July 2012

Ah, how is it already Friday!? I feel like this week went so fast! Maybe it’s because we’re fresh off a vacation? We need more of those if that’s the case.

We’ve suffered from major kitchen avoidance this week. With triple-digit temperatures nearly all week (Wednesday was nearly being 107 degrees!), it feels impossible to do just about anything comfortably, even just sit still. We’ve managed to keep up with our goal of working out at least 4 times a week, but it has been tough. I even nearly passed out while running during our workout on Monday. We were doing 200m sprints between rounds of cleans, kettlebell swings and front squats. Despite drinking a lot of water and keeping myself as cool as possible, I just got too dizzy. It was brutal. Running on the pavement felt like being cooked on a stove. My eyeballs were even hot, how does that happen?

So, in our avoidance, the crock pot has gotten a bit of a workout too. We put together a big crock of Thai pork with almond sauce, and it’s managed to hold us over with a variety of meals for the entire week. It’s juicy and sweet and perfect with steamed veggies or wrapped up in big pieces of lettuce. You can of course serve it over steamed rice too if that’s your game.

Ingredients:

One 2-pound boneless pork loin, trimmed of fat and cut into 4 pieces
2 large bell peppers, seeded and cut into strips (any color)
4 tablespoons coconut sugar
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/4 cup Braggs Liquid Aminos
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup almond butter (peanut butter obviously works too)

For serving:
1/2 cup chopped green onions (white and green parts)
1/4 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts
2 limes, cut into wedges

Directions:

1. Coat the slow cooker with coconut or olive oil. Put the pork, bell peppers, red pepper flakes and garlic in the cooker. Combine coconut sugar, lime juice, Braggs Liquid Aminos, and rice vinegar, stir, and add to cooker. Cover and cook on low until pork is fork-tender, 8 to 9 hours.
2. Remove the pork from the cooker and coarsely chop. Add the almond butter to the liquid in the cooker; stir well to dissolve and blend with the liquid to make the sauce. Return the pork to the sauce and toss to coat the meat evenly.
3. Serve over veggies, lettuce wraps or jasmine rice and sprinkle with green onions and peanuts and a squeeze of lime juice from the wedges.

Makes 4-6 servings.

So what are your plans for the weekend? Anything exciting? Tomorrow, our CrossFit box is gathering to say goodbye to one of our trainers, Eric, who is leaving to join the Navy Seals. Needless to say a Hero WOD and a lot of good food is in our immediate future. We also have some planning to do. Here is a hint:

Crazy bright right? Squee!

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