Howdy there darlin's,

I'm always lookin' out fer good prices at the grocery store, 'cause it's the way I git by when ever'thin' costs an arm an' a leg, includin' food prices. Now, can't nobody tell me prices isn't goin' up, 'cause I kin see they ARE. Jes 'cause some folks say prices is not goin' up don't mean a thing. Y'all kin tell it costs a-plenty to go food shoppin' if'n yer not careful. An' y'all knows bein' a good shopper stretches them dollars a tad.

T'other day I was lookin' over the grocery ads an' found a mighty good price on 'taters--a whole 10-pound sack fer only 99 cents. Now that's a price that makes good sense ta my budget, so I done bought that 10-pound sack an' hauled it home. Then, I started thinkin' 'bout what kinda fixin's I was goin' ta cook up fer ya.

It weren't hard ta figger that out. Don't y'all jes love a nice, down home shepherd's pie? Yes, darlin's I know it's only simple country food, but my, oh my is it mighty fine tastin' and makes home feel an' smell so good, the way it oughter.

Shepherd's pie is one o' them homey dishes you kin put together in fits an' spurts while cookin' up other things in the kitchen, so don't go a-frettin' 'bout rushin' ta git it done in a hurry.

Life don't need ta be that way--always bein' in a hurry ain't good fer ya. Why, ever' so often it's good ta pour yerself a nice cuppa tea an' set awhile. Gits ya ta thinkin' 'bout what's good in yer life. An' no matter if life is tuff, there's always a little somethin' that's good.

Oh, my, my I done went a-wanderin' a fur piece from that shepherd's pie. Well, now I started by marinatin' some tofu, cookin' up them 'taters, an' choppin' up a heap o' my favorite vegetables fer the middle o' the pie. But you kin chop up any o' yer own favorite vegetables an' spoon 'em over the tofu. Last thing is ta heap them 'taters on top and tuck the bakin' dish inter the oven.

An' when that pie come outta the oven with them nice an' purty brown 'taters on top, why that's a dish o' country comfort, it is. I hope ya like it--I sure do.

Yer ever lovin' Aunt Nettie

Yield: 6 servings

Tofu Layer

3/4 to 1 pound (340g to 450g) extra-firm tofu, crumbled
1 green onion, chopped
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1 garlic clove, finely minced
Pinch Cayenne

1 1/2 pounds (675g) potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 garlic clove, sliced

1/4 cup (60 ml) vegan margarine
5 to 6 tablespoons soymilk, rice milk, or almond milk
Salt and pepper

1/2 pound (225g) broccoli crowns, cut into small florets
1/2 pound (225g) cauliflower, chopped (about 3 cups)
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 large carrot, cut into 1 1/2-inch matchsticks
1/2 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup (120 ml) water
Salt and pepper

1. Lightly oil an 8 x 8-inch (20 x 20 cm) baking dish and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. (Gas Mark 5)
2. To make the Tofu Layer, combine the tofu, green onion, soy sauce, rice vinegar, maple syrup, garlic, and cayenne in a medium bowl and mix well. Set aside to marinate.
3. To make the Potato Topping, put the potato pieces in a 3 or 4-quart (3 or 54 liter) saucepan with water to cover. Add salt and garlic, cover the pan, and bring to a boil over high heat. Decrease the heat to medium and simmer about 5 to 7 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender.
4. While the potatoes are cooking make the Vegetable Layer. Combine the broccoli, cauliflower, red bell pepper, carrot matchsticks, and onion in a large, deep skillet. Add the water and cook over high heat, stirring frequently for about 5 to 7 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Add 1 or more tablespoons of water as needed to cook the vegetables and prevent burning. Season the vegetables with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.
5. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked potatoes to a large bowl. Add the margarine and soymilk and mash the potatoes until they are smooth and creamy. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
6. To assemble the Country Comfort Shepherd's Pie, spoon the marinated tofu into the bottom of the prepared baking pan and spread it evenly. Drain any excess water from the vegetables and spoon them over the tofu layer. Spoon the mashed potatoes over the top, covering it completely. Keep the surface of the potatoes lumpy so the peaks will brown when baked.
7. Bake for 40 minutes. or until the potato peaks are golden brown. Serve immediately.

Nowadays, Aunt Nettie just shakes her head and complains, "Nobody cooks anymore. They have no idea about puttin' a meal together." She's on a mission. She wants to help those younguns eat better so they can grow up healthy like her own eight kids.