Tamale Pie

Tamale Pie is simply chili with your corn bread baked on top of it. I remember being a little girl and my Mother would make it for dinner using those jiffy corn bread mixes. Now you have to understand, my parents divorced when I was in grade school. My father was the better cook of the two. Back in the 70's children were always sent to live with the mother. I could have starved!! Thank God for Tamale Pie among a couple other dishes that she could cook. Now I am not bashing my Mother. She has some amazing dishes she can cook. The woman could fry potatoes like no other. And being the potato love I am, I thank her for that. But we are getting off subject completely. I am not making Tamale Pie like my Mother would have. There is no canned chili or jiffy mix involved tonight.


Tamale Pie

1 lb lean ground beef (turkey works too)
1 onion diced
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp chili powder or cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cumin
salt and pepper
1 can Ortega chilis
1 can tomato sauce
1 can black beans (or whatever you have on hand)
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup cheddar cheese for topping of cornbread

Corn Bread
1 cup Original Bisquick® mix
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 cup milk
1 tsp sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup butter melted
1/2 cup cheddar cheese for batter
Preheat oven 375 degrees
cook hamburger and onion in a cast iron skillet over medium high heat.
Dang it! I need this today! How can we be out of Cumin???
Sprinkle spices over meat. I eye ball it. You could wait till you add the tomato sauce but really it doesnt matter.

Add the sauce
And the peppers
And corn and beans. Make sure you rinse the beans, the liquid they are sitting in is gross
Let simmer for ten minutes on medium low heat. Taste and make sure spicy enough. My family likes some kick so I adjust it.
Add a little extra water if you think it is too dry. Remember it still has to bake in the oven for an hour.
So I am a little strange, I like the taste of hand grated cheese over the bag stuff. I think the use flour or something to keep it from sticking to itself. Grate some cheese. Youre going to need about 2 cups. Don't be stingy. I am always stingy on the cheese. This is for inside the cornbread.
Mix your batter for the corn bread
Corn Bread
1 cup Original Bisquick® mix
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 cup milk
1 tsp sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup butter melted
1/2 - 1 cup cheddar cheese for batter (depends if The Ballplayer is looking when I put the cheese in)
Trust me on the cheese. It really make the bread good. The Ballplayer doesn't know I put it in the bread. On top....well that is another story and another fight. Don't worry, he wont read this.
Spread the batter onto the "chili"
Take a butter knife and spread it out evenly
Bake 375 degree oven 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean (not the chili) Cover with Grated cheese and return to the oven just until melted
Yummy!!!
Let sit ten minutes before slicing. Trust me
DINNER!!!