Hot Tamale Pockets

Our 6-year-old, Ethan, loves to put these tasty little pockets together, and they’re a huge hit with the entire family!

Shopping List: Ground Beef, garlic (crushed garlic*) Monterey Jack Cheese (we use cheddar, or whatever your family favorites are), Taco Seasoning, Corn Meal, 2-3 ears of corn, CCGM Fresh Salsa, Sour Cream, Cilantro, Tortilla Chips (optional).

Directions: Preheat oven to 450F. Brown ground beef in a skillet (if not non-stick, use a little bit of oil so meat doesn’t stick). Finely chop two cloves of garlic (alternatively use crushed garlic*). Add garlic, 1 t salt, ¼ C water, 2 T corn meal, and 4 T of Taco Seasoning to the meat and mix. Allow to cook until mixture is bubbly and thickened. Remove from heat.

While meat is browning, prepare corn bread mix (kids can help with the mixing): Blanch the corn (or you can cook it for a couple minutes, in the husks, in the microwave). Cut corn from the cob. In a bowl, combine corn, 1 ½ cups cornmeal, 2 T flour, 2 T sugar, 1 t salt, and 3 t of baking powder. Add 2 eggs and 2/3 cup milk. Mix quickly just until moistened. Add 1 T vegetable oil and stir in.

Cut sheets of foil into ~12”x12” squares and spray lightly with oil or non-stick cooking spray (kids like this part!). Now you’re ready to begin assembly. In center of each sheet of foil, put ~ ½ C of meat and flatten slightly. Top with ~ ¼ C of corn bread mix. Double fold sides and ends of foil to seal the pocket, leaving head space for heat circulation. Place completed pockets on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes, remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes.

We serve ours in the packet (open carefully!). Serve with sour cream, salsa, and cilantro sprigs. If you want some crunch, serve tortilla chips on the side.

1 lb of beef makes ~6 packets. You may have cornbread mix left over, which you can put in an oven-proof dish and bake with the packets for a yummy side of corn bread. If you’re feeling a bit lazy, like I do on a weeknight after a busy day at work, you can, alternatively, make this as a casserole, rather than individual packets.

ENJOY!