Tamale Ranch Beef Casserole

1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt

Beef Mixture:
4 slices bacon
1 pound lean ground beef
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes or about 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic crushed
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

In a medium saucepan, mix together cornmeal, 1 cup water and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes, or until thickened. Pour into a greased 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Chill.

In a large skillet, fry bacon until crisp; drain on paper towels then crumble. Set aside. Pour off skillet drippings; return 1 tablespoon of drippings to the pan.

Brown ground beef with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper and the parsley in pan drippings; remove and set aside. Drain off excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon.

Sauté onion, celery and garlic in pan drippings until softened.

Add tomatoes, cheese and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Remove chilled cornmeal mixture from the refrigerator. Turn pan upside down to remove cornmeal mixture in one piece. Cut into small squares, about 1 1/2 inches each. Set aside 10 for topping, then place half of the remaining squares into the bottom of a greased casserole.

Top with half of the browned meat and half of the sauce and crumbled bacon. Make another layer of cornmeal cubes, meat, another layer of sauce and bacon. Arrange the 10 saved cornmeal cubes around the edge of baking dish.

Bake beef and cornmeal dish at 350F for 40 minutes.

Servings: 6