The Foodie In Me.

 I write a lot of the time, and by that, I mean most of the time, but when I'm not writing or sleeping, I often find myself in the kitchen with all my other toys. I have pots, pans, skillets, and cookie sheets. I also now have a real-life cast iron Dutch oven, and if you don't think that makes me happy, you don't know me very well! I'm over the top about it. I should have done it years ago. 

    The main reason I didn't have a Dutch oven in the past was that I had a good iron skillet. Whatever I thought I needed to make in the Dutch oven, I could pretty much make in the skillet, but now I realize again... because I'm into being enlightened, I did need one years ago. I really did. Dutch ovens may become the gift I give to anyone and everyone now; just saying.

    So, today, I decided to make a Southwestern Mince Casserole. I am curious if that's the name you'll find it under in the fancy schmancy recipe books, but that's what I call it. It was fantabulous! No, really, it was just awesome. I still have a big portion left for tomorrow, so I will smile all day with anticipation! I'll post the recipe; I'm nice like that.

    When I decided to make it, I also decided to use a Pyrex square pan rather than the Dutch oven, which turns out is a preferred method among the Pinterest folks who also made something similar (or the exact thing). I made it, and I told my daughter I was making it. She likes to huff and puff about things, so I just sort of helped her out a little by telling her she could either eat it or drive herself to the fast food restaurant of her choice, but she couldn't use my car, and she doesn't own one. There you go; dictatorship at its finest!

    Once started, I took a lot of pictures of every step so if I wanted to, I could put all the photos in a really cool cookbook, but then when I saw that there were weird and odd things in the photos like mail, corners of dish towels, dog paws, and such, it dawned on me that people who make really cool cook books also have really cook photo studios and I don't have that in my house; I have mail, towels, dogs, cats, lizards, even dirty dishes which could end up serving as a character in one or more of the photos I took -- I'm so normal. Shockingly so, it turns out.

    Anyway, the meal took about 10 minutes to prep and about 18 minutes to cook, and that's it...done. I threw on a thing of instant potatoes to go with it as a side. I know they're the worst thing in the world, but I love them. I haven't peeled a spud in twenty years. I know how I just don't. If I cook potatoes, they have skin. The meal was thick, rich, hearty, and hot. It was delicious, flavorful, and really textured, too. I think it's going to be one of my go-to meals...Laura will just have to get over it. Being a Taurus, she really doesn't do change very often -- unless I corner her or give her no real alternatives. It's really, really good to be the Mom.

RECIPE:  Southwestern Mince Casserole

• 1 pound ground beef browned, drained (I use 85%)
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1 small can of green chiles
• 2 TSP of taco seasoning (dry) sprinkled
• Onion powder to taste (1/2 teaspoon)
• That's the meat or mince part. Put that in the square 9x9 glass baking dish.
• Add in a medium mixing bowl --
• 1 small Jiffy cornbread mix or another brand but small
• 2 eggs beaten
• 1/3 cup buttermilk or milk with added melted butter (1 TSP)
• 1/4 cup of sour cream
• 1/2 cup of corn -- yellow corn (frozen or canned)
• 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese or other cheese
• Now, mix all that up and spoon it out on top of the meat and cook it in the oven on 350 for about 18 minutes until the cornbread mix is golden brown.

Here's what mine looked like. Enjoy!!

Photo Credit:  Me...you can tell because it's not all snazzy.