Tamale Pie with Tex Mex Shredded Lettuce Salad

We call this "Texas Shepherd's Pie." It's the same idea: an all-in-one meal of meat and vegetables topped with a starch. But Tamale Pie has those zesty Tex Mex flavors  that we all love. This is the basic recipe. You can add other ingredients like corn, green chiles or cheese if you like (my mother used to throw in frozen mixed vegetables). I don't use cornbread mix, because I think it's too sweet. You can omit the cornbread crust completely if you're worried about calories, and have what we used to call "Skillet Stir Fry."

Tamale Pie

1 large onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 or 2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
1 pound ground beef
1 4.5 ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup cornmeal
4 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
sliced ripe olives

Preheat oven to 350.

Sautee onion, green pepper, and garlic in oil until just tender. Crumble beef into skillet and brown. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Cook over low to medium heat for about 20 minutes.

While meat mixture is cooking, bring 3 cups of the water to a boil. Slowly pour cornmeal into remaining cup of cold water, stirring until smooth. Add salt and chili powder to boiling water, then, stirring constantly, add the corn meal mixture to the boiling water. Cook and stir for 5 minutes, Remove from heat and cover.

Layer half the cornmeal mixture on the bottom of a greased casserole or deep pie dish. Add meat mixture. Sprinkle with olives. Top with remaining half of cornmeal.

Bake at 350 until nicely browned, about 20 minutes.

For a crisp and tart side, I like this shredded lettuce and chopped tomato salad similar to those served in Mexican restaurants with the "combination plates":

Tex Mex Shredded Lettuce Salad

1 teaspoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups sliced or shredded lettuce
1/2 cup finely chopped tomatoes
(sliced avacado)

Mix together first four ingredients, then toss with lettuce and tomatoes. Add sliced avacado if desired.