First of all, thank you all SO much for your suggestions and comments on Monday’s post about my lovely shin splints. After talking to my trainer friend and reading all of your suggestions, I’m going to take a couple weeks off running and just do some cross-training. Then I’m going to go to a running store he suggested (which allows for returns within 2 weeks) and look at possibly getting some new shoes/inserts. So we’ll see how that goes!
Man, do any other runners sometimes wonder if they are crazy?! I know running can be a really healthy activity, but it can also lead to so many different types of injuries! Since I’ve started less than a year ago, I have felt pain in: the top of my foot, my heel, my calves, my shins, and my knees. I can say that I’ve been blessed to not experience any major injuries … but, seriously? Things seems a lot simpler when I stuck to my elliptical! 
But I’ll tell you what, it’s all worth it when you experience those “good days” and get that running high. And there’s nothing like the endorphins you have when you cross a finish line! It beats any sugar-high that I’ve ever had! 
OK but back to the main topic of conversation for the day …
As always, thanks to the lovely Jenn for hosting the event!
Breakfast:
Whole-wheat bagel thin, a banana, peanut butter, and coffee. And you can’t forget my gummy-vitamin.
Snacks:
An apple + a serving of:
I’ve eaten fresh edamame before, but never dry-roasted. It was quite tasty and filling!
Lunch:
Pork tenderloin chili, with crackers on the side. This innocent-looking bowl would be the cause of my dragon-mouth. But if you’re brave enough, check out the recipe below.
Dinner:
Mini pizza made on a flatbread + a salad with a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Yum!
Dessert:
Yes, those little jewels are a couple of Buckeyes (peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate, if you’re living in outer space and didn’t know!). Brandon’s grandma and a group of women in town make these every year as part of fundraiser. And she always gives us two containers full. I’ve eaten about 521. Brandon’s eaten zero. Darn him and his restraint!
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I found this recipe for Pork Tenderloin Chili in my “Everything Healthy Slow Cooker Cookbook.” I made just a couple of changes from the original recipe, and we both really enjoyed it. However, we also agree that next time, we want to make a few more changes … including bringing down the level of heat so that we can still feel the roofs of our mouths the next day.
So I’m going to share what I did this time, and then I’m going to add my recommendations to make it even better!
Slow-Cooker Pork Tenderloin Chili
(adapted from the “Everything Healthy Slow Cooker Cookbook”)
Serves 4-6
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 pound boneless pork tenderloin, cubed (make your pieces pretty small, because you don’t want to try to swallow a huge chuck of meat)
- 1 large sweet onion, diced
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 poblano chile, diced and seeds removed
- 1 jalapeño pepper, diced and seeds removed
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 15 oz. canned crushed tomatoes
- 2 tsp ground cayenne pepper (I think this is what nearly killed me … )
Directions
- Cut up all your vegetables and pork.
- Heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the pork and cook for a couple of minutes. Then add the onion, chiles, and garlic. Cook (stirring occasionally) until the pork is no longer pink. If there’s any access fat, drain it (I didn’t have any).
- Put everything from the skillet into the slow cooker. Add the remaining ingredients. Stir.
- Cook on low for about 8-9 hours.
- Serve with tortilla chips or crackers.
I really liked using the pork in this recipe. I’m still a fan of ground beef, but this was a nice change.
However, in order to make this dish even better, here are my suggestions:
1. Unless you really like spice, reduce the chili powder. I would say 1 teaspoon would be sufficient!
2. Add fresh or frozen corn.
3. Add a can of black beans.
4. Increase the amount of chicken stock and crushed tomatoes (about 1.5 cups chicken stock and 20-24 oz. crushed tomatoes … because if you add corn and beans, I don’t think you’d have enough liquid with the original recipe).
If you try this recipe (or any of the other recipes I post, for that matter!), let me know your thoughts! And if you have your own recommendations to make the chili even more delicious, I’d love to hear those, too!! 
One final note before I leave you … anyone watching “The Bachelor???”
(Source)
There are no words.
Question for ya …
As always, tell me something delicious that you’ve eaten today!
Are you watching “The Bachelor?” What are your thoughts so far?
Personally, I’m a fan of Kacie B.
Good for you, Kristen! I know that it must be difficult to commit to taking a few weeks off of running, but it will be well worth it when you’re recovered enough for the race!
And I’m RIGHT there with you! Running does cause a lot of injuries, and I think that’s one of the reasons why I don’t do it too often anymore. As soon as I has knee pains after one of the training sessions, I suddenly wanted to get back into yoga haha
Best of luck with your decision!
Brittany @ Itty Bits of Balance recently posted..A Busy One
Just read your post about shin splints… I am glad you are taking some time off to get them better! That is a tough thing, but kudos to you and it will certainly help
This is a great looking recipe, but I appreciate the less chili powder advice.. I don’t like things too spicy!
And yep, Bachelor is one crazy show, but I just can’t look away
Tessa @ Amazing Asset recently posted..WIAW- Tired Of The Obsession
I love edamame but have never seen it dry roasted. Is it still really healthy for you? I’ll have to take a look for that the next time I’m at the grocery store.
As for the Bachelor…this may be the first season that I barely watch it. I’m DVRing it and leaving it on in the background while I do other things (like sit and type this comment!). I read the end, I know, I know I have no self restraint, and that just makes this season 10 times worse in my opinion.
Do you have any favorite or least favorite girls yet? What are your thoughts on Ben?
Northern Girl_Southern Wife (Alissa) recently posted..It’s Going to Get Extreme!
My friend Julie told me who supposedly wins … but don’t say anything on the blog b/c I don’t want to ruin it for others haha. I’m hoping it’s not true and that reality steve (where she gets her info) is wrong, like he’s been in the past!
The dry roasted edamame is still healthy, in my opinion. It only has two other ingredients: sea salt and soybean oil. So the oil adds calories, but good calories, in my opinion. I think 1/4 cup is 150 calories, but it keeps you really full and gives you lots of fiber!
I think taking some time off is such a good idea! That way you can get your knees nice and ready for some training
. OMG how does Brandon not eat those buckeyes?? I love buckeyes, they are so delicious! And your chili looks fabulous…I would definitely be reducing the chili powder though- I can’t handle things that are too spicy haha.
Lindsay @ In Sweetness and In Health recently posted..Ab Exercises and My First Massage
Brandon is a freak of nature. He can take or leave dessert. Insanity, in my book.
i’m glad you have a plan to hopefully get past those shin splints! after i commented the other day, i was wondering if you had gotten new running shoes recently… i’ve heard that can highly affect shin splints too. so that’s good you’re going to go to a running store! i’ve thought about doing that too.
your eats look amazing!! and oh my, those buckeye things – i’d be eating them nonstop! they sound heavenly!
Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..WIAW {What I Ate Wednesday} #16: Stickin’ To My New Eating Plan
I seriously think taking time off would make me insane. Thats why I can never fully enjoy a vacay. I start to feel soft and sluggish without a good solid workout!! BUT you are not retarded like me, so I know you will be fine
:)
Kat recently posted..WIAW
i dont watch the bachelor but that picture made me giggle, lol.
i have a feeling i need some time off too but its so hard for me because i love running so much
we’ll see what happens, i’m trying to be more diligent about icing and rolling.
is that cookbook any good? i just got a slow cooker for christmas and i’ve only used it once so far but i’d love to use it more often!
Theresa recently posted..Being humble and cones make everything better
I’ve only made a couple of things from that cookbook so far, but we’ve liked all of the recipes. I’ve also found some great slow cooker recipes on allrecipes.com! And I have several listed on my recipe page under “dinners.”
Running totally has a lot of small pains along the side – but like you said, its totally worth that high! Believe it or not, I’m still on a s’mores kick and just ran out of marshmallows- haha. This is the first time I’ve watched the Bachelor is FOREVER – and these ladies are NUTS!!! (I kinda love it)
Janelle recently posted..OMG – I Have a Race Coming Up
(I kinda love it too haha!
)
I know that taking a couple weeks off was a hard decision to make, but sometimes rest is what our body needs to heal! I hope that it works for you!
We LOVE spicy foods, so I will definitely try out the slow cooker pork recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Delicious food today – I had German chocolate overnight oats for breakfast and they were awesome!
natalie @ southern fit foodie recently posted..Vacation Recap: Christmas in Cancun
Ooh German chocolate?? How do you make those??
I am a weirdo and not a bachelor watcher, but I am definitely lovin the supa simple enchiladas I made the other day and have been enjoying them for leftovers a lot!
Andrea @ Andrea Out Loud! recently posted..A ‘Shaky’ Workout
the chili looks awesome! quick question – are the gummy vitamins any good? i choke down ginormous organic vitamins every day but have been thinking of making the switch to gummies. =)
amy @ fearless homemaker recently posted..a fab christmas gift + my 2012 cooking goal!
Amy, you have to make the switch!! I used to get nauseous taking my normal multi-vitamin … no matter what time of day or if I had eaten. The gummy vitamins never make me feel like that.
Yummy eats! Bagels + PB + banana = awesomeness!
Aw, loving that mini pizza! Makes me want pizza now.. 
Happy WIAW!
Shannon (Healthiful Balance) recently posted..Stuffed With Good Food
your food all looks SO good! i love spicy, so i definitely need to try that chili.
p.s. omgosh there really are no words for some of the crazy girls on the bachelor this season haha. jenna especially…ummm CRAZY!
Jordan recently posted..Oops
Yes poor Jenna did not make herself look very good on the show.
Your food does look really good. May need to try that chili recipe.
Best thing I had today- half of ezekiel english muffin, maple almond butter, and blackberry preserves. Yum!!
Kimberly (Badger Girl) recently posted..What I Ate Wednesday
Ooh the blackberry preserves sound delicious!
Yeah I don’t know what it is about men and their ability to restrain from desserts. My husband is the same way – he likes sweets but has totally ignored the container of chocolate chip cookies our friends left with us this past week. I think he’s had two. Not fair!
It’s an amazing skill they possess, isn’t it?!
I take GummiVites too
I never forget to take my vitamins! The pizza looks delicious…I still haven’t tried making pizza with a pita, but you have inspired me to get on it!
Jessica recently posted..WIAW: Where There Is A Will, There Is A Way
Oh the pizza is so good … and it doesn’t make you feel guilty after eating it!
All of your food looks lovely!
Thank you!!