Tamale Pie

This Mexican inspired casserole is a cozy dish for those chilly nights. To make this dish easier to prepare use a box of Jiffy cornbread mix and instead of being a topping it's the base. If you prefer you could substitute the ground beef with ground turkey.

Ingredients

Base;

• 1- 8.5 oz Jiffy corn muffin mix

• 1/3 cup milk

• 1 egg

• 1/2 onion, finely diced

• 1 4 oz can diced green chiles, mild or medium

• 1 14 oz can cream corn or corn kernels, drained

• 2 tsp garlic powder

Protein filling:

• 1 tbsp evoo or bacon fat

• 1 1/2 lb ground beef

• 1/2 onion, small diced

• 1 tsp cumin

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp coriander

• tt salt and pepper

• 1- 10 oz can Rotel, well-drained

Sauce:

• 10 oz can enchilada sauce, red or green

• 2 cups Monterey Jack cheese

• Garnish with scallions, sour cream, or some fresh cilantro.

Instructions

Please read Susie's Tips and Tricks

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Lightly grease a 13X9 baking dish.

2. Prepare the cornbread, mixing with milk and egg. Fold in the chiles, creamed corn garlic powder, and the onions. Spread in the prepared dish. Bake for 16-20 minutes until set. (Use a toothpick to test.) Change oven temperature to 350F.

3. While the cornbread base is baking prepare the ground meat and such. In a large sauté pan heat on medium, some olive or oil or bacon fat add the onions and sprinkle with cumin, coriander, and chili powder. Add the ground meat of your choice. Cook thoroughly. Season to taste and add salt and pepper as desired.

4. Remove from heat and set aside.

5. Now take a knife and poke holes all over the cornbread. (Remember poke cakes?) Slowly pour half of the enchilada sauce all over the bread. It will soak into the bread.

6. Place the cooked meat mixture evenly over the cornbread.

7. Now top with the Rotel mixture. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce. Then sprinkle with the cheese.

8. Cover with foil and bake at 350F for 20 minutes; remove the foil and continue baking until the cheese is melty; about 10 more minutes.

9. Serve with sour cream, scallions, or any other taco-like accompaniments.

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Susie's Tips and Tricks

Don't have a Jiffy box? You can make the cornbread mixture: blend 1/2 cup cornmeal, 2/3 ap flour, 1 tbsp baking powder, 3 tbsp sugar, and 1/4 tsp salt. Add 4 tbsp olive oil. Mix to a soft crumble. Add 1/3 c milk and 1 egg. Proceed with instruction 2 adding the chiles and corn.

Like your dishes with some spice? Use spicy enchilada sauce and use spicy Rotel.

Rotel is a product made of diced tomatoes and green chiles; it's available in mild and hot.