Cottage Pie

Name: Cottage Pie
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 1 h 10 min
Total time: 1 h 30 min
Cuisine: American, British
Ingredients: 1 pound lean ground beef; 1 onion (diced); 2 carrots (½ inch diced); 2 ribs celery (½ inch diced); 2 cloves garlic (minced); 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; 1 ½ cups beef broth; 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 1 teaspoon dried parsley; ¼ teaspoon dried thyme leaves; 1 bay leaf; ⅔ cup peas; ¼ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 2 pounds russet potatoes (or Yukon gold potatoes); 3 tablespoons melted butter; ⅓ cup warm milk; 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (optional)