Tex-Mex Cornbread Casserole with Jack Queso Sauce

My husband and kids love beans and cornbread, and any variation of those two things is a welcome sight at the dinner table. I'm constantly looking for ways to mix things up so they get their favorite foods without having to make the same things over and over. I hope you enjoy my take on this old favorite.

Filling:
1 can black beans
1 can pinto beans
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 can hominy
1 can organic fire roasted tomatoes
1/2 tsp salt
1-2 tsp Red Dirt seasoning mix

Stir together in a bowl, and spread in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.

Jack Queso Sauce:
1/2 cup cashews
2 Tbsp sunflower seeds
2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
3 Tbsp lemon juice
3/4 cup water

Blend on high until smooth and creamy. Pour evenly over top of filling mixture. Top with your favorite cornbread batter, or the Whole Grain Sweet Cornbread (http://www.reddirtveg.blogspot.com/2012/01/southern-specialty-stew-with-whole.html). Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until top is golden brown. Serve with salsa, pico de gallo, or guacamole.

Red Dirt Seasoning Mix

This seasoning mix is the result of a creative and unique blend of favorite flavors of mine that appear in many of my dishes, generally in the same proportion. By making a large amount of it at one time, it saves me the time of having to look through my plethora of spices and herbs to create this perfect balance in every meal. It won't work for all types of dishes or all styles of cooking, as it has a smokey flavor, and the aroma and taste are the embodiment of the best of Oklahoma cooking. I believe it is truly worthy of the title "Red Dirt"!

2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp nutritional
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp dill
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp rosemary
1/4 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp savory
1/8 tsp citric acid, optional (for a bit of a tart kick if you like that)

Combine all ingredients in a small container, and shake well. This recipe can be easily doubled or more.

Red Dirt Goulash

I grew up eating and cooking goulash, so when I went veg, I had to find a way to make it sans animal products. I started out using Hamburger Helper Chili Macaroni and fake ground beef, but while these are veg, they're not exactly healthy. The Red Dirt Seasoning mix mentioned here is something I just recently came up with, and will be featured in some of my recipes in the future.

1/4 cup diced onion
1 1/2 Tbsp beef style seasoning
2 cups soy curls, broken or smashed into small pieces
1 1/2 Tbsp paprika
1/4 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
2 tsp tamari sauce
1 Tbsp Red Dirt seasoning mix
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can black beans
1 can pinto beans, or other beans of your choice
1 1/2 cup whole grain pasta
3 1/2 cups water
1/2 - 1 cup vegan cheese or cheese sauce, optional

Saute onion in a small amount of water until soft and carmelized. Add remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, then cover and simmer until pasta is al dente (don't let the pasta get too done or it will fall apart on you). This can also be done in a slow cooker by adding all ingredients and cooking on low until pasta is done. Serve with crackers or cornbread.