I feel bloated. What the fudge. I haven’t even had any fudge as of late. Maybe it’s because I had a smoothie yesterday. Why does fruit make me bloat. Damn you fruit, damn you to hell.
All I want is the sweet potato tots from Sonic. Damn commercial, damn you to hell.
Speaking of tots, I need to back off some of those. I have multiple vacations planned for this summer, almost all include swimsuits. New swimsuits. So I’d appreciate it if they fit. So I’ve made a plan. Ever since I stopped competing and became more social, my life has included more delicious food and alcoholic beverages, aka fun times. Which I’m totally cool with. BUT, before I try to pull plastic wrap like bottoms over my tush, I need to tighten it up a bit. Raise and poke. Who doesn’t want a bum that pokes out. That sounds weird.
Anywho, my plan includes more GHD sit ups, more running, less sugar in the form of naughty treats AND fruit, and only drinking once a week and eating one cheat meal a week. I feel like those two things will go hand-in-hand. But being antisocial just ain’t gonna work for me, so hopefully the plan works. Since I started this plan on Monday, I’ve already had fruit. In smoothie form. Damnit. But the man in my life makes really good ones. AND I’ve had some sugar in honey form. Damnit. But I gotta taste my 2nd cookbook meals that I’m creating. Stupid blog, you make me bloat. Wow, look at me making excuses for myself. Get your sh*t together JB, you disappoint me.
I can say one thing, I am super excited for my cheat day on Saturday. I don’t really consider the things I eat cheats, but since starting this plan, they feel more naughty. Like this Saturday. It’s my friend Kam’s birthday, so we are starting off with a CrossFit workout, then we are going to go run Red Rocks, then have bloody mary’s to celebrate our health. Makes so much sense. Either way, we are doing everything we love in one day: working out, playing outside, drinking fun drinks, eating delicious food, and hanging out with cool people. AND THEN, it’s my friend Beth’s birthday that night. Oh hells yeah. Looks like I’m going to have lots to talk about next week in my blog.
What’s your plan to fit into your ittybittyteenyweenyyellowpolkadotbikini?
Cherry and Apple Giant Stuffed Pork Chops
- Yield: 3 1x
Ingredients
- 3 bone-in, thick cut pork chops
- 1 sweet potato or yam, cut in half lengthwise
- 1 apple, cored and diced
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- ½ cup red cherries, seeded and cut in half (I used frozen sine they are not in season)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 tablespoons bacon fat
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 405 degrees.
- Cut sweet potato in half lengthwise, and place cut side down onto a baking sheet.
- Bake sweet potato for 20-25 minutes until completely soft. Once you pull the sweet potatoes out, turn oven down to 375 degrees. Let sweet potatoes cool, then remove the sweet potato from the skin and mash with a fork in the a bowl.
- Place a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat, then toss 2 garlic cloves. Once garlic becomes fragrant, add in the apple and onion.
- When onion becomes translucent, add in halved cherries, apples, along with the mashed sweet potato, cinnamon, garlic powder, ground cloves, and a bit of salt and pepper. Mix well until you have a big mess of goodness. Place goodness in a separate bowl and keep skillet over medium-high heat.
- Salt and pepper both sides of the pork chops, then take a knife to cut the meat side of the pork chop, trying to create a pocket. Imagine you are cutting a pita pocket to stuff it with goodness, same thing with the pork chop. Use your knife to dig as deep as you can in the middle of the pork chop, making sure not to cut fully through it.
- Stuff each pork chop with the sweet potato mash.
- Add 2 more tablespoons of bacon fat to the pan, then add the pork chops (making sure not to crowd the pan).
- Sear pork chops on both sides for 4-5 minutes, turning them carefully so all the goodness doesn’t fall out.
- After the pork chops are seared on both sides, place directly in the oven and baking for 6-8 minutes, until completely cooked through.
- Remove from oven and let sit for 2-3 minutes.
- Eat up buttercup.
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I will convince my husband to make these this weekend! Lifting all the time and running means I need awesome Paleo food to shove in my face and not get stuck eating crap. Thanks for yet another yumlicious recipe!
I am soo going to make this tonight. Thanks!
Mmmm giant chops Those look amazing!!
LeanMeanPlan = Keep CF’ing, but run and yoga more. Less sugar and no eating after 8pm.
I’m sensing a theme lately…
Does the word “stuffed” ring any bells?
Thank you for sharing your recipes. I hope this stuffing-craze continues…
Question: i feel like form your blogs we have similar body type responses to food ha… what intensity do you run at…. distance? HIIT..?
I’m not sure what you mean, but I run at a moderate pace, about 2.5 miles. I suck at running. I don’t know what HIIT means lol i suck
it’s okay ha. HIIT– high intensity interval training ! I clearly cannot type so yeah that post did not make much sense but you answered my question, thank you!
HIIT= High intensity interval training. When you work really hard for a short period of time, and then work at a moderate pace for a short period, giving yourself a “break” in between. You continue this for however long you want to work out for. It’s supposed to burn more calories than working at the same consistent pace.
To fit in my bikini this summer I’m trying the 21 day detox…But I keep messing up on weekends! And I keep looking through blogs to find Paleo recipes and always end up in the Sweets section. Anyways, Thanks for your awesome recipes! My boyfriend and I love you for them!
I’m a dork and had to go look it up: “High intensity interval training” Blech. lol.
OK, so I turn 40 next year (WTF?!??!?!) and have decided if I have to age, i’m doing it in the Bahamas! So March I’m hitting up Atlantis, and I DO NOT want to be sitting there wishing I had done something NOW to be swimsuit ready.
So the plan for me is to be soooo much better about Paleo eating, which is what allowed me to reach my goal weight. Veering away from it has caused a 15lb gain and an overall jiggly feeling I’m not digging at all. I teach fitness classes, so that’s all good, but I am going to get serious again about running, and do another half marathon (first one was last year.)
Fingers crossed!
I’m making these Saturday night! YAY! I’ve started Crossfit and Paleo to fit into my itty bitty bikini. I’m 44 and YES I do still wear a bikini lol. That being said, it’s my pool and if you don’t like my bikini go hang out at your own pool LOL!
Juli-
Solid work yet again. My girlfriend, who has emailed you before praising your successes, doesn’t typically like pork in any form but bacon. But I told her this was a Juli B joint, so she gave it a shot. Low and behold, another meal added to the list for future paleo dinners.
Thanks for putting this up, thanks for responding to her previously, and keep the good meals coming.