Shining Armor“). Just use different sprinkle combinations for your Sweetheart, kids, friends, etc. (If you choose to leave them plain, you’re on your own.)

Sweet Fortune Take-Out - Homemade Fortune Cookies {with FREE Valentines Day Printables} | The Good Hearted Woman

Valentine’s Day Dinner Idea:

Looking for a dinner recipe that says, “I love you”? Shepherd’s Pie is a Valentine’s Day tradition at our house. The epitome of comfort food, it is one way to show the people who mean the most in this world how much they are loved. 

Check out this post from the DIY Network for more cute and easy Valentine’s crafts! 

Homemade Fortune Cookies | The Good Hearted Woman

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THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
of The Good Hearted Woman. • Be sure to PIN this post!

Homemade Fortune Cookies    Homemade Fortune Cookies in Take-out Box

Homemade Fortune Cookies {with FREE Valentines Day Printables}
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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Filed Under: Arts, Crafts & DIY, Recipes, Sweets, Vegetarian Tagged With: cookies, crafts, DIY, Holidays, Sweet Somethings, Valentine's Day

The Lake House Bed & Breakfast {Otis, Oregon}

February 26 By Renée 5 Comments

Our annual Valentine’s weekend getaway took us to the Oregon coast this year, and The Lake House Bed & Breakfast.

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they don’t bite.

Over the last few years, one of the rituals that Mr. B and I have established is to take an annual Valentine’s weekend getaway. Mr B takes charge of making all the arrangements for our annual escape, so all I have to do is pack my bag and hop in the car.

Valentine bliss with my sweetheart, with all the planning done for me – what more could a girl ask for?

This year, Mr B found us a lovely little retreat just a few hours from Portland: The Lake House Bed & Breakfast, located on Devil’s Lake, two miles from the Pacific coast and downtown Lincoln City.

The Lake House Bed & Breakfast, Lincoln City, Oregon | The Good Hearted WomanThe sign hanging over the breakfast room door at The Lake House speaks volumes. Visiting The Lake House is a lot like visiting your grandparents house – your cool grandparents who make you awesome breakfasts, talk a mean game of baseball, and then leave you alone to do pretty much whatever you want.

The Lake House Bed & Breakfast, Lincoln City, Oregon | The Good Hearted Woman

We stayed in The Lakeside Room, a lovely suite on the second level of the main house with a private outside entrance and a beautiful view of the lake. The room was homey and pleasant, and our king-size bed was extremely comfortable.  The soft mauve and ecru decor, while somewhat dated, was nevertheless pleasant and attractive.

The Lakeside Room - The Lake House Bed & Breakfast, Lincoln City, Oregon | The Good Hearted Woman

The room has a small sitting area, and a café table by the large picture window where you can enjoy a beautiful lake view with your morning coffee.

Morning Coffee in the Lakeside Room - The Lake House Bed & Breakfast, Lincoln City, Oregon | The Good Hearted Woman

The Lakeside Room also comes with a private hot tub on the deck that overlooks the lake, and thick, comfy robes are provided to keep you cozy and warm when you are getting to and from the hot tub. Sitting out in the coastal air surrounded by warm bubbles as you watch the day fade over the lake makes for a wonderfully relaxing way to unwind.

The Lake House Bed & Breakfast, Lincoln City, Oregon | The Good Hearted Woman

Our hosts, Red and Mary, made us feel comfortable and welcome, and gave us the privacy we desired as well.

Red & Mary - The Lake House Bed & Breakfast, Lincoln City, Oregon | The Good Hearted Woman

Each morning when we came downstairs, we were greeted by Red and Mary and a lovely (color coordinated!) breakfast. The menus were well thought out and the food was delicious. After serving up the food, our hosts joined us at the table each day for a lively conversation, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time with them.

Breakfast at The Lake House Bed & Breakfast, Lincoln City, Oregon | The Good Hearted Woman

One thing that really stands out to me is our hosts’ efforts to make our experience as pleasant as possible. On the night we arrived, Red and Mary were just getting ready to eat their dinner. The path up to our room took us by the kitchen, and noticing a plate of smoked salmon on the counter, I made a passing remark about how much I loved it, but didn’t think anything more about it. Imagine my delight when we arrived at breakfast the next morning to find that Mary had prepared a delicious salmon quiche for us! (Mary was even kind enough to let me have the recipe, and I’ll be sharing it with you next week.)

Sunroom - The Lake House Bed & Breakfast, Lincoln City, Oregon | The Good Hearted Woman

The lake is just a few steps away down the hill from the house, and if you are in the mood to go out on the water, Red and Mary have a rowboat that you can use.

The Lake House Bed & Breakfast, Lincoln City, Oregon | The Good Hearted Woman

If you are planning a trip to the Lincoln City area and are looking for a peaceful spot to stay, we highly recommend checking out The Lake House. (Be sure and tell Red and Mary that we sent you!)

Backyard - The Lake House Bed & Breakfast, Lincoln City, Oregon | The Good Hearted Woman

CONTACT INFO
The Lake House Bed & Breakfast
2165 NE East Devil’s Lake Road
Otis, Oregon 97367
541.996.8938

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Guestbook - The Lake House Bed & Breakfast, Lincoln City, Oregon | The Good Hearted Woman

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up and running! Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Filed Under: Oregon, Pacific Northwest Tagged With: Columbia Gorge, Getaways, Oregon Coast, Vacation, Valentine's Day

Hood River BnB {Hood River, Oregon}

February 23 By Renée 9 Comments

An Inspiring Destination. 

A year ago, Mr. B. and I hatched a dream – in our second life, we are going to open a Bed & Breakfast. And though it is likely more than a decade away, even now we often stay up late on weekends imagining and planning – acoustic instruments hanging on the walls of a well-lit great room, musical meet-ups and house concerts in the evenings, savory-sweet smells wafting through the house in the morning. Oh, we know it will be plenty of hard work too, and we are prepared for that, but we are so excited about the people we will meet and the possibilities we will discover – the whole of it is a perfect fit for us.

It all started last Valentine’s Day when we stayed for the first time at the Hood River BnB.

Hood River BnB | The Good Hearted Woman

The Hood River BnB is not one of your fancy, European-style Bed & Breakfast establishments: it has an easy-going Northwest vibe and is completely devoid of pretense. Beautifully appointed without being fussy, you will feel welcome and at home from the moment you walk through the front door.

Hood River BnB | The Good Hearted Woman

The front room feels warm, open and inviting.

Hood River BnB | The Good Hearted Woman

There are no TVs in the rooms, but if you must watch, the television in this cozy anteroom will meet your media needs.

The Hood River BnB has four guest rooms in all.  Mr. B and I like to stay in the biggest – The Sky Room.  Airy and full of light, the Sky Room has a reading nook and a great view of the river. It boasts a large private bath with a Jacuzzi tub/shower, a huge walk-in closet, and an incredibly comfortable queen bed.

Hood River BnB | The Good Hearted Woman

The view from the Sky Room.

Mr. B and I love the privacy of the Sky Room too. We always take our music with us, and the little reading alcove gives us the perfect place to kick back and sing to our hearts content without bothering anyone.

Hood River BnB | The Good Hearted Woman

This little library, located on the 2nd floor, is open to all BnB guests. As far as I’m concerned, you just can’t go wrong with a place that keeps a vintage Underwood on the selves.

Other rooms include the Mountain and the River Room – both with great views of Mt. Adams and the Columbia River – and the Sun Room, which has a large connected sun and reading room.

Hood River BnB | The Good Hearted Woman

Breakfast is offered in three waves. Sign up for the early bird session and you might not see the innkeepers, but they will make sure you have something delicious to start your day.

Raspberries | The Good Hearted Woman

The Hood Breakfast offers those rising after 7:30 a family-style breakfast that might include such taste-tempters as Jim’s whole-wheat crepes (our favorite!!), omelets with your choice of fillings, French-toast, or a Hood scramble. Secret-recipe granola and locally grown fruit are always on hand as well.

Mr. B and I love this part of our stay: it is the one time we get to meet the rest of the guests and share a little friendly conversation.

Hood River BnB | The Good Hearted Woman

There is even a breakfast for the “Sleepy-Hoods.” (You know who you are.) You never have to worry about the “end-of-breakfast” because no matter how late you sleep in, there will be something waiting for you.

Western Scrub Jay

We spotted this little guy out the window during breakfast. (I think he is a Western Scrub Jay.)

Mt. Adams | The Good Hearted Woman

You can catch a view of Mount Adams from the breakfast room.

The BnB is within easy walking distance of downtown Hood River, and there is something nearby for everyone. Dozens of hiking trail-heads, wind-surfing, wine-tasting, river walks, antiques, and the best brick-oven pizza we have ever had are just minutes away.

Hood River BnB | The Good Hearted Woman

But it wasn’t the ambiance, or the great food, or the fantastic location, or even the VW Microbus poster in the breakfast room that inspired our dream – it was our hosts, innkeepers Jane and Jim.

Jane & Jim - Hood River BnB | The Good Hearted Woman

When you arrive at the Hood River BnB, Jane and Jim welcome you like family.  Intelligent, personable, and easy-going, they like to chat for a few minutes as they introduce you to the house, all the while getting a feel for what you want out of your stay.  They are naturally adept at striking just the right chord between friendly interaction and respect for your privacy.

Jane runs the day-to-day business of the BnB, while Jim splits his time between the BnB and his aerial agricultural imaging work. With California roots (we try not to hold that against them), Jane and Jim opened the Hood River Bnb in 2002, and have now hosted guests from the Pacific Northwest and across the globe, including South America, Australia, Japan, Canada, Africa, New Zealand, India, and all over Europe. Some stay only one night, while others stay a month or more, and many (like us) return year after year.

Hood River BnB | The Good Hearted Woman

Jane and Jim keep this cool map on their front room wall: guests can push a pin to mark either their current home or their place of origin.

It was those connections that truly inspired us.  Mr. B and I both love meeting people, hearing their stories, and sharing their music. That is a full life, and that is our dream. And it all came from a visit with Jane and Jim of the Hood River BnB. I encourage you to check them out – who knows what they may inspire for you!

Mr. B | The Good Hearted Woman

This man.

CONTACT INFO
Hood River BnB
918 Oak Street
Hood River, Oregon 97031
541.387.2997
jane(at)hoodriverbnb(dot)com

P.S. When you call, please tell Jane where you read about them!

Filed Under: Oregon, Pacific Northwest, Travel Tagged With: Columbia Gorge, Getaways, Hood River, Vacation, Valentine's Day

Best Ever Shepherd’s Pie

February 10 By Renée 13 Comments

Shepherd’s Pie is classic comfort food – rich, warm, and deeply satisfying. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket of goodness as cozy as a winter fire. 

Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket as warm as a winter fire. It's just that good. {Recipe} | The Good Hearted Woman

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

Some years ago, on the day after St Patrick’s Day, my daughter Gracie and her father were t-boned by a truck-driving teenager. Gracie sustained multiple life-threatening injuries, and was admitted to ICU, where she stayed for nearly a month.

Warning: Content contains mildly sentimental recipe-origin narrative. Read on to enjoy the story. [Click here to go directly to the recipe.]

At the time, in addition to nine-year old Gracie, we had four other young children, including an eight-week old newborn. While the girls’ father held down the fort at home, Baby Em and I slept and lived at the hospital with Gracie. I survived the first week almost entirely on saltine crackers and Jello Pudding cups from the ICU refrigerator.

Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket as warm as a winter fire. It's just that good. {Recipe} | The Good Hearted Woman

It was several days before I finally made my first real trip home – to take a real shower, revive my spirits, and visit my other girls and their father.

When I arrived, I found my dear friend Bev and some other ladies in my kitchen, delivering dinner to my family. After a short visit with the ladies, I went to shower and clean up. I read the girls a book, sang them a song or two, and packed up for the next week.

Almost as an afterthought, I spooned some of the potato-topped casserole that Bev had left us into a plastic tub to take with me, and then I buckled Em back into her carseat and sped off to the hospital.

It wasn’t until late in the night, as my injured child slept amidst her web of tubes and wires, that realized I was hungry. When I opened the plastic container, the sterile hospital air filled with amazing savory goodness.

Padding down to the Parents’ Kitchen, I microwaved it, and then, fork full by fork full, I let that Shepherd’s Pie wrap me in a blanket of warmth, kindness, generosity – and hope. Even today, the memory – standing there alone in the hospital kitchen eating Bev’s Shepherd’s Pie – brings me to tears.

Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket as warm as a winter fire. It's just that good. {Recipe} | The Good Hearted Woman

From that time on, making Shepherd’s Pie has been a labor of love, and in that spirit, we have made it a Valentine’s Day tradition. It is warm, comforting, enduring, and hope-filled – and serving it to the people who mean the most to me in this world is one way I show my love to them. 

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Bev’s original recipe was A-Mazing, but over the years I’ve made a few tweaks. Most notably, the original recipe calls for peas, but I substitute diced yams because, as I mention frequently, I strongly dislike cooked peas.

Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket as warm as a winter fire. It's just that good. {Recipe} | The Good Hearted Woman
5 from 6 votes

Best Ever Shepherd's Pie

One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket of goodness as cozy as a winter fire. 
Prep Time45 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time1 hr 15 mins
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course: Main Dish Casserole
Cuisine: Comfort Food
Keyword: casserole, potatoes
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 400kcal
Author: Renée ♥ The Good Hearted Woman

Ingredients

Filling

  • 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yam peeled and diced ¼"
  • 1 large onion minced
  • 2 medium carrots peeled and diced ¼"
  • 1 pound mushrooms chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 5 tablespoons flour (I use Wondra to avoid clumping)
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup or more if needed
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 ¾ cup vegetable broth
  • ¾ cup red wine or apple juice
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme chopped

Topping

  • 1 ½ pound russet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • ½ pound sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 large egg
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Adjust oven rack to upper middle position and preheat oven to 375°. 

Filling

  • Brown ground beef in a large skillet. Remove from skillet, drain and set aside. 
  • In the same large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
    Add yams, onions, and carrots and cook, stirring frequently until everything is tender.
    Add mushrooms and cook until mushrooms soften and release their juices.
  • Sprinkle flour over everything, and then squirt in ketchup. Stir and cook over medium-low heat for about one minute.
  • Add cream and cook about another minute. Add wine or juice, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme.
    Simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mixture is thick but still saucy, 5-8 minutes.
  • Add browned ground beef to the mixture in skillet and stir to combine. Pour mixture into a 2-quart casserole dish. 

Topping

  • In a large saucepan over high heat, bring potatoes, sweet potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and water to cover to boil.
    Reduce and simmer until tender, 15-20 minutes; until tender.
    Drain potatoes. Add butter and cream to potatoes and mash until smooth.
    Season with salt and pepper.
  • Carefully spread prepared potatoes over meat and vegetable filling, using a spatula or large spoon to smooth the top.
    In a small bowl, make an egg wash by whisking together 1 tablespoon water with egg.
    Brush the top of the potatoes with egg wash, and then drag a fork across the top to make ridges.
    Put in oven and bake until the filling is bubbling, about 15-20 minutes. 
  • Turn on broiler and cook until top is golden brown, 3-5 minutes.
    Remove and cool 10 minutes. Serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 400kcal | Carbohydrates: 37.2g | Protein: 23.4g | Fat: 16.2g | Saturated Fat: 7.2g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 317mg | Potassium: 1268mg | Fiber: 5.3g | Sugar: 5.3g | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 13mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

Looking for a unique, budget-friendly Valentine’s Day treat? Check out these Personalized Homemade Fortune Cookies, complete with Takeout Box DIY and Printable Valentine’s Day Fortunes! 

Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket as warm as a winter fire. It's just that good. {Recipe} | The Good Hearted Woman

Is this Shepherd’s Pie or Cottage Pie?

Technically, this is a recipe for Beef Cottage Pie.

What’s the difference between Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie?

The ingredients and directions for making Shepherd’s Pie and Cottage Pie (also known as Farmer’s Pie) are exactly the same, except for the primary protein. 

Shepherd’s Pie is traditionally made with lamb. (Hence, the Shepherd.) 

Cottage Pie is named for its primary protein: Turkey Cottage Pie, Chicken Cottage Pie, Beef Cottage Pie, etc. You get the idea. The only protein that doesn’t go into Cottage Pie is lamb or mutton. (Because that would make it Shepherd’s Pie.) 

Why don’t you change the name of this recipe to “Beef Cottage Pie” or “Beef Farmer’s Pie”?

First off, I believe that the delineation between shepherd and cottage and farmer is in great part a regional issue. In my neck of the woods, if you go into a restaurant and order Shepherd’s Pie from the menu, you will almost always be served a beef-based pie. If you invite us to dinner and tell us that you will be serving Shepherd’s Pie, we will not be expecting lamb. More to the point though, I have been making this casserole and calling it Shepherd’s Pie for two decades, so I’m sticking with it.

Bottom line: this the best in cozy comfort food, no matter what you call it! 

Hope that clears everything up for everyone. 

Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket as warm as a winter fire. It's just that good. {Recipe} | The Good Hearted Woman

I took these images while on a Valentine’s Getaway in the Columbia River Gorge. My thanks to the Columbia River Gorge Hotel for loaning me a fancy plate!

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More Serious Comfort Food recipes from GHW:

  • Classic Chicken Pot Pie
  • Slow Cooker Stuffed Cabbage Rolls {Polish-style Gołąbki}
  • Caribbean Chicken Stew
  • Easy Classic Chili Mac
  • Apricot Chicken Tagine with Ginger & Mint

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THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter
of The Good Hearted Woman. ? Be sure to PIN this post!

Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food     Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food - rich, warm, and deeply satisfying. One bite of this time-tested family favorite will wrap you in a blanket of goodness as cozy as a winter fire. It's just that good.  | The Good Hearted Woman #comfortfood #valentinesday #casserolerecipe    Shepherd's Pie is classic comfort food

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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, including Amazon affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support! 

Filed Under: Main Dishes, Recipes Tagged With: carrots, Comfort Food, corn, ground beef, potatoes, St. Patrick's Day, Valentine's Day

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Hello! We’re so glad you’re here! | The Good Hearted Woman {& Mr B}

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