Shepherd's Pie

This is a nice warming dish for a chilly evening.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 of an onion, chopped
1 tablespoon parsley
1/3 teaspoon allspice
1/3 teaspoon cloves
1/3 pound coarsely chopped mushrooms
2 pounds ground beef
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon basil
2 cups tomato sauce
4 cups mashed potato
dash of salt for the potatoes

Preheat oven to 400 degrees farenheit. Heat the oil in a large pan, cooking the onion and parsley for a couple of minutes. Add the allspice, cloves, and mushrooms. Cook for several minutes more. Add ground beef, thyme, and basil, cooking over medium heat. Add tomato sauce and again, cook for several minutes more. Spoon mixture into a large baking dish and cover with mashed potatoes. About 5 or 6 medium-sized potatoes should do, but a good deal, of course, depends on the size and depth of your baking dish. Use your best judgement!. Bake for 1 hour. After taking it out of the oven I would allow it to sit on top of the range top before it is served.