Method

• To cook a shepherd's pie in a countertop roaster, brown the meat in a skillet beforehand, just as you would do if you were using a traditional oven. Boil the potatoes and mash them, and saute the celery, onions and carrots until tender. Make a savory sauce from beef broth, butter and flour. Assemble the meat, vegetables and sauce and pour this mixture into the roaster. Top with the mashed potatoes and cook in the roaster on low for 20 to 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Add shredded cheddar cheese during the last five minutes of cooking.

Ingredients

• Shepherd's pie was traditionally made with lamb, but you can use either ground or chopped beef or chicken instead. Try a tomato or broth-based sauce and experiment with green vegetables, such as asparagus or broccoli. For a French-inspired version, lace the sauce with a bit of red wine, bacon and thyme. Substitute blue cheese or Gruyere for the shredded cheddar cheese.

Drawbacks

• A roasting oven makes an excellent stand-in for a traditional oven, especially when you're entertaining a large group. However, a roaster can't duplicate every aspect of a traditional oven. For example, roasters perform well if you're using a traditional mashed potato topping, but they don't brown pie crusts. Roasters also make a huge batch, so they're not really practical for a smaller group. The temperature tends to fluctuate in roasters and they can become hot quickly, potentially burning the bottom of the shepherd's pie. Cook the shepherd's pie in an aluminum foil pan placed in the roaster or use the divided inserts if your roaster comes with them. Keep the temperature set to low and check the food frequently.

Alternatives

• If your oven's full or you don't have access to an oven, consider a countertop oven instead. These appliances are ideal if you're making shepherd's pie for a small group. Most models have traditional oven, convection and/or microwave possibilities. They can brown a pie crust and heat a shepherd's pie quickly. Compare models carefully, though, because some cook unevenly. You can also heat shepherd's pie in a slow cooker. Place a kitchen towel under the lid so the steam doesn't drip on the potatoes, and heat for three hours on low.