Easy Southwestern Cornbread Food

SOUTHWESTERN CORNBREAD STRATA WITH CREAMY SPICY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• For the Southwestern cornbread strata: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 10-by-12-inch baking dish and place on a baking sheet. Set aside.
• Whisk together the eggs, milk, cream and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the cornbread, press to submerge, and let stand, stirring once or twice to soak the cornbread evenly and thoroughly.
• Heat the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, add the sausage, and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Add the onion, bell pepper and poblano to the drippings in the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned in spots and soft, about 5 minutes.
• Stir the sausage and onion mixture into the cornbread mixture. Stir in the chopped cilantro, 3/4 cup of the Cheddar and 3/4 cup of the Monterey Jack. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish, dot with the goat cheese and sprinkle on the cotija and remaining 1/4 cups Cheddar and Monterey Jack. Bake until the edges are puffed and lightly golden brown and the center still jiggles slightly, about 40 minutes.
• For the tomato sauce: While the strata bakes, heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
• Stir in the tomatoes and chipotle and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is reduced by half and thickened, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a blender and puree until creamy, venting the top of the blender to allow steam to escape. Return the sauce to the saucepan over low heat, and whisk in the crema and salt and pepper to taste; let the sauce heat through and then remove from the heat. Stir in the lime juice and cover to keep warm.
• Let the strata rest for about 10 minutes, then serve with the creamy spicy tomato sauce, garnishing each serving with some of the whole cilantro leaves.

SOUTHWESTERN CORNBREAD CUSTARD STUFFING

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the poblanos and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and browned in spots, about 5 minutes. Add the scallion whites, thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and cook, stirring, until the scallions are tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Make the custard: Whisk the eggs, chicken broth, half-and-half, 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. Add the creamed corn, bread cubes, 2 cups cheese, the scallion greens and poblano mixture; toss gently until combined. Let sit until the bread is soaked, at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350˚. Butter a 3-quart baking dish. Transfer the stuffing to the prepared dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup cheese and dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
• Bake the stuffing until the custard is set and the top is browned, about 1 hour. Let cool at least 20 minutes before serving.

SOUTHWESTERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin with nonstick spray and place in the oven while you make the batter.
• In a large bowl, combine the cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, red pepper flakes and salt. Stir to combine. Add the milk, oil and corn and stir until just combined. Stir in the Cheddar, onions and green peppers and stir just until incorporated.
• Carefully remove the hot muffin tin from the oven and ladle the batter into it. Return to the oven and bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes. Remove from the muffin tin and serve.

SOUTHWESTERN CORNBREAD LAYERED SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare 8" pan of cornbread according to package directions. When cooled, cut into large cubes and toast in 375 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Remove from oven to cool. Set aside and prepare dressing using first three ingredients.
• Using 1/2 of cornbread, break into smaller chunks and place in glass serving dish. Begin layering 1/2 of the ingredients (except cheese, bacon & dressing)in order and repeat, beginning again with remaining cornbread. Spread top layer with dressing and top with cheese and bacon crumbles. Garnish with green onion tops or small sweet jalapenos,halved & seeded. Refrigerate until serving time.

EAST COAST GRILL'S CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a 9-inch cast-iron skillet and put it in the oven to heat up.
• In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and oil. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients, add the melted butter and the corn and stir together until just mixed.
• Remove the hot cast-iron pan from the oven and pour into it the batter, then give the pan a smack on the countertop to even it out. Return pan to oven and bake, approximately 1 hour, until the corn bread is browned on top and a toothpick or a thin knife inserted into the top comes out clean.

CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Put fat in a 10-inch cast-iron skillet or in an 8-inch square baking pan. Place pan in oven.
• Meanwhile, combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix eggs into milk, then stir this mixture into dry ingredients, combining with a few swift strokes. If mixture seems dry, add another tablespoon or two of milk.
• When fat and oven are hot, remove skillet or pan from oven, pour batter into it and smooth out top. Return pan to oven. Bake about 30 minutes, until top is lightly browned and sides have pulled away from pan; a toothpick inserted into center will come out clean. Serve hot or warm.

SOUTHWESTERN CORNBREAD STUFFING

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add onion and pepper and saute over medium heat until these vegetables are tender. Add the scallions, chili pepper and squash. Cook over low heat about 10 minutes, until the squash begins to soften.
• Stir in the cornbread and add enough stock to moisten the mixture lightly. It should be somewhat crumbly because it will pick up moisture from the squash as it cooks, as well as from the turkey or chicken.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper. Use to stuff poultry or bake in a buttered casserole alongside the poultry.

EASY CORNBREAD-BROWN BUTTER STUFFING

Steps:

• In a medium skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Cook, undisturbed, until the foam subsides and the butter is a deep brown and smells nutty. Transfer immediately to a heatproof liquid measuring cup or bowl.
• In a large bowl, combine the cornbread, scallions, 3 tablespoons butter, eggs, sage, salt, chili powder and black pepper. If the mixture looks dry, add a little stock or water.
• Spoon the stuffing into a 1 1/2 quart gratin dish. Drizzle the remaining butter over the stuffing. (At this point you can wrap well with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight.)
• Heat oven to 350 degrees and bake until crisp and browned on top, about 30 to 45 minutes.

EASY SOUTHWESTERN CORNBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the Mexicorn, the diced chiles, the milk and the egg. Add the corn muffin mix and stir until just combined.
• Spray a cast iron skillet with nonstick cooking spray and add the cornbread mixture. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
• Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.