Chili Rellenos Casserole

I've had my Body for Life cook book for awhile now.  But I'll be honest and say that I haven't ventured much past the Taco Pasta.  Until my husband found this recipe and wanted me to make it.  I had looked at it (pre-husband) but thought it seemed too complicated, and complicated and I in the kitchen just do not get a long.  But what husband wants, I try to get.  I've made this twice now, and I knew immediately upon having it the first time I would make it again and share it with all of you.  It's a little hard to make (in my mind), but oh so good.  I did make some not so healthy modifications noted below. 

What you'll need: 3 cans (4oz) whole green chiles, drained.  Monterey Jack Cheese (I used a hot pepper blend).  1 1/4 cup egg substitute (I used 2 eggs).  1/2 cup flour.  1/2 cup skim milk (I used 1% low fat milk).  Cheddar cheese (I used a mexican style blend, just whatever yellow cheese you have on hand). Chili powder.  Green onions.  Salsa (I omit this altogether).

 To be honest I had never even heard of whole green chiles coming out of a can before.  But you open 'em up and you get an instant New Mexico Fall smell!  It's fantastic!

As noted, make sure you drain the chiles before you take 'em out.  Place them out on a paper towel.

Stuff the peppers with the cheese.  This is the slightly messy part, but perfect for snacking! The recipe wants you to cut up cheese and place a piece in the chile.  I just stuff it with the shredded bagged stuff.

Mix together the flour, eggs, and milk.  I should have added a 3rd egg.  Probably just depends on the size of the egg.

Pour the mixture over your chiles, add a layer of the cheddar cheese, and sprinkle some chile powder on top. 

Bake for 35 minutes @ 350*, or until toothpick comes out clean.

And serve with spanish rice, and put on green onions as a garnish.  You're also suppose to add salsa on top.  Again I haven't done this, but the dish is just as good I'm sure!

Being from New Mexico and loving cheese, this dish is wonderful.  I can definitely see it has a regular in my household.  It's not overly spicy and the flavor is fantastic!

Body for Life: Chile Rellenos Casserole
3 cans (4oz) whole green chilies, drained
Monterey Jack Cheese (enough to fill/stuff your peppers)
1 1/4 cup egg substitute (or 2 or 3 eggs)
Cheddar cheese (enough for topping)
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup skim milk (or whatever milk you have on hand)
1 tsp chili powder
2 green onions
1/2 cup salsa

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Coat a baking dish with cooking spray.
Lay whole green chiles out on a paper towel.
Stuff chiles with cheese, and place in baking dish.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, flour, and milk.  Pour mixture over chiles.
Layer cheddar cheese over chiles and mixture, and sprinkle chile powder.
Bake for 35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

ENJOY!

Wedding Wednesday ~ a preview of photos

We have wedding (some) photos!  I was going to wait and post all of them at the same time, but I won't get the DVD images from Molly until tomorrow. 

I'm pretty sure I'm in love all over again!

All images courtesy of Molly McGannon Photography.

What I love about seeing the pictures and having my friends and family see the pictures is that I (they) get the true vision of the day.  I absolutely love the pop of color, and it is just as I expected it.  I loved seeing me and my bridesmaids, our dresses truly did compliment the over all look.  The overcast and cold day did create for some beautiful lighting, and for the most part you can't tell we are freezing (although there are some pre-ceremony with my parents where you can tell I was SO cold!) 
If you want to see all 800+ photos email me and I'll send you the info.

Thanksgiving Break

 Chris and I had a super nice and relaxed Thanksgiving break.  We flew to Albuquerque late Wednesday night.  Our flight wasn't until 10pm so we got in a fulls day work, dinner, laundry, and packing done all before heading out to the airport.  It was perfect, the airport wasn't crazy busy because of our late flight.  My friend Michelle picked us up at the airport and we headed to my parents.  My mom (bless her!) stayed up to give us welcome hugs.  But she was also prepping for our feast the next day.
Thursday we hung out at my parents all day.  My mom put together quite the spread, and I made some corn casserole and a dessert.  At many points throughout the day all four of us (me, mom, dad, and Chris) were all hanging out and chatting in the kitchen.  In the past this is a rarity, and it was such a sight to see the growing relationship between Chris and my dad.  Even the relationship we have.  At one point he even put his arm around me.  It was truly a blessed time and a memory that I'll cherish as our first Thanksgiving together as a married couple.
The celebration itself was a bit small, as a couple of my aunts traveled to see their kids that are in different parts of the country, but I definitely enjoyed seeing the family that I got to spend time with.
My Aunt Kathleen and her husband Gary came over, along with my Aunt Michelle.

Thanksgiving: ham, turkey, salad, green beans, asparagus, stuffing, corn casserole, scalloped potatoes, mashed potatoes, brown gravy, and red chile gravy.

 In my family we definitely don't starve!  We had so much food, and all of it was fantastic.  So good!

I made these place cards!  FREE download from this fabulous new website I found.

 On Friday we traveled up to Santa Fe for the day with my parents.  We visited my Grandparents grave site, followed by a tour of the plaza.  This included a couple of chapels.  Pictured below is Loretto Chapel.  It was build in the 1800's and behind us is the "miraculous staircase" in which a carpenter showed up with only a saw and some wood.  If you haven't read the story I highly recommend it.

Friday night we met up with my cousin Kari and her husband for a double date at La Provence, where my cousin Brad works.  It was great to see him, even just as our waiter.

 Saturday we spent some time with my friend Michelle, and had lunch with a group of HS friends.  We met up at Dion's and enjoyed good food and good company. 

Me, Emily, Michelle, Jill, and Renee

Overall the trip was great.  A big moment of Thanks came on Thanksgiving night when I got the link to my wedding pictures!!! (stay tuned!)  We were able to relax, enjoy our family and friend time.  So much fun was had, and fabulous memories.
I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving too!

My Version of Happily Ever After

It was a year ago today when Chris proposed.  I've gone from engaged to married, and it feels so good.  With the world of thanks going on around us, I'm so thankful for so many things.  The past year has truly been one huge blessing in my life.  Not only have I been so blessed beyond my wildest dreams, the last year has been life changing.

Over the weekend Chris and I went to go see Breaking Dawn Part II.  We watched the first on Friday night so Chris could be up to speed, and it was great to re watch it before we see the second part.  I really liked the movie.  The additions that they added were great visually.  "Breaking Dawn" the book is my least favorite, and the part I enjoyed the most is when the narrative is told from Jacob's point of view.  I had hoped that somehow they would show this in the movie (although I'm not too sure how), but there was no mention in it.

The end truly got me thinking.  The ending was done really well.  I loved how they went through each character in each movie.  Truly showing the creative side of what this movie has touched.  During the end I had to do everything in me to not break down and ball.  I somehow held back all of my tears, but I wanted to just sit and cry.  Seeing this movie and seeing how each significant character goes on in life with their Happily Ever After is just so perfect.  Of course, I get it, it's a movie, based purely on all things fiction, and life isn't perfect, but I just love a happy ending.  And while I'm thinking about Bella, Edward, and Jacob's happy ending, my mind drifts to my happy ending.  Then I went back to a different emotional state that was also triggered by the ending of a movie. 

I remember when I went to go see the Sex in the City movie with my friend Sarah in the early part of 2008.  I was a horrible version of myself at that time, and at the end of the movie I bawled.  I just sat in my seat and cried and cried.  I was hurt that all of the characters in Sex in the City got their happy ending, WHEN would I get MINE!  I was questioning everything then.  I wasn't in a good place physically, mentally, emotionally.  I definitely didn't love me then, why would I expect love from someone else? 

Holding  back tears during the end of Breaking Dawn brought back those emotions from crying at the end of Sex in the City.  This time, tears of thankfulness.  I was able to reminisce in the struggles that I've had to get to where I now am.  And now I truly appreciate where I've been and what it is that I now have. 

I'm weird really when I think about how these movies affect me and my life.  How they trigger different moments and trials.  It's just a movie, it isn't real.  But it does affect real part of my life, and I guess that is how I get attached. 

Parts of me also get emotional because it's the end of the Twilight Saga. (again, weird).  I remember when the first Twilight movie came out.  I was just beginning to gain curiosity about these books, and contemplating actually reading them.  I then read them, and I watched the first Twilight movie while I was recovering from my lasik eye surgery.  I watched Twilight for the first time in the movie theater when my cousin Kari came up for a girl's weekend to watch the midnight premiere of New Moon.  The viewing of Eclipse was done on a much smaller scale while my parents were visiting.  Then last year my cousins were here for the premiere viewing the first Breaking Dawn.  Since first watching Twilight to now, that spans almost 4 years!  So much has happened, and while watching the end of Breaking Dawn on Saturday I was thinking about all of it.  And it's a lot.  I've had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.  I've changed a lot.  My friends and family have seen it all.  I want to thank them for being there for me, and for continuing to be there for me. 

I'm so happy to now have Chris, and to have him in my life.  I'm beyond grateful for having created my own version of happily ever after.  Even sweeter is knowing that "after" is far from being here, and we have a lifetime to create so many more happy moments!

Wedding Wednesday ~ more randomness

Just more random wedding stuff while we wait for the pictures.

Everyone at the wedding loved my grandma-in-law.  Roberta Jo (or Bobbie Jo) is so cute and sweet, and just lovely all around.  By the time I was 16 all of my grandparents had passed away, so to now be 32 and inherit a grandma by marriage makes me elated!  Especially one so sweet, kind, and fun as G-ma (as her grand kids call her).
When Mary (my mother-in-law) and Gma were here back in April, we went to a fabric store and items were purchased for Gma to make the pillow for our ring bearer in our wedding.  I was thrilled to have a personal homemade item be included in our wedding!  I myself am not crafty whatsoever, and both Mary and Gma can pretty much do it all.  When I saw the pillow the week of the wedding I cried.  The details are gorgeous, and it was perfect.  Gma was super worried (I have no idea why!?) I wouldn't like it.  But I love it!

 She won everyone over at the rehearsal dinner, and even taught some sign language.  She's so easy to talk with and her little giggle is contagious. 

After the wedding I wanted to find a way to preserve some of my bouquet.  I love my flowers and didn't want all of them to go in the trash.  I somehow thought of the idea of doing a shadow box and adding some of the other day wedding day details.  I got this rather large frame at Target and put this together.  I thought it would be difficult to fill, but it could have been bigger!

Included in it are: A strip of photo's from the photobooth, the awesome wedding sign that hung outside the church and the chateaux, our save the dates, our cocktail napkin, our vows, our rehearsal dinner invite, part of my bouquet, a packet of our matches, the bronco garter belt, the ceremony program, a card and note that I gave to Chris on our wedding day, a card and note that Chris gave to me on our wedding day, and our escort cards.  Our stamp that was on the invites, and the sticker on the back of the invites.
Funny story about our escort cards.  When I was packing everything in a plastic bin a few days before the wedding it was at that moment I noticed "Sweatheart Table" on our cards, rather than "Sweetheart Table".  Chris didn't even notice until I pointed it out to him while we were eating dinner at the reception.  It was a super funny moment.
A cute mention of the note Chris wrote me.  He wrote on a cocktail napkin from the Westin a little note, formatted like an email.
He had the "To", "From", "Subject" and date/time listed.  He had Cheyenne our flower girl deliver it to me in my suite while we were getting ready.  He then gave me a card once we got to our hotel room after the reception.

Election Day

my official "I Voted" sticker

I voted last Monday.  If you have the option to vote, I hope that you vote too!

After I cast my ballot and was walking to turn in my card and get my "I Voted" sticker, which was handed to me by a woman easily in her late 70's, she asked me very excitedly "Is this your first time voting?!"  You could tell she was so excited at the potential of handing me my very first "I Voted" sticker, she was immediately disappointed when I responded "Oh No!"  But I was definitely flattered at the thought that I could look like I'm in my late teens/early twenties!
But that comment got me thinking about how many times I have voted.  I unfortunately have never voted in a local election, just the presidential election.
In 2008 I voted early at the same place I voted at this year.  I don't remember voting in 2004 but I know that I did.  I vaguely remember going to vote with my ex-boyfriend.  2000 was the first year that I voted.  I'm pretty sure I've voted early every time, and have never actually voted on election day.  I remember going with my friend Kristin in 2000, there was an early voting place off of Tramway and Central in Albuquerque.  I can still picture how it was set up. 

Last Monday when I voted I immediately called my friend Michelle.  I remember discussing political issues with her 4 years prior when we were in Chicago, and feeling so strongly for Barack Obama. 
I don't know what it is but I always feel so empowered when I cast my vote.  It is definitely a good feeling knowing that my voice has been heard.  So please make sure your voice is heard too, and rock your vote!

A New Name

More change.  I'm married, and it seems as though the men get off pretty easy.  Did Chris help with the wedding?, of course.  But I think it is safe to say I did majority of the planning and organizing.  Now we're married, and what does he have to do, nothing.  And I still have work to do.  I've started the official process of going from Ms. Madrid to Mrs. Sweat.  It's not like it's rocket science or super hard, but it's still additional work.  Although I'm learning that a lot of the work is mental.  I wanted for so long to be married, take my husbands last name, and become a family.  And now that it's here, I feel like I'm playing a role, that it's all pretend.  I've been Ms. Madrid for 32 years.  I'm pretty sure it's gonna take me 32 years to get used to the idea of Mrs. Sweat.  Good thing we have all of that time (and then some)! 

While on our honeymoon I had a realization that I never have to date again.  The feeling came with mixed emotion.  If anything, I'm happy to continue to date Chris.  To get to know him as we grow and how he will change.  But again it's weird, thinking that I've spent so much more of my life dating, and now I'm married, so that part of my life is just...gone?!  Not that I want it back, because believe me I don't.  It's definitely exhilarating to think about!  I asked Chris what he thought about that, and his immediate response was that it's awesome, that dating sucks.  Which of course are some very valid points.  If anything I am elated to know I'm only dating one person for the rest of my life, and I feel so blessed and lucky to be in love with him!

I'm no longer "Me, Myself, and I".  When I was first thinking of a blog name when I started this blog back in 2008, I was really the only person who hung out with me.  So Me, Myself, and I was very appropriate.  Then it became so much more than that.  I was truly transforming me, myself, and I, the mental, physical, and emotional self.  Then I met Chris, and we became engaged.  Shortly after he proposed I thought of the name "Sweatin' It Out".  I told Chris of the name, and he thought it was meant for him.  He doesn't really want to be associated with the blog (and he doesn't really get it), but I advised him that I would be a Sweat too.  And I think it's appropriate, I did a lot of sweating to meet my future husband, and it's something that I plan to continue to do, and I'm still figuring life out.  So I think the new name is great.  It associates my life with my now married life.  

I've applied for a new Social Security card, I've already gotten my Colorado Drivers License, I've started updating my name on websites and my email address, and once I get my SS card I can do the official change at work (hopefully sometime this week). 
I truly feel life is always a work in progress and this is just part of the stepping stone.  I'm still me, but just a different name.      

~all kinds of crazy~

my Halloween candy, yes I do plan on eating every piece!

we only had 3 different groups of

trick or treaters last night.

********

the blog got a

makeover.

what do you think?

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i really like to say the word

sequential.

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what's the difference between

gray

and

grey?

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15 days until

Breaking Dawn Part II!

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People call me

Rachel

and

Eva

all the time.  Not too sure how those name's sound like "April"

but whatever.

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Where does the word

honeymoon

come from?

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One thing I hate about this time of year are the super cold mornings, but

nice warm afternoon's.

It's a drag having to carry my large winter coat home.

*******

I guess I should have planned my wedding to be

the first Friday of November.

Because tomorrow looks to be beautiful.

I'm not bitter or anything.

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