Dallas Kennedy was looking to make a dish with Tex-Mex spiciness that was healthy without sacrificing taste. This dish is a great combination of flavors and textures, with its crunchy cornbread topping and spicy filling. Plus, she added some ground flax seeds for their health benefits.

You might not expect someone with a background in human and veterinary immunology to also be a great cook, but Dallas isn’t your ordinary person. She’s got interests as varied as organic gardening, edible landscaping, building koi ponds, teaching, editing and writing. She lives in Bryan with so many animals that she says her vet gives her a “herd discount.”

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup thinly sliced onions
1/4 cup thinly sliced celery
1/4 cup minced red bell pepper
1/2 cup corn kernels
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
1-2 pounds roast turkey, cubed
1 package (1.25 ounces) Pioneer Taco Seasoning (divided)
1 package (6 ounces) Pioneer Yellow Cornbread Mix
1 cup Pioneer Buttermilk Biscuit & Baking Mix
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup finely ground flaxseed meal
2 eggs, well-beaten
1/4 cup 2 percent milk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In large, heavy skillet, heat olive oil. When a water droplet sizzles in oil, add onions, celery and red bell pepper and sauté until browned. Add corn kernels and tomatoes, bring to a boil and then remove from heat. Add turkey and taco seasoning (reserving 1 tablespoon of seasoning). Allow mixture to stand for about 5 minutes, stirring once before pouring it into a pie or quiche dish. (It is important that the meat mixture fills the dish no more than half full, which allows room for the cornbread crust.) Once filled, spray the exposed sides of the dish with cooking spray to prevent the cornbread crust from sticking.

In medium bowl, combine cornbread mix, baking mix, the reserved tablespoon of taco seasoning, baking powder, baking soda and flaxseed meal and mix well. Add eggs and milk and stir to combine. Spread gently on top of turkey mixture. Bake 20-25 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Note: To make flaxseed meal, grind flaxseeds in a clean coffee-bean grinder.

RUNNER-UP:
Dallas Kennedy, Bryan Texas Utilities