Chili-Filled Coffin Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 packages (8-1/2 ounces each) corn bread/muffin mix
• 2/3 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 teaspoon black paste food coloring
• 1 medium sweet red pepper, sliced
• 1 serrano pepper, seeded and finely chopped
• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 cans (15 ounces each) fat-free vegetarian chili
• 1 tablespoon process cheese sauce
• 1 tablespoon ketchup

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the corn bread mix, milk, eggs and food coloring just until moistened. Pour into a greased 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pan. Bake at 400° for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Cut top fourth off loaf of bread; carefully hollow out bottom, leaving a 1-in. shell (discard removed bread or save for another use).
• In a large skillet, saute peppers and onion in oil until tender. Set aside 1/4 cup pepper mixture. Stir chili into remaining pepper mixture; heat through. Spoon 2-1/2 to 3 cups chili mixture into bread coffin; arrange reserved pepper mixture over chili. Replace bread top. Transfer remaining chili to a serving bowl.
• Place cheese sauce in a heavy-duty resealable plastic bag; cut a small hole in a corner of bag. Write "RIP" with cheese sauce, then repeat with ketchup. Serve immediately. Yield: 6 servings.

Chili-Filled Coffin published in Simple & Delicious September/October 2008, p35