Trader Joe's Chili Cornbread Casserole

I have to say, I haven't ever been a lover of chili and I'm not sure Mik would even say this qualifies as chili, but this was SO GOOD! I made it and had it with some friends for dinner and we all agreed it had to be shared. Make this next time you need to bring something over to someone, are attending a potluck, or because you want to eat copious amounts of chili. All good reasons.

Ingredients

4 cans of Trader Joe's Vegetarian Chili
Cooking spray
1 1/2 cups regular flour
1/2 cup sugar (add less to taste if you prefer it less sweet)
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cup buttermilk*
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup olive oil
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 cup Salsa Verde (I used Trader Joe's. It was very good.)
1 cup grated sharp cheddar

Possible garnishes: sour cream, grated sharp cheddar, chopped green onions

Preheat the oven to 350F. Spray a large (about 8x10) casserole dish with cooking spray. Scoop in all the chili and set aside.

In a mixing bowl, put together your dry ingredients: flour, sugar, cornmeal, baking powder and salt. Mix lightly together. In a separate bowl, combine your lightly beaten eggs, buttermilk, olive oil, and melted butter. (Make sure your melted butter is cooled. I made scrambled eggs the first time through. Oops.) Whisk your wet ingredients into your dry ingredients until just combined. May be a little lumpy and that's ok. Pour in your salsa and cheese and mix lightly. 

Pour your cornbread mixture on top of your chili and put in the oven for 40 - 50 minutes. (Mine needed 50 mins. When I originally took it out of the oven at 35 minutes the corn bread was definitely raw under the surface.) When a toothpick comes out clean and the top looks golden brown it's done. Let cool for about 10 minutes and enjoy!

Adapted from Trader Joe's Chili Cornbread Casserole

*I don't like to buy buttermilk when I only need a small amount. So use the standard substitute: Put 2 tablespoons of white vinegar into a measuring cup that fits at least 2 cups of liquid. Fill up to the 2 cup line with milk. Gently stir and leave for a couple minutes. You can measure out your 1 1/4 from that.