Tamale Pie

The topping for this can be made a couple ways.  My husband prefers the corn bread topping, while I prefer the Masa topping.   You could even put biscuits on top if your would like.

TAMALE PIE

(serves 6)

Filling Ingredients:

*1 pound ground beef

*1/2 pound ground pork

*1 large white onion, chopped

*1 red bell pepper, chopped

*1 green bell pepper, chopped

*4 garlic cloves, minced

*1/2 jalapeño pepper, seeds removed and chopped (optional, and if you like a lot of heat keep seeds)

*1 teaspoon ground cumin

*1 teaspoon chili powder

*1 teaspoon oregano 

*1/2 teaspoon salt

*1 teaspoon ground black pepper 

*1/2 teaspoon unseated cocoa

*1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

*1 (15 ounce) diced tomatoes

*2 tablespoons tomato paste

*1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained 

*1 cup frozen corn

*1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

*fresh cilantro, chopped

Masa crust Ingredients:

*4 cups corn flour masa

*4 cups chicken stock

*2 teaspoons baking powder

*1 teaspoon salt

*1/2 cup butter, melted

*1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded 

Cornbread Crust Ingredients:

*1 1/4 cup cornmeal

*3/4 cup all-purpose flour

*1 tablespoon granulated sugar

*1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

*3/4 teaspoons baking soda

*1/2 teaspoon salt

*6 tablespoons butter, melted

*1 cup buttermilk 

*2 large eggs, beaten

*1 cup cheddar cheese, melted

Filling Directions:

~Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

~Add ground beef and sausage to a large oven proof skillet.

~When the meat begins to brown, add onion, red pepper, green pepper, garlic, and jalapeño peppers and cook until meat is done.

~Stir in cumin, chili powder, oregano, salt, pepper, unsweetened cocoa, and Worcestershire sauce until well mixed.

~Stir in tomatoes and tomato paste until well mixed.

~Stir in corn  and beans.

~Remove from heat.

~Add crust (choose mesa or cornbread)

Masa Crust Directions (make before filling)

~In a medium bowl, mix all the ingredients except cheese together until well mixed and soft dough.

~Mix in cheese.

~Cover and refrigerate while making filling.

~Once filling is done, drop dollops of masa mixture over filling.

~Gently spread over meat mixture.

~Bake for 30 minutes.

~Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Cornbread Crust Directions:

~Whisk cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl.

~Whisk melted butter, buttermilk, and eggs into a separate bowl.

~Stir the wet and dry ingredients together util well mixed.

~Stir in cheese.

~Drop spoonfuls of cornbread mixture over top of meat mixture.

~Gently spread mixture over meat mixture.

~Bake for 30 minutes.

~Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.