Delicious Mexican Shepherds Pie - Recipe

I grew up with my mom making the classic Shepherd's Pie. Ground beef, mixed vegetables, topped with mashed potatoes. I hated the nights she said that was what we were having for dinner. Since that time I have become a busy mom myself and can appreciate how a one-dish meal can make your life easier. Recently one night at the dinner table, one of my kids mentioned shepherds pie. Someone they knew was having it for dinner and they asked me if I had every heard of it. As I cringed at the thought of it, I began to tell them what was in the dish. That night at dinner a new recipe emerged as my kids and I tried to think of a way to make an old dish more appealing so that I would actually make it for them. The Mexican Shepherd's Pie was born.

I start with about a pound of ground beef, fry it in a pan and add any mexican seasoning to it. I use either Ortega or Old El Paso brand but if you prefer yours to be chunky, you can use just plain salsa. I spread the cooked meat along the bottom of a casserole dish. Next I layer it with corn. In keeping with the mexican theme, I use Green Giant Mexicorn (a mixture of corn and diced red and green peppers). Next I add a layer of shredded cheese, again I try to find something that has mexican seasoning in it. Most supermarkets carry shredded cheese to put on tacos that has seasoning in it. For the topping I use a box of corn muffin mix. I like the Jiffy brand the best but feel free to use any brand you like or even make them from scratch. I prepare the mix as directed on the package and pour the completed, "raw" batter over the top of the casserole. Then I bake the whole thing according to the directions on the corn muffin box. This dish is always a favorite for the entire family and could not be easier to prepare. You can alter the recipe and way you like, such as using ground turkey instead of beef or altering any of the other ingredients to suit your taste.