Meat Cornbread

You can make a whole meal out of this!
 * 10 to 12 ounces ground beef
 * Worcestershire sauce
 * 1 small onion
 * 2 cloves garlic
 * 2 cups yellow cornmeal
 * 1 cup flour
 * 1 teaspoon kosher salt
 * 3 tablespoons sugar
 * 1 teaspoon ground pepper
 * 1/2 teaspoon paprika
 * 2 teaspoons baking powder
 * 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
 * 2 cups buttermilk
 * 2 eggs
 * 1 cup sweet corn
 * 2 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

In a bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, salt, sugar, spices, baking powder, and baking soda. Whisk together to combine well.

Press and chop the garlic, chop the onion, and place them in a separate bowl. This bowl will also hold the meat after you've prepared it.

In a 10-inch cast iron skillet, with your stovetop burner on about 3/4 high, brown the meat and the chopped onion and garlic. Dash in Worcestershire sauce as the meat is cooking, to add a spicy tang. After they're browned, put them in a separate bowl so that they can be added to the mix. Place the skillet into the oven to keep it hot.

In a large bowl, combine the buttermilk, eggs, and corn, whisking together to combine thoroughly. Add the dry ingredients to the mixture and stir to combine. If the batter will not pour, add more buttermilk to the batter. (I increased the buttermilk to 2 cups, as noted in the ingredients, and it seemed thick but it poured well.)

Take the skillet out of the oven (carefully). Spread the butter around in the hot cast iron skillet, adding to the grease from the meat, to coat the pan. Pour half of the batter into the skillet, then ladle the meat, onions, and garlic on top of the batter in a layer. Pour the rest of the batter on top to cover it.

Bake until the cornbread is golden brown and springs back upon the touch, about 20 minutes. Take out of the oven, and let cool for 10 minutes before trying to cut and serve.

(As I watched it in the oven, the butter was bubbling up all along the edges of the pan and I was afraid it would drip over; but it didn't. It had settled down by the time the baking was done.)