Howdy!
1 word: whew. Monday’s OVER! That’s always a relief, no? I was actually super busy today, and sat in my chair for FAR too long, but it flew by. The sun was hiding and the wind was whipping all afternoon too, which didn’t leave me feeling antsy and wanting to get outside. Always a bonus. 
After work I hopped over to the gym where I worked it:
So, sad story. I did the exact same workout at the hotel I stayed at last week and after I got done I was all, “Dang! That was SO easy – go me!” Then I looked down and realized that I had set the incline to NEGATIVE 1% instead of POSTIVE 1%. Aka, I was running downhill the entire time. No wonder it was so easy!!
Needless to say, today’s run was a tad bit more difficult and I semi felt like throwing up a little during those last 5 minutes. But, my inner Jillian Michaels kicked in and screamed “Anyone can do anything for 5 minutes!” and so I did…but I was glad to be done!
Luscious cornbread made it all worth it, too. Oh yeah, baby. Last night I whipped up tonight’s dinner of Chili Verde & Buttermilk Cornbread, that I just had to re-heat and eat tonight!
I’m actually really thankful that this cornbread made it through the night. Ben and I were both attacking it like heathen’s when it was warm and fresh out of the oven – it is soooo unbelievably good! Last night:
Tonight: (whoops! 
)
I always use Grandmother’s Buttermilk Cornbread recipe and am never disappointed. I’ve made it a bunch of different ways too – with Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze instead of buttermilk, with half the butter or half the sugar, etc – and it always turns out great.
This time I used 1/2 the butter the recipe calls for and substituted unsweetened applesauce for the other half. That’s some darn good corn bread y’all! 
Not to be outshone by my increasingly favorite style of chili – Chili Verde.
Chili Verde
Serves 6
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 Tablespoon ground cumin
1-4.5 ounce can chopped green chilies
4 pickled jalapeno rings, minced
2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1 can northern beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups chicken broth
dash oregano
salt & pepper
green Tabasco sauce, to taste
1 tablespoon cornmeal
1/4 cup milk
Directions:
- In a large pot, saute onion in oil on medium low heat until onions are translucent. Add garlic and cumin, and stir until fragrant, ~1 minute.
- Add all ingredients from green chilies to Tabasco sauce into the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Stir cornmeal and milk together, add to pot and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes.
I really, really, REALLY love this recipe for its humble ingredients but outstanding flavor.
The tiny bit of cornmeal in there makes the chili super thick and creamy, and the green Tabasco sauce and jalapenos give it such a unique taste. Don’t forget to use the leftovers to make Green Chili Cheeseburgers or Chili Nachos! MMM!!!
In other news, check out the adorable, mini pumpkin I picked up at the store this weekend. 
Isn’t it pretty? Imperfections and all. It’s what makes it unique!
Just had to share cause Fall & pumpkins make me happy.
~~~~~
What are some of your “unique imperfections”? Things that make you, YOU? Do you embrace them?
I was born with a red birthmark on my back and on the back of one of my legs. I used to be SO embarrassed, and hated wearing bikinis & shorts, etc. Now I rock it. Can’t change it, so embrace it!
That cornbread looks awesome! I’m full of imperfections…….size 10 feet for a 5’5″ girl, HUGE eyes (every dr checks my thyroid) from my mom’s side, plenty of Irish freckles, and crazy curly hair with more grey than I’d like to admit. However, wouldn’t change any of it for the world! My kids got my eyes, the hair, and my son’s feet are a 9.5 men’s and he’s almost 11 years old. Ugh–someone needs to get a job at the local shoe store!
I love chili anddd cornbread. I want to eat that!
I really like that “5-Minute” mantra and often find myself saying that on the last five minutes of my run or during workout classes. It’s a good one!
That cornbread looks amazing! It definitely is “soup season.” I had soup at least 4 times last week and again today for lunch!
Chili is definitely one of the best comfort foods when its chilly out (pun intended)
xox,
Cindy
eatingontherunway.blogspot.com
I have a small gap in my front teeth. It drives ME crazy but everyone else says it’s not noticeable!
Haha, I’ve definitely had those runs where I push myself so hard I want to throw up, but thank goodness for Jillian. I always remember her saying, “I WANT YOU TO FEEL LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO DIE!” and then I seem to get enough umph to push through.
Hot cornbread is dangerous. Dangerously delicious!
Great post, as always! Your brother’s guest post was FANTASTIC, by the way. I showed it to a bunch of my friends who want to start blogs!
Are you going to the Foodbuzz festival?
No I’m not
Italy took most of the travel budget for this year, I’m afraid!
I have two birthmarks on my legs. I used to hate them, and my brother told me once I could scratch them off if I tried hard enough! Now, they are part of makes me me!
Seriously Kristin you have been an inspiration to me with my running! I’m finally back in the habit. LOL. That chili looks AMAZING! I have lots of freckles. I always hated them growing up and it would make me so mad when people would be like “Oh, you have the CUTEST freckles!!!” Now I really like them!!!
I have a big brown birthmark which wraps all the way around my right hand side torso. like you, i used to hate wearing bikinis, but now I don’t even notice it..
I’m going to have to try that cornbread recipe, it looks very yummy!
I have 5 brown birthmarks on the back of my right calf. I’ve never really felt self-conscious of them though. I think of them as my natural tattoos
I’ve got teensy little ears. No one notices till I point them out..and then it’s just crazy!
I have this one freakishly long eyelash on the bottom of my left eye. It falls out and grows back. I hate it when it falls out because I feel like I look funny without it!!!!
I have no patience. Is that an imperfection? I embrace it… impatiently.
I have a brown birthmark on my lip, and i often get “you have chocolate on your face” or something. When i was a kid i hated it, and my mom said when i was 12 i could have it removed. By then i didnt mind it, and now i love it. its no beauty mark, but it’s unique to me!
i have a zillion others, obvi, but that’s an easy one to embrace.
the chili looks superyum! i want cornbread now…
Chili verde…this will be going on our dinner list. Really, I should just do most of my meal planning from your blog.
Made chili yesterday. Heated it up with cornbread for dinner here tonight. A very different kind of Turkey Chili – dark with cumin, cocoa, chili powder and cinnamon. I had some leftover carmelized onions from a different recipe over the weekend and threw ‘em in the pot. The cornbread – like you say – can’t mess it up. This recipe called for 3/4-cup of creamed corn. I didn’t have any on hand so I added a second egg and 1/3-cup of milk.
im impressed with how moist you got your cornbread!! that takes skill girl <3
fall & pumpkins make me a very happy girl, too =]
yay for monday being over. here’s to a terrific tuesday!
I want cornbread!
Hah, love the inner Jillian Michaels. She can be a bear at times though!
I have unusually large/long feet-a size 12B! Not wide, just long. I am 5’8″ though and most people don’t even notice because I wear high heels. Luckily, I have very pretty hands and nails and could probably have been a hand model when I was younger. Some people with large feet have large hands too so I am VERY thankful! My feet are actually bigger than my ex-husband’s and my 18 year old son so that isn’t too great. Someday, I’ll meet a man with feet larger than mine, lol. On the plus side, my feet are a full 12 inches which makes it easy to measure a room if I am going house hunting. I get my money out of a pedicure though, lol.
That cornbread looks yummy. Fancy posting the recipe ? Haha i’ve never had cornbread before, whats it like? xxx
Cornbread and chili look great!
I would have to say my laugh. Sounds strange, but it’s quite loud and obnoxious, but I embrace it.
your chili verde is my absolute favorite fall food. but unfortunately i NEVER have leftovers because me boyfriend devours it. sad. my imperfections are: a brown birthmark on the right side of my stomach stretching onto my lower back (i forget it’s even there), and the fact that i talk way too much and tell way too many pointless stories. i embrace it, and now everyone does, too!
that should read MY boyfriend*. i am not a leprechaun
I use that same recipe for corn bread! I have tried many recipes but keep coming back to that one. Your chili verde looks yummy too.
Cornbread: awesome. baked in a cast-iron skillet greased with butter or bacon grease: even more awesome, gives it a nice crunchy crust.
I think I’m imperfect in general…I say dumb things, I fall (a lot), I have big feet and little boobs. But, it’s almost a relief to know I am this way – like not trying to be perfect is a relief.
SO WEIRD i have a birthmark on the back of my left leg like that too! but more so, i used to hate my freckles. now, i can’t imagine myself with out them!
I have a divot like scar on the right side of my nose where I picked-picked-picked at it when I had chicken pox. I was so little I don’t even remember it! No one ever notices it. I have a great “Loaded Corn Bread” recipe that people seem to love. Stir together: 3 boxes Jiffy corn bread mix,3 eggs,1 cup buttermilk,1 cup finely diced green onion,2/3 cup chopped roasted red pepper,1 can cream corn,1 1/2 lb bacon-diced small & cooked ,1 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Bake in sprayed 13×9 pan for around 30 minutes or so @ 400 degrees. I always do the toothpick in the middle test on it. It is super good & quite the party pleaser!
Cornbread and chill is so amazing, I have to make some soon!
I have a huge scar on my left knee, which I got from playing hide&seek when I was a kid. I love it
I’m trying to learn how to love my other imperfections, and to start considering them my unique perfections
that chili verde looks much thicker and creamier than your last chili verde post …. did you do anything differently?
CORRECTION-That should be a half pound of bacon……..not 1 1/2!! So Sorry!!!
oh I must try your recipe for cornbread!!! I am always on the lookout for a good one!
Your chili verde is my go-to chili recipe! It’s the best!
I tried cornbread for the first time in NYC. A bunch of people comment on our blog that cornbread shouldn’t be sweet. I didn’t expect it to be sweet either, so I wasn’t a fan. I’m so excited to be back near a stove so I can start making your recipes!
That’s a carnival squash. They are great to eat. Try with apple, butter, cinnamon and maple syrup.
Thanks for the great chili recipe! I made it tonight for me and my hubby, awesome flavor!
Is this chili verde.. the same one that is in Rachel Ray’s 30 minute meals? Looks familiar.
Hmm – I’m not sure! I’ve never see hers!
[...] we enjoyed this chili verde. We love this recipe, it’s just the perfect amount of [...]
[...] Iowa Girl Eats White Chili – I seriously make this a lot. Love it. image from iowagirleats.com [...]
r ur brothers hott..!! hehe =) nice recipes
[...] Girl Eats’ recipe for white chili and the recommended cornbread. The cornbread was ah-mazing. The husband won’t stop talking [...]
I’ve made this recipe a few times for my hubby and he absolutely LOVES it! Well his work is having a chili/cornbread contest in 2 weeks and he really wants me to enter with this ….. I just don’t know that I could make a big batch and then give it away! It’s just SO good!!!! :/
Hahaha, I know how you feel – LOVE this chili!!
Oh.my.goodness!!! I made this for dinner last night and let me just say…..WOW!! Simple and scrumptious!!! This will definitely be a go-to recipe for me!! Can’t wait to share at Sunday dinner for the whole family!!
We love this chili! I’ve made it several times now and I’m making it again tonight. Tonight, I’m going to try keeping the chicken for one recipe and doubling everything else.
[...] Chili Verde [...]