"Student Digs" Pie

This is my variation on the traditional "cottage pie". As I don't live in a cottage I have renamed it. I have also got a strong dislike of carrots, so I've left them out. You can add them if you want, you will need two, add them where I've added the peppers (spoilers!). This is a really good way of getting rid of those interesting vegetables you bought a while ago, forgot about and now think you should probably use them. The lentils are entirely optional, you can also add any other beans or pulses, the recipe I based this on (Delia's Special Cottage Pie) doesn't have any but I don't think there's enough base if you don't eek it out.

Equipment
Large saucepan and casserole dish
OR
Flame-proof casserole dish
Lucky implement (if you don't have a lucky implement, use a normal one)
Spoon with holes in
Spoon without holes in
Maracas (optional)

Ingredients
450g Minced Beef (1lb)
2 Medium Onions
2 Peppers
Any quantity of "interesting veg" as mentioned in the preamble (add where the peppers are) I'd chop these fairly small, especially if you're not sure what it is anymore.
1/2tsp Mixed herbs
1tsp Sweet paprika
1tbs Tomato purée
275ml Hot stock (1/2pint)
Cooking oil (if you are a bit careless and go for a wee whilst you're doing the beef so the fat burns off a bit)

for the topping
900g potatoes (about 4 average ones)
1-2 leeks (1 large, 2 medium, small ones can gratuitous swearing removed off, or you could use 3)

Method
Whack the beef in the pan then hob that on high.
Panic a bit whilst you realise you don't have the right veg, then remember you do, it's in the bottom of the fridge.
Chop your onions whilst the beef merrily browns, keep an eye on the beef and stir it fairly regularly, certainly don't go for a wee or the fat (which you will cook the onion in) will fry off.
Stick the kettle on for the stock.
Next remove the beef from the pan leaving as much juice as you can, add the onions and stir in about half a teaspoon of Paprika (experimental cooking tip, I generally add some herbs/spices when I fry onions, they absorb the taste really well at this point, however mixed herbs tend to burn so don't add them).
Chop your peppers and optional other veg, add these before the onion has burnt to the bottom of the pan.
Put the beef back in. Stick the rest of your seasoning in now.
Mix the tomato purée with the hot stock and add to the meaty mix.
Slam in your chosen beans/pulses (actually, I guess if you wanted to you could add more beef, but do this at the beginning)
Simmer on a low heat for about 10 minutes.
If you are doing this in a sauce pan put the mix into your casserole dish.
Congratulations. All your base are complete.
Preheat oven to 200°C (10π/9radC)
Prepare mash (potato)
Fry leeks in butter
Add leeks to mash
Add mash/leek to base
Add dish to oven
Cook for about half an hour.
OPTIONAL BIT
Grate cheese over the top and whack it under the grill until it starts to brown.

Enjoy!

Next week I haven't got a clue what I'll do, but I'll try and do something veggie. There will be a midweek special on TSR this week, I'll put a link up here when the balloon goes up.