Shepherds Pie for Christmas

5lbs potatoes
2lb ground beef
1 onion diced
2 cloves garlic chopped or pressed
8oz cheese shredded
2 cups mixed frozen vegetables
salt (or season salt)
pepper
other herbs as you like (I use herb de provence alot)
make a little brown gravy either packet or bouillon with some flour (1/2 to 1 cup)

Preheat oven to 350 to 400
Boil potatoes and make cream/mashed potatoes however it suits you.

Brown meat in skillet and cook through and then drain.  While meat drains cook onions and garlic in pan for a few minutes then add vegetables and continue to cook for a few minutes.  Add the meat and cook for a few minutes. 
Pour meat into a casserole (like 9X14 or equivalent), then make gravy in the pan.  Pour gravy over meat and veg mix.  Spread potatoes on top.  Sprinkle cheese on top of that. (you might not use all the cheese it just needs light sprinkle so you can still see plenty of potato)

Bake 20-30 min until cheese bubbles.

Technically shepherds pie is made with lamb and this is actually cottage pie, but that's all a bit technical and we call it shepherds pie anyway.