Wildland Man is the cook in our household. I know, I’m a lucky one. I can cook if I have to, but my hubs loves it, so I do the baking and he does the cooking. It’s a solid arrangement we have and I relish in it…until Wildland Man leaves to fight fires, but I guess that’s just part of “Living the Fire Life.” Then I’m left to fend for myself in the kitchen. When I’m a household of one in Wildland Man’s absence, let’s just say my meals usually leave a little something to be desired.
I have a confession to make. I am no chef. I wouldn’t even say that I cook. That’s my husband’s role. I bake. I love to bake. I could hang in the kitchen all day long with my oven on. So, when I decided I wanted to play the role of doting housewife and have dinner on the table for my husband (ok, at least once in awhile—he still does the majority of the cooking, and often helps me with the savory recipes you see here on Country Wife Chronicles), I knew that an oven-based dish would be the way to go.
So, tamales…love ‘em, don’t have the first clue how to make ‘em. Though I could probably figure it out, it just seems more practical to take the ingredients and throw them together in a one-and-done casserole. Casseroles are one of my very favorite things. For this reason exactly—I can quickly recreate the flavors and taste of practically any dish I love with minimal preparation and clean up. Who doesn’t love that concept? I mean, really.
Ok, just so we are clear, this recipe is not for those watching calories. It’s definitely not the healthiest dish on the planet, but it is warm and yummy and comforting. And quick, oh so quick. Bonus: it can be made with stuff you probably already have on hand in your pantry and freezer.