Chile Relleno Casserole

Hello everybody! I know you're used to me sharing desserts... After all I just love baking... What you probably don't know is that I barely ever even taste what I bake... I have this love/hate relationship with food and I used to be focused in a very (VERY) low calorie/low fat/low sugar diet... or so I thought...now I realize how many foods I was eating that were high sugar and I had no idea... yes they were low calories but no they were not low in sugars... and now... I am in a COMPLETELY sugar-free eating plan now... so again... Desserts seem off-limits but it turns out that this new way of eating (The Trim Healthy Mama way) includes a wide variety of desserts that are on plan and allow you to still lose weight... No sugar but yes other natural sweeteners (no Splenda here!) that do not affect your glycemic index and do not make you insulin resistant as sugar would.The Trim Healthy Mama plan just teaches you to not combine fuels when you eat (you pretty much can eat protein and fat OR protein and carbs but never mix fats and carbs as sometimes we do) ... it is not a low carb diet as you can eat up to 45 grams of carbs when eating "E" type meals  (Energizing Meals = protein+carbs and very low fat) and you can eat up to 10 grams of carbs when eating "S" type meals (Satisfying Meals = protein+fats and very low carbs).

I know it might seem complicated at first but even when I've been on the plan for only about 3 1/2 weeks I am starting to get it... and even when I have thyroid issues I am starting to see some weight loss! This is great because with hypo-thyroidism I am just amazed to be able to eat and not gain weight! I find it miraculous if I can even lose! even if ever so slowly!

So... you will be seeing me around more as I share the foods I eat with the world... For now... I will share with you the recipe to make a delicious "Chile Relleno Casserole" ... The Trim Healthy Mama Book has a recipe for this dish but I decided to make my own with a "more Mexican flare" of course! I am pleased with the results! Hubby loved it and I think you will love it too! Whether you're trying to eat healthier or not this is a YUMMY dish that your family will enjoy.

Disclaimer: this is obviously not an "Authentic Mexican Dish" but it is not deep fried! Which is a better option... You can choose to add more poblano pepper if you can handle the heat. Most of the heat is in the seeds/veins of the pepper anyway and those are discarded. Customize it to your taste.

Chile Relleno Casserole
Trim Healthy Mama - S Meal
Yield: 4 generous servings

Ingredients: 

• 7 egg whites + 2 egg yolks (you can use about 1/2 cup of liquid egg-whites from a carton)
• 6-7  Poblano Peppers (Roasted, Peeled, seeded and sliced into about 1"x0.5" pieces) - to learn how to roast/peel/seed them click here
• 1.5 lb. (or 3 heaping cups) of cooked chicken (cubed or shredded, I prefer cubed) - you can use leftover skinless rotisserie chicken
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/3 cup part skim mozzarella cheese (You can omit the mozzarella and just add about 1/3 of an 8oz. block of cream cheese, in small "pieces")
• 1/2 cup petite diced tomatoes (drain if canned or chop your own fresh tomatoes)
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Garlic and onion powder are optional and to taste (they do add a great deal of flavor)

Directions:

• Preheat oven at 350F. Grease an 8x8 (or 9x9) baking dish with some butter, EVOO or coconut oil.

• In a bowl mix the egg whites and egg yolks with a fork or whisk, season with the garlic/onion powders, salt and pepper, mix, add rest of the ingredients to the bowl and gently fold all the ingredients together until they're all incorporated. Season with some more salt and pepper (careful with the salt especially if using pre-seasoned chicken like the rotisserie kind). 
• Add the mix of ingredients into baking dish and smooth with a spoon or spatula. Bake uncovered for about 45 minutes. 

(Update 3/15/15: I reduced the amounts of cheese in the ingredients but you can add more to your taste if desired, I think this is a good amount though)

 The first time we had this I served it to hubby with some sliced avocado and a spring mix salad. The second time I gave him a whole wheat tortilla as well to enjoy. If you're following the Trim Healthy Mama Plan remember you can have up to 6 grams of store-bought carbs from breads. with this "S Type Meal"

Enjoy!

Check out this Pyrex 10-Piece Set, Clear with Blue Lids - Perfect for storage and for baking! I love mine!

© Paloma K.

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