# A traditional English trifle meets Shepard's Pie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 1, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254 "2010-01-01T03:05:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/1 "2010-01-01T03:05:01Z")
Has anyone actually tried making Rachel’s infamous concoction? A trifle containing a layers of; jam, custard, ladyfingers, and beef sautéed with peas and onions. Does it really taste as bad as it sounds? ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/2 "2010-01-01T03:11:27Z")
Beef in a Shepherd’s pie? : pukey : ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/3 "2010-01-01T06:14:40Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Beef in a Shepherd’s pie? : pukey : Are you kidding? Jam - good, custard - good, beef - GOOOD! Joe ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/4 "2010-01-01T06:48:13Z")
I can get behind the jam… an appropriate tart fruit, of course. I can stand up for the custard… But Ladyfigers, not so much. Maybe if she made a giant casserole sized popover Yorkshire pudding and layered it with these ingredients. Just a turn toward the savory, rather than leaning on the sweet. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/5 "2010-01-01T07:31:40Z")
When they run out of inspiration, and begin to mindlessly torture innocent food like a tot mixing up his baby swill on his bunny plate, it’s time for the blocked chefs to retire. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/6 "2010-01-01T08:09:41Z")
That’s incredibly disgusting, and I like both shepherd’s pie and trifle. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/7 "2010-01-01T18:12:59Z")
Shepherd’s Pie is Lamb. _Cottage_ Pie is Beef. Easy way to remember: shepherds shepherd sheep, not cows. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/8 "2010-01-01T21:28:12Z")
While that distinction is certainly true in England, in the US “shepherd’s pie” usually means beef. Likely, this is because US culture favors beef so strongly over sheep that most stores I shop in don’t even carry lamb or mutton, it’s a special order item. That’s been true, by the way, across 5 states over 30 years, not just where and when I live now. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/9 "2010-01-01T23:53:47Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > While that distinction is certainly true in England, in the US “shepherd’s pie” usually means beef. Likely, this is because US culture favors beef so strongly over sheep that most stores I shop in don’t even carry lamb or mutton, it’s a special order item. That’s been true, by the way, across 5 states over 30 years, not just where and when I live now. Yeah, I’m not familiar with “Cottage Pie.” But if thet’s what we call “Shepherd’s Pie” in the US, It’s yummy! Joe ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/10 "2010-01-02T00:23:21Z")
It really sounds disgusting. And where are the mashed potatoes? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/11 "2010-01-02T01:05:41Z")
I might give this a try. Did you know that mince pies (you know, the sweet ones filled with a sweetened mixture of dried fruits) used to contain beef mince? ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/12 "2010-01-02T01:27:08Z")
It tastes like FEET! ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/13 "2010-01-02T14:53:21Z")
I don’t know about a trifle, but this thread has inspired me to make a Cottage pie - I actually had some beef cooked up in gravy and vegetables already that was perfect, so I’ve mixed up some mashed potatoes (and mixed in a little carrot into the potatoes,) grated cheddar cheese to sprinkle on top, and it’s in the oven. Total caloric load for the whole pie: over four thousand. Guess I’d better make it last for a little while. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/14 "2010-01-02T17:38:32Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > While that distinction is certainly true in England, in the US “shepherd’s pie” usually means beef. Likely, this is because US culture favors beef so strongly over sheep that most stores I shop in don’t even carry lamb or mutton, it’s a special order item. That’s been true, by the way, across 5 states over 30 years, not just where and when I live now. It’s not so much that - it’s just that usage has changed over time. I hear plenty of people here call it thus, too. “Shepherd’s Pie” is actually a newer expression (I say “new” but it’s a couple of hundred years old) than “Cottage Pie”, and has largely seemed to have taken it over in my experience. People certainly seem to use the terms interchangeably these days, generally favouring “Shepherd’s” for both. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/15 "2010-01-02T18:45:23Z")
Whose idea was this? Link please? ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/16 "2010-01-02T18:49:13Z")
[Traditional English Trifle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx5Wpqf4-OM) ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/17 "2010-01-02T18:50:46Z")
See what happens when you don’t teach your kids not to play with their food? ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/18 "2010-01-02T19:27:25Z")
> [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](#): > > Whose idea was this? Link please? It’s from an episode of _Friends_ when Rachel tried to make…one of these dishes, but the pages of the cookbook were stuck together and she inadvertently made a combination of the two. The reactions of the rest of the rest of the characters were sufficiently negative that I can’t imagine anyone trying to duplicate the mistake intentionally. ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/19 "2010-01-02T20:15:14Z")
Until I read the explanation that this was from Friends, I honestly thought it was some sort of awful Rachael Ray concoction. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254/20 "2010-01-02T20:30:47Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > Until I read the explanation that this was from Friends, I honestly thought it was some sort of awful Rachael Ray concoction. Me too, I’ve seen RRAY, of EVOO fame make similar defilades … I think that’s the first scene on Friends that I have ever really laughed at. Admittedly, I’ve only seen about two episodes in my life… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-traditional-english-trifle-meets-shepards-pie/523254.md?page=2)