SHEPHERD'S PIE WITH BACON, BEEF AND HORSERADISH BLUE CHEESE POTATOES

Shepherd's Pie with Bacon, Beef and Horseradish Blue Cheese Potatoes image

Provided by @MakeItYours

Number Of Ingredients 25

2 pounds beef from shank or chuck or lamb from shank or shoulder (from the butcher), hand trimmed and chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
6 slices smoky thick-cut bacon, diced
Salt and coarse black pepper
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 small ribs celery, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 large bay leaf
Bundle of sage and parsley, a few sprigs each
2 rounded tablespoons flour
About 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
Cup dry red wine
2 1/2 cups beef or veal stock
For the topping:
2 to 2 1/2 pounds Russet potatoes, 5 large, peeled and cubed
1 cup warm milk
Cup sour cream
2 rounded tablespoons prepared horseradish
1 cup smoked blue cheese or blue cheese crumbles
1 cup grated Parm or sharp cheddar
A few grates of fresh nutmeg
1 cup finely chopped chives
2 large egg yolks
Sprinkle of paprika

Steps:

To meat drippings add onions, carrots, celery, garlic, bay herb bundle, salt and pepper. Cook partially covered 10-12 minutes to soften, stirring occasionally. Add flour and stir one minute to cook out raw flour taste, add Worcestershire and wine, and stir. Add stock and beef or lamb and bacon back to pan reduce heat to simmer and cook covered until tender, stirring occasionally, up to 40 minutes.