Tasty Tamale Pie - Casserole - cooking recipe

Ingredients

FILLING
1 lb lean ground beef, cooked and drained
1 small onion, fine dice
16 ounces bottled salsa, any heat preference I like medium
1/3 cup water
1 (7/8 ounce) packet taco seasoning, Chi Chi's Fiesta is my preference
3 ounces ripe black olives, chopped (optional)
CRUST
1 cup cornmeal, dry
12 ounces evaporated milk, I have used whole milk
4 ounces green chilies, canned, diced
1 cup monterey jack pepper cheese, divided, grated, sub. cheddar
1 teaspoon salt
1 jalapeno, sliced

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400\u00b0.
Cook ground beef and onion in a large skillet until beef is browned, and onions tender, drain.
Stir in salsa (can make smoother in texture in the food processor, if you desire), water and taco seasoning packet; bring to a boil until some of the water as boiled off and it is the sauce is saucy not thin and watery.
Reduce heat to low and stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes. Add olives, if using, and stir.
In a medium sauces pan: combine cornmeal, evaporated milk, green chilies, 1/2 C cheese and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 5-7 minutes or until thickened (to the consistency of thin oatmeal).
In a 8x8 ungreased baking dish: Spoon in meat filling, then spread cornmeal on top of meat mixture.
Bake for 25 minutes, sprinkle with remaining cheese and garnish w/ jalapenos. Bake an additional 5 minutes until cheese is melted.