Calling for Comfort

A little comfort food, that is.

The air has turned chilly and the wind comes gusty.  Still, the swirling, twirling leaves falling around me somehow give me a sense of tranquility, especially here.  I stand in their midst and watch them dance on the wind; I admire their whimsy.

But on days like this when the sun hides behind clouds and the day looms gray, and the last of Autumn's glory cling tightly to their life source, a bit of comfort is in order.

Recently, it came in the form of Shepherd's Pie.  Here's the easy recipe I'm using if you need a little comfort, too (I'd offer kudos to the source, but it's a compilation of a few.):

Shepherd's Pie


Ingredients:

1 small onion, diced and sauteed
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
2 c. whole kernal corn (substitute any veggie you like)
Prepared mashed potatoes (about 4 or 5 medium)
1 cup of your favorite beef or brown gravy
chedder cheese, if desired
garlic powder, rosemary, thyme

Directions:

Combine onion and beef (prepared as indicated) and sprinkle with a few shakes of garlic, and a shake or two of rosemary and thyme; add the gravy and stir.
Spoon it into a square baking dish (lightly sprayed with non-stick spray) covering the bottom.  Add the layer of corn, then the layer of potatoes, being sure to spread it evenly to the sides.
Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.  Top with chedder for the last 5-8 minutes, if desired.

Serve it with a salad so you can say you ate something green and nutritious!

The hostas, withering and fading, are showing signs of their fast-approaching winter hibernation.

These are Autumn's final days.

"October's the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down -
October is red
And golden and brown."

~ Author Unknown