Lamb and Wild Mushroom Shepherd's Pie

Most mushrooms sold in the market today are already quite clean, but you may still need to attend to them a bit at home. Gently brushing mushrooms with a damp cloth or soft brush, such as a mushroom brush or pastry brush, is preferable to washing them. Porous mushrooms will soak up water like a sponge, compromising both the texture and flavor of any dish. Do not scrub so hard that you remove the thin outer skin on the caps; you want only to loosen any dirt or grit. Be sure to rinse the bristles on the brush if they begin to get soiled.