Brown onions and put in ground beef, salt, garlic, chilli powder, ginger and cook until brown (I want to try putting in Worcestershire sauce and oyster sauce to see how that would taste)
Add a can of cream of mushroom soup, creamed corn, carrots or any other veggies you like
Pour into casserole dish
Boil potatoes, peel and mash with butter, salt, pepper
Mix in a lot of shredded cheddar
throw on top of the ground beef mixture
Put more shredded cheese on top and pour a bit of white sauce on it
Top off with bread crumbs
bake in pre-heated 350 degrees oven
Brit........Shepards Pie is traditionally made with lamb ( shepard--> sheep --> lamb) while Cottage Pie is made with beef and has a layer of carrot slices. But basically the same thing really.
See, I knew a welsh upbringing would come in handy someday.
Here is how I used to make it when i was working as a chef. Never tasted it since wasnt zabiha meat.
1) Cook the beef pretty much like Sarah mentions except also add tomatoes.
2) Add canned corn, mushrooms, sliced black olives and any other vegggie you like.
3) Make mashed potatoes out of a can. If you make them with milk, butter and garlic powder, they are really yummy.
4) Spread beef in a long pan. Spread another thick layer of mashed potatoes. Serve. I dont remember sprinkling cheese on it but it sounds delicious.
Tamale Pie is also made similiarly. Except, instead of the mashed potatoes, use corn bread mix and bake it. You could also add tamale seasoning to the beef to make it taste more mexican.