Cottage Pie

Ingredients

• 2 ½ lbs potatoes. Around 2 lbs peeled. Any reasonably starchy, medium or large, yellow- or white-fleshed variety.
• 1 ¼ lbs ground beef
• 1 medium onion, any variety
• 1 large or 2 small carrots, any variety
• 1 large or 2 small celery stalks
• 5 thyme twigs
• 1 bay leaf
• 5 Tbsp butter and 5 Tbsp olive oil. Alternatively use 10 Tbsp olive oil.
• 1 cup shelled English peas or other green shell peas. Use frozen ones in winter.
• Optional: 1 ice cube of reishi- or pheasant's back mushroom broth (1 ½ Tbsp).
• Optional: 2-3 ounces of fresh mushrooms, sautéed and chopped.
• Kosher salt and fine sea salt
• Black pepper