This is a test for Grandma’s pie

This recipe is from Executive Chef Jason Gould of Gravitas in Houston. It was featured in the October 2005 issue of Texas Monthly.

quick and easy variation on an old theme

This old-fashioned recipe makes a muffin batter that can be kept in the refrigerator so you can make 1 or 2 muffins at a time. Or you can make them all at once and freeze them. They thaw in just a few minutes if left on the kitchen counter.

Traditional Shepherd’s Pie is usually made with ground meat and white potatoes. I like this one because it has sweet potatoes mixed in and omits the meat filling. The curried lentil filling is sandwiched between two layers of creamy potato filling sitting on a crouton crust baked on top of sweet zucchini. I serve this as an entree with a simple chopped tomato salad.

This tart, sweet salad dressing is wonderful on dark, leafy salad greens like romaine or leaf lettuce tossed with orange segments, black olives and red onion slivers.

Miso soup is the Japanese version of chicken soup – a combination soul food and comfort food. It is traditionally eaten at breakfast in Japan as a daily staple. Miso is a paste made from fermented soybeans, and is full of antioxidants like vitamin E, as well as protective fatty acids. It’s healthful and delicious, and the Japanese say that the linoleic acid in miso promotes soft skin. The soybeans miso is made from also contain isoflavones and other elements that provide protection against some forms of cancer. To preserve these properties, miso should not be boiled. Add it to a soup after it has been removed from direct heat.

The Mediterranean flavors of the colorful topping in this recipe are a perfect complement to the flavor and firm texture of the fish. A cast-iron grill pan is best for this dish. Be sure to season a new cast iron pan well before using it for the first time and preheat it each time you use it. Spinach sautéed with garlic is an excellent side dish for this recipe.