Mexican Skillet Cornbread

This is a really great an comforting recipe. It is reminiscent of a tamale pie. It makes a bunch, so it would be ideal for a large family gathering. Next time I make it I will scale down the recipe to suit my family's needs. My only complaint is it took about 25 minutes longer to bake in the oven than the recipe specified. I would try checking it after 45 minutes, but expect it to take 60 minutes to bake.

Source: http://bunsinmyoven.com

For the filling:
1 lb ground beef ( I used ground turkey)
1 small onion, chopped (optional)
1 red bell pepper, chopped ( I omitted)
2 small tomatoes, chopped (1/2 cup of salsa would be great if you prefer)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup Monterrey jack cheese
1 packet taco seasoning (or your own recipe for seasoning mix) I used 1 tbsp chili powder and 1 tbsp cumin)
drizzle of olive oil

Drizzle some olive oil in a large skillet and heat it over medium heat. Saute the onions and bell peppers for a few minutes and then add the ground beef, breaking it up into small pieces just as you would for tacos. Cook until no longer pink and then drain. Stir in the tomatoes and taco seasoning. Remove from the heat and get to work on the cornbread.

For the cornbread:
1 3/4 cups cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
2 1/3 cups milk (buttermilk, if you have it!)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup corn (frozen or canned work, fresh is best!)
1 small can green chilies
butter, for greasing the skillet

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and grease a cast iron skillet with butter. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl crack the eggs and stir in the milk. Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix in the corn and green chilies. Mix well and let sit for 10 minutes to soften the cornmeal.
Pour half of the cornbread mixture into the bottom of your greased skillet. Spoon the meat mixture on top and cover with both cheeses. Spread on the remaining cornbread mixture. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the cornbread is golden brown and cooked through.