Beef Tamale Casserole with Cornbread Topping

I love the illustrations and this book is a fun read for K-3. It's not a traditional story but a version of The Three Little Pigs story set in Texas near Mexico. Kids will really enjoy it as the connection to the traditional story is close enough that they can predict what will happen, but different enough that they may giggle at the changes and enjoy it. Another fun part is how the author integrated the setting into the story; the horses are built from things you would find in Texas (ending with a house made of spiny cactus), and it also integrates some Spanish words. The words are occasional and are defined in the story as well as in a short glossary, but students, especially bilingual students, will really enjoy it.

Speaking of tamales how about this dish.

Beef Tamale Casserole is a real winner in my book. It's kid friendly taking comfort food to the max with layers of spiced beef, enchilada and tomato sauce,cheesy goodness topped with sweet cornbread. I skipped making cornbread from scratch and went for easy using a box mix. I substituted buttermilk for the milk. If you are a family of cheese lovers reserve some of the cheese and sprinkle over the cornbread before baking. Suggested cornbreads in my order of preference Famous Daves Cornbread, Krusteaz Honey Cornbread, 2 boxes of Jiffy Cornbread.

You can vary the "hotness" of this recipe by increasing the spices or using hot enchilada sauce over mild.

Ingredients: 

• 1 box cornbread mix
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 cup each diced onion and diced mini sweet red pepper 
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 tsp. each chili powder, cumin, taco seasoning
• 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 can (10 oz.) enchilada sauce mild
• 1 can (10 oz.) Rotel diced tomatoes with green chiles
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 2 cups Shredded Mexican Cheese

Directions:

• Brown ground beef with onions, peppers, garlic and spices.
• Drain and return mixture back to pan. Make sure beef is crumbled and add in enchilada sauce, diced tomatoes, corn and cheese.  
• Pour into casserole dish. 
• Make cornbread according to manufacturer's directions. Place large spoonfuls of cornbread over beef mixture covering as much of pan as possible. It will spread during baking time. 

• Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes. Additional cheese can be sprinkled over the cornbread the last 5 minutes of baking time.   

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November 14, 1840-December 5, 1926

Monet was the founder of French Impressionist style of painting. His works focused on landscape scenes and his favorite flower, the water lily.

Woman in Green Dress

This painting brought Monet recognition in 1866. It was one of the many works featuring his first wife Camille Doncieux.

These two paintings below are two of his most famous works on display at the Musee d' Orsay in Paris.

"It took me time to understand my waterlilies. 

I had planted them for the pleasure of it; 

I grew them without ever thinking of painting them. ”

- Claude Monet