Cooking Lesson #666: Cowboy Casserole

…from the Perspectives’ Kitchen

How you doin’?  My ninth birthday party was the best one I ever had. My mother let me invite 20 kids from my class for a Hopalong Cassidy birthday party.
 
I was dressed in my “Hoppy” cowboy hat, chaps and holster and six-shooters. Old mom really went off the rails—there was a clown, a magician (other kids had one or both) but I also had a pair of ponies—yes, those little kid-sized horses. Mom made a Cowboy Casserole which ended up being one of the best one-pan meals ever served for a “Hoppy” Birthday party.
 
The Cowboy Casserole is a hearty and satisfying dish that's sure to please everyone at your table—birthday or not—despite the name,
 
Prep time:  20 minutes
Cook time:  50 to 60 minutes
 
Ingredients 
1 (16.3 ounce) can refrigerated biscuits (you can use a store brand)
2 pounds ground beef or pork or a combination of both
1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning (I prefer Lawry’s brand)
3/4 cup water
1 medium onion, halved and sliced (1 cup)
1 medium red bell pepper, halved and sliced (1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
8 ounces shredded Cheddar or pepper jack cheese, divided
2 medium sliced tomatoes
1 (4 ounce) jar sliced jalapeno peppers, drained (optional)
3 cups of Tater Tots
 
Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 375⁰ F.
2. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
3. Roll out, place and press the biscuit dough into the bottom of the baking pan and halfway up the sides.
4. Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Leave the oven on.
6. Meanwhile, heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and cook the ground meat until browned and crumbly, about 5 minutes.
7. Drain the fat.
8. Stir in taco seasoning and water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
9. Transfer the cooked meat to a bowl and lightly wipe out the skillet.
10. Add the onion, bell peppers and corn to the same skillet and cook over medium heat until slightly tender, about 5 minutes.
11. Combine sour cream, mayonnaise, 1/2 of the cheese and 1/2 of the onion-pepper mixture in a bowl.
12. Layer browned meat, tomatoes, onion-pepper mixture, jalapeño peppers, and sour cream mixture on top of prebaked biscuit dough.
13. Top with the artfully arranged tots .
14. Sprinkle with the remaining 4-ounces of cheese.
15. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven until the tots are lightly browned and the cheese is bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes.
16. Let sit for 5 minutes to slightly cool and plate up like lasagna.

ChefSecret:  Serve with a bottle Cholula brand hot sauce and add a shake or two to taste.

Quip of the Day: “Hoppy” broke all the stereotypes of the time by wearing all black (as the good guy) when the other western good cowboys wore all white.
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Do you have a question or comment?  Send your thoughts to ed@perspectives-la.com. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide.
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To you and everyone dear to you, be strong, be positive, stay well, stay safe and be kind. Take a breath and count your blessings, and if you have a little extra to share with others, please consider donating to Feeding America and/or American Red Cross.
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                                                                     ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2023

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