Mexican Ziti and Corn Muffins

I was thinking about what to make this week and ziti came to my mind, it's a pretty simple dish to throw together, but it also very normal.  Something I just wasn't feeling, so I thought what if we made ziti but with a different cultural flavor invovled?  And so Mexican ziti was born (probably thought of by many other people too, but at least for me it was the first time!).  It is the marriage of my favorite food type, Mexican and pasta, so no one should go unhappy to say the least!

SHOPPING LIST: (feeds 4-8)
1) Ground Meat (1 lb); I am using ground turkey

2) Penne Pasta (1 box); I am using whole wheat

3) Get a bag of Fiesta Cheese or get a block of a cheese like Colby Jack

4) Taco Seasoning Packet

5) Butter

6) Milk(with skim it probably won't turn out great, I am using 1%, but you can use cream, 2%, whole, whatever you like, even buttermilk)

7) Flour

8) 1 Can Fire Roasted Tomatoes

9) 1 Can Green Chiles (small can)

10) 1 Can Corn

11) 1 Can Black Beans

12) Green Onions

13) Corn Bread Mix (get one that is cooked at the oven temp 350)

14) Seasoning: Cumin, Ground Mustard, Garlic Powder, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder

15) Baking paper cups

Optional:
Salsa, Sour Cream to put on top

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To Begin:

Start by preheating your oven to 350 and setting a pot of water to boil on the stove for the pasta.

Get a skillet out as well and begin browning the ground beef.

While you are waiting for the water and meat is browning open your canned items and drain them if needed.

Follow directions on your corn muffin packet to make muffins, to make them more in the mexican family add some corn from the can into the mixture, some of the chopped green chiles, a teaspoon of cumin and chili powder.  Mix well and pour into a cupcake tray with baking cups in place.  Place to the side.

At this point your meat should be done, add taco seasoning packet to the meat with a small bit of water.  Mix and then set on low.

Water should also be boiling at this point.  Add box of pasta and some salt.  Stir once and set timer for time needed.

Get out a sauce pan, for this ziti instead of using ricotta cheese as the main mixture ingredient we are going to make a cheese sauce, so if you bought a block of cheese you need to grate about 4-5 cups of cheese (3-4 for the sauce and 1 for the top of the ziti).  This isn't an exact science just however cheesey you want it.

With the pot on medium low heat start by placing 1-2 tablespoons of butter into the pan, let melt.  Then add about 1-2 tablespoons flour.  Mix together and then slowly add about a cup of milk, mixing as you do getting out any lumps.  Once this has happened place in about 2 large handfuls of cheese, let begin to melt.  If the sauce is looking too cheesy and not being able to be stirred add a little more milk.  Add 2 more large handfuls of cheese, stir in, add little dashes of milk if you need them.  Sauce should be cheesy, but no trying to becoming string cheese.

Once all the cheese is melted add to it 3 teaspoons cumin, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, cayenne and mustard powder, 1 teaspoon chili powder.  Mix well.  Place the pot on low heat.

Pasta should be done, drain and then pour back into the big pot you were using.

Then to it add the cheese sauce, the can of chiles, black beans, corn, and tomatoes. Mix well.

Check meat and drain if needed (if there is excess liquid), then add meat as well.  Mix well.

Pour into 10 by 12 baking sheet and top with leftover cheese.

Place corn bread on top rack and ziti on the middle.

Let cook for time needed on the corn muffins (mine was around 20 minutes and I added a few extra minutes due to the extras I added to the mix).

Cut up some green onions and place on the top of the ziti once finished, scoop up a bowl and add some salsa or sour cream or both!  YUM!

Enjoy!