Recipe #1

Yeah, I don't know if this casserole has an official name, but here it is. We call it hamburger cornbread casserole because those are the main components. It's very easy to make, and doesn't take very long.

Ingredients:

Hamburger meat - we use 2-2.5 lbs ground 80/20 hamburger, but we eat a lot.

1 can Rotel, whichever one you like best, we use original.

Worcestershire sauce - I just dump some in, no need to measure.

Salt

Pepper

Chili powder - I sprinkle some on, doesn't have to be a lot.

Shredded cheese

Cornbread - your favorite mix or whatever you use, a bigger pan will need two mix packages.

How to make it:

Brown the hamburger meat. While it's cooking, sprinkle on salt, pepper, chili powder and Worcestershire sauce. Just eyeball it. You're going to be the one eating it, so season to your taste. Once the meat is browned, drain it. Open the can of Rotel and dump it in with the meat and stir it so it's well mixed. Dump this whole lot into a baking pan (I use a Pyrex 9x13x2) and sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top. If you like cheese, use a lot. If not, don't use a lot. It's up to you. Mix your cornbread according to the package and double for the larger pan (I have to double the cornbread). Mix it well so you don't have lumps. Pour the cornbread over the meat and spread it out as even as you can get it. It doesn't have to be perfect, and it might not look too pretty right now. Bake the dish according to the cornbread directions.

You can also sprinkle cheese over the top of the cornbread before you bake it, but in my experience it turns brown... Tastes good, but if your kids go off appearances they may not eat that. If you like a spicier dish, add some chopped chiles to the mix, or a chopped jalapeno. If you like sweet cornbread, that works well with this dish. I bet jalapeno cornbread would be wonderful.

To serve, just cut it out like you would a normal casserole and enjoy it as is or make a pot of beans with it. Pinto beans go real well with this dish. It's simple and easy and delicious. Instead of a big meal with so many separate dishes, this one has everything all in one bowl. If you make beans with it, you don't even need a separate bowl to eat them with. Down home cooking at it's most comforting.