Poor Man's Tamale Pie

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      You may be wondering why I call this Poor Man's Tamale Pie.  Well, I had it in my head to try making a tamale pie in the Crock Pot, but I realized I didn't have olives or peppers, and I didn't want to go to the store, so I just came up with a delicious tamale pie sauce with what I had on hand!  If I say so myself, it came out really, really good!  My husband even ate some for breakfast yesterday because he liked it so much! It is not too spicy and the cornbread topping is less like a bread and more like polenta.  Here is the recipe, click the button: 

Poor Man's Tamale Pie (Crock Pot Style)

Here are the tips on how I did it, just click on the photos:

First I made the delicious sauce. When I got going, I wished that I had used a deeper skillet. So, a word to the wise. Use a deeper skillet. Cream corn in this recipe makes the sauce very rich. If you like it spicier, adjust the seasoning and spices accordingly.

This is how thick the cornmeal mixture should be.

You put cheese in the sauce and then I like to add cheese on top of the sauce after pouring it into the Crock Pot.

Then you gently dollop and spread the cornmeal mixture over the top. Finally you bake it on low.

     If you have olives and bell peppers, you can add those to the sauce as well.  I am fine without olives.  The cream corn was a happy accident, I thought it was whole kernel until I opened it.  It worked great.

A dollop of sour cream and some green onions finished it off. We all went back for seconds!

Here are tools I used to make this tamale pie! You can click on them to purchase them.

      Speaking of great cooking, I have talked to you before about Panna and I have shown you some of their recipes,  here and here for example.  It amazes me how the little tips I have learned from the recipes and lessons I have followed on Panna have stayed with me as I cook, such as adding more oil on the side of the pan to give it time to heat up before it hits the food in the pan.  Now, Panna is offering classes in specific types of cooking, such as bread baking, food from Israel and how to cook pasta!  If you sign up for the entire website, these classes are free!  The videos I have followed with the master chefs on Panna have been so easy to follow and a lot of fun.  The results have been spectacular!  Check out what they have to offer here! Before long you will be cooking like the bakers on the Great British Bake-off! (Love that Show!)