Lentil Cottage Pie

1 cup carrots, shredded
1 cup onion, diced small
1 lg tin diced tomatoes
1/2 tin tomato paste
1 1/2 cups red lentils
chicken broth to cook lentils
1 bunch chopped parsley

2 cups -ish mashed potatoes
1/2 cup grated melty cheese

Saute vegetables, add tomatoes and paste. Add lentils and mix, then add enough chicken broth to just cover lentils. Once they are almost cooked, add parsley and let finish cooking.

Transfer to baking dish (9 inch pie plate?), cover with mashed potatoes and grated cheese. Bake in oven until golden. (approx 400 degrees for 30 mins.)

Hippie Crackers

2 cups flour
500 mL buttermilk
1/4 cup suger
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp molasses
1/2 cup each almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds
1/4 cup slightly ground flax seeds
1/2 cup dried cranberries (or other dried berry)
2 tbsp rosemary - fresh if possible

Preheat oven to 350. Divide batter into 3 loaf pans and cook for 45 mins. Remove from pan and freeze. Defrost enough to be able to slice thinly, then cook 15 min. per side at 300. Watch closely.

Pie Pastry Recipe

The cheapest way to make a pie shell is to do it from scratch. Here is my favorite, simple pie crust recipe:
INGREDIENTS

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup shortening
* 1/2 cup water

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in water until mixture forms a ball. Divide dough in half, and shape into balls. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
2. Roll out dough on a floured counter. Don't over work it. Use as directed in pie recipe.

Here's a more elegant pie shell recipe:

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour (250 g)
1 stick of butter (125 g)
1 egg
1 tsp sour cream, or thick yogurt
1/2 tsp salt

Prepare as usual with your butter very, very cold, ingredients and equipment chilled, and let the dough rest 20 min. in fridge before rolling. Try to touch it as little as possible.