For your enjoyment, can be served directly from the cast iron as well. These are 8" pans. Next time I might roll the crust out a bit thinner and make a lattice on top.
It looks like it from the top yes. Here's a cut piece. Beef stew, simmered in green onion, tomatoes, snack peppers, garlic, shallots, port, rice, red lentils and a bunch of other spices, topped with a bit of cheese. The crust is a traditional pie crust which is very forgiving to make.
If I would have had potatoes in house I would have put that on top. Either way, it was super tasty and very mighty.
Traditionally shepherds pie is made using lamb (thus the name). Cottage pie is made with beef, though neither of these dishes have pastry. They are usually topped with mashed potato.
When I make this for my wife and I, sometimes we use stuffing for the top instead of mashed potatoes. Easier to make, and adds some different flavors. We usually do a ground beef version (Cottage Pie).
What is that sticking out of the bottom pie, at just past the 3 o'clock direction? It looks like some chewing gum foil or a folded dollar bill poking out?