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Perfectly Portioned for One – Lentil Shepherds Pie

October 29, 2008
by Meghann

I am really starting to dig the Perfectly Portioned for One series. Its fun to try to think outside the box and scale back a full meal to one person. Tonight’s meal was the absolute perfect size and filled my tummy up with no left overs!

Perfectly Portioned Lentil Shepherds Pie

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I have a mini bread loaf pan that comes in handy from time to time. I would never make bread in it, but for random times like these its the perfect size. I received my mini pan in a baking gift set, but I have seen them sold individually at Wal-Mart and Target.

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup cooked Lentils
  • Onion
  • 1/4 cup Chicken Broth
  • 1 tablespoon WW Flour
  • 1/4 cup Corn
  • 1/4 cup of Green Beans ( or Peas)
  • 1 small Sweet Potato
  • Cheese (I used my fave reduced fat Jalapeno Cheese)
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Oregano
  • Garlic Salt
  1. On the stove top heat up the lentils and onion.
  2. In a small bowl mix the chicken broth and flour and pour over the lentils
  3. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 -10 minutes or until sauce reduces
  4. Once sauce appears thick add the corn, green beans and spices
  5. Peel the sweet potato and microwave for 4 minutes
  6. Mash the soft sweet potato with some chicken broth
  7. Place the lentil combination in the mini loaf pan and then layer mashed sweet potato on top.
  8. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes, remove top with cheese and bake for 5 more minutes

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The lentils made the perfect meat substitute in the shepherds pie. I  am really starting to believe you can do just about anything with lentils. I will admit that I have some extra lentils in the fridge that I plan on creating something with later this week, just because they are so versatile.

There is something about Shepherds Pie that is just a comfort food that my Dad used to make all the time when I was little, I simply scaled the serving size back a bit and exchanged some ingredients to make it a bit healthier.

On the side of the Shepherds Pie I had some boiled Bok Choy.

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I had never made Bok Choy before so I kept it simple by cooking it as I would with any other greens, cook in boiling water for 5 minutes. They were great on the side. :)

 

Dessert tonight came in the form of a serving of Pumpkin Spice Trail Mix.

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This afternoon I also had a snack of Grapes and the other half of my Peach from breakfast.

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Thank you again for everyone who participated in my Reader Challenge. I posted the results here so go and check it out. Its pretty cool to see where everyone is coming from! You guys are the best and I appreciated each and every one of your comments today. :) Let’s hope those comments keep on coming!

25 Comments leave one →
  1. October 29, 2008 8:45 pm

    What an awesome dinner, especially with the sweet potatoes! I love Bok Choy. It is my favorite veggie!

  2. October 29, 2008 8:51 pm

    That dinner looks delicious! Well done! :)

    Is that the Archer Farms trail mix? I bought a bag of it last week. It’s so good!

  3. October 29, 2008 9:01 pm

    i love when you do ‘perfectly portioned for one’ segments haha. great for us girls living alone without any men or children to cook for !! and you know i love the pumpkin spice trailmix…had it last night! im almost out.

  4. October 29, 2008 9:17 pm

    I like your one person meals, too. It’s hard when there are such delicious leftovers hanging around to refrain from eating the whole damn thing!

  5. October 29, 2008 9:39 pm

    that dinner looks amazing and it’s (almost) vegetarian!! I’m def going to try it soon!!! i even have lentils waiting to be eaten…:D

  6. October 29, 2008 9:42 pm

    oh my gosh! I am totaly making this! Just book maked it! Thank you :) Fabulous idea!

  7. October 29, 2008 10:23 pm

    that dinner looks wonderful!
    i’ve never had shepard’s pie before….
    how many servings do you get out of that loaf pan???
    hope you have a great night!

  8. graduatemeghann permalink*
    October 29, 2008 10:25 pm

    Gina – You can’t tell from the picture, but that little pan produces a perfect single serving. The plate in the picture is the small plate you get in a set and what you see on the plate was what the mini pan produced.

  9. October 29, 2008 10:32 pm

    YEAH GIRL! I’m SO making this! I think I still have like 3 cups of cooked lentils in the fridge.
    Have you thought about writing a cookbook? I’m so not kidding!

  10. graduatemeghann permalink*
    October 29, 2008 10:36 pm

    haha – you sound like my Sister! Maybe, one day after I pile up enough good stuff on my blog! :)

  11. jess permalink
    October 29, 2008 11:15 pm

    Oh my gosh! Irony of all ironies (kind of, haha) I JUST put that in the oven and then came around to check some blogs- and it’s your perfectly portioned meal this week- Weird!! Only difference is I didn’t have a sweet potato/potato in general, so I mashed some cauliflower for the top… not a perfect substitution, but ya work with what ya got.

    Have a great tomorrow!!

    -jess

  12. October 29, 2008 11:38 pm

    Great idea using the mini loaf pan to make other things, not just bread!

  13. October 30, 2008 12:35 am

    bookmarking this shepherds pie right now….drool.

  14. October 30, 2008 12:45 am

    what a yummy lookin pie! I have been wanting to make shepards pie for a long time now, you have just given the inspiration I needed!

  15. wholefoodswholeme permalink
    October 30, 2008 3:58 am

    i’m so impressed with your one-person dinners – really. the care and time you take to make a good, wholesome meal for yourself is something i can really learn from! and of course i love lentils :D

  16. glidingcalm permalink
    October 30, 2008 7:39 am

    wow, that looks awesome!! on my to-make list now!!!

  17. October 30, 2008 8:14 am

    Yummy – and so cute!

  18. October 30, 2008 8:20 am

    The shepards pie looks delicious! Great idea!!!

  19. October 30, 2008 10:21 am

    That is such a good idea! Perfectly portioned! Awesome!

  20. rhodeygirltests permalink
    October 30, 2008 11:27 am

    yum that looks awesommmmmeeeeeeeee

    and sorry i missed out on your readers from around the world thing. i am from cranston, ri. you can add me to your list!

  21. Stephanie permalink
    October 30, 2008 12:49 pm

    One more reader — Stephanie from Columbus, Ohio :)

  22. megan permalink
    November 7, 2008 12:17 am

    I just tried this tonight, and it was delish! The portion was perfect for one person.

  23. graduatemeghann permalink*
    November 7, 2008 9:49 am

    Megan – I am so glad you enjoyed it! It really is a very yummy dish

  24. December 3, 2008 7:29 pm

    I made this tonight and lovvvvvvvvved it!

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