Ground Rabbit Shepherd's Pie

Around here we like one pot meals, and this Ground Rabbit Shepherd's Pie fits the bill.  Talk about comfort food - this has all the elements.

Ground Rabbit Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients

1 1/2 to 2 pounds potatoes peeled and quartered8 Tablespoons (1 stick) butter1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)1-2 cups vegetables—diced carrots, corn, peas1 1/2 lbs ground rabbit meat1/2 cup chicken broth1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauceSalt, pepper, other seasonings of choice

Steps

Place the peeled and quartered potatoes in medium sized pot. Cover with at least an inch of cold water. Add a teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook until tender (about 20 minutes.While the potatoes are cooking, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large sauté pan on medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook until tender, about 6 to 10 minutes. If you are including vegetables, add them according to their cooking time. Carrots should be cooked with the onions, because they take as long to cook as the onions do. If you are including peas or corn, add them toward the end of the cooking of the onions, or after the meat starts to cook, as they take very little cooking time.Add ground rabbit to the pan with the onions and vegetables. Cook until no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper. Add the Worcestershire sauce and chicken broth. Bring the broth to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes, adding more chicken broth if necessary to keep the meat from drying out.When the potatoes are done cooking (a fork can easily pierce), remove them from the pot and place them in a bowl with the remaining 4 Tbsp of butter. Mash with a fork or potato masher, and season with salt and pepper to taste.Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread the rabbit, onions, and vegetables (if using) in an even layer in a large baking dish (8x13 casserole). Spread the mashed potatoes over the top of the ground rabbit. Rough up the surface of the mashed potatoes with a fork so there are peaks that will get well browned. You can even use a fork to make creative designs in the mashed potatoes.Place in a 400°F oven and cook until browned and bubbling, about 30 minutes. If necessary, broil for the last few minutes to help the surface of the mashed potatoes brown.