eaz-y as pie

I definitely support the idea of semi-homemade cooking.

Yes, my boyfriend's dishes are much prettier than mine. 
He has good taste in dinnerware and women.

There are certain things that are better when they're completely made from scratch and worth every ounce of time and effort involved. Other creations benefit from a little store-bought help, especially if that help is just as nutritious and inexpensive as the version you can make yourself. As a baker, I can't tell you the last time I used a box mix to make a cake or muffins or cookies, but I was given the opportunity to try out the Krusteaz Natural Honey Cornbread & Muffin Mix and knew exactly what I had to make: Tamale Pie.

This dish is essentially a spiced beef and vegetable mixture topped with cornbread. It sounds simple and it is, but it's also comforting and satisfying. I usually use a different brand of cornbread when making this (though I'll leave it nameless for obvious reasons), but willingly tried out the Krusteaz option. It was just as easy to prepare, but far superior in flavor and moistness. I liked that hint of sweetness and the whole effect was, as my boyfriend put it, awesome.

Krusteaz is hosting a Virtual Holiday Baking Event on Saturday, December 14 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm EST. Weelicious blogger and cookbook author Catherine McCord will be baking her favorite Krusteaz creations live from her kitchen, sharing recipes, tips, and holiday gifting ideas featuring homemade goodies. Tune in, invite friends over, ask questions and share ideas via their Twitter feed, and get into the holiday spirit.

You can also enter the Krusteaz "Seize the What If" Facebook Contest with a chance to win a kitchen oven makeover! Simply select your favorite Krusteaz product, add in three original ingredients, and name your unique recipe. All entries are eligible to receive a coupon for free product. Out of all these submissions, 10 finalists will be selected who will win a year's supply of Krusteaz products. Not too shabby!

Eaz-y as Tamale Pie
Makes 6-8 servings
Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
• 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with chiles, undrained
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 package taco or fajita seasoning mix
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional, if you like that sort of thing)
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1 box Krusteaz Natural Honey Cornbread & Muffin Mix, plus ingredients to make it

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9x13-inch pan (you can use a 2-quart casserole dish, but it'll a)take longer, and b)nearly overflow).
In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain.
Stir in the corn, diced tomatoes with chiles, tomato sauce, water, and seasoning packet and stir well to ensure that the spices and the tomato sauce are evenly distributed.
Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in the olives (if using) and cilantro.
Pour the beef mixture into the prepared pan and sprinkle with the cheese.
Follow the directions on the package to mix up the cornbread and spread it evenly over the beef and cheese filling.
Bake uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the pie to rest for 15 minutes before serving.