Courtesy of Gordon Jackson (a.k.a my dad)

Serves around 5 portions so can easily freeze and eat at a later date.

Ingredients

• 700g potatoes, peeled and chopped
• 500g minced lamb
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed or chopped
• 2 medium onions, finely sliced
• 1 stick of celery, finely sliced
• 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
• 1 leek, chopped
• 1 tsp thyme
• 1/2 tbsp tomato puree
• 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 beef stock cubes
• 1 tbsp butter
• 4 tbsp milk
• 75g grated cheese

Instructions

1. Prepare the ingredients listed above.
2. Preheat the oven to fan 170c/ conventional 190c/ gas 5.
3. Put the potatoes in a medium saucepan, add a pinch of salt and cover the potatoes with cold water. Put the lid over the saucepan and place on a medium heat until they are tender.
4. Whilst the potatoes are cooking, heat some olive oil in a large frying and add the onions and fry them for a minute or 2.
5. Next add the garlic, celery, carrot, leek and thyme and cook for a few minutes.
6. Add the mince to the frying pan, making sure to break it up. Cook until the meat is browned through.
7. Add the Worcestershire sauce and tomato puree and cook for a further minute.
8. Turn the heat down to low and crumble the stock cube into the pan.
9. Stir well and season to taste and empty into an oven proof dish and set aside to cool slightly.
10. Check the potatoes and if they are soft all the way through, drain the water.
11. In the saucepan, but off the heat, add a generous amount of butter, milk and season with salt and pepper. Mash the potato ensuring there are no lumps.
12. Spoon the mash over the meat mixture and smooth the edges of the dish. If using cheese sprinkle this across the top.
13. Place the dish in the oven and bake for 45 minutes until crisp and golden on top.
14. Serve

Cost

• Potatoes = £1.50
• Minced lamb = £4.00
• Garlic = £0.16
• Onions = £0.09 each so £0.18 for 2
• Celery= £0.49
• Carrot = £0.05
• Leek = £0.50
• Thyme = £0.70
• Tomato puree = £0.50
• Worcestershire sauce = £1.70
• Beef stock cubes = £1.00 for a box of 12
• Butter = £1.50
• Milk = £1.10
• Cheese = £1.90

Total cost = £15.28

£3.05 per portion

(These prices are from Tesco, the average price supermarket, so you could get cheaper prices at cheaper supermarkets).

To watch the interview with my dad about how student wellbeing has changed over the years, follow this link.