A Hotdish for A Cold Day

Winter has settled in and I often think February is the longest month of the year, regardless of what the calendar says! We've been lucky this year with a milder than usual winter, but this week's temps of 11-20 degrees have me looking for meals that make us feel warn and cozy

Casseroles are favorites for convenience and taste, as well as fitting the need of an easy hot dish. If you've seen "Church Basement Ladies" you know that a "Hotdish" to those in Minnesota and the upper midwest is what "casserole" is to the rest of us. Its a language custom, like whether you call the evening meal "supper" or "dinner". A Hotdish, or casserole, is a baked dish with a mixture that usually contains a starch, a meat or other protein, and a canned or frozen vegetable. Often it is mixed together with a canned soup. It is cooked and served hot in the same dish.

Here's a favorite recipe of mine that I designed after using a convenience mix from an entrepreneur friend who was selling a popular line of cooking mixes. This uses ingredients that I usually have around and it quick to put together.

Corn bread Casserole

1 ½ pound ground beef

1 envelope taco seasoning

corn bread mix (7 oz. box)

2 eggs

1 cup milk

1 ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 can cream style corn

1 can green chilies

Brown ground beef with taco seasoning. Combine cornbread mix, eggs, and milk. Stir until well blended and smooth. Add seasoned beef, 1 cup cheese, corn and chilies. Stir to combine well. Put in 9” x 13” greased pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Return to the oven for 5 minutes.