I have a beast of a workout to share with you all this morning. Hold up. Let me clarify. This workout will not make you look like a beast. It will make you feel stronger than a beast. It will give you a hunger beast (aka that super hunger that sets in after hard training). A strong body to kick butt on my fitness endeavors? Me likey. A strong appetite reflecting a fired metabolism? Me likey that too.

I have only so much time to milk all I can out of my workouts. I like to go big or go home. Balls to the wall. Squeeze out every last drop. Okay, you get the picture.

I began my workout yesterday with my short, steady 2 mile run from my training plan. That run where I sorely missed my revamped workout playlist? Yea, that one. While completing my run, I dreamed up a circuit workout with a new mix of moves I wanted to try. I hopped off after my 20 minutes and got my self all set up in the weights area to bust out the little routine I came up with on my run.

My subconscious apparently had something against me. It had it out for me when dreaming up this circuit. Clearly…

• Speed Skaters – 20 reps per leg
• Kettlebell Swings – 15 reps total with 20 # kettlebell
• Wall Squat with Resistance Band Chest Presses – I grabbed a heavy resistance band and looped it around these wood columns we have in our gym. I did 45 seconds of a wall squat up against the column while simultaneously doing chest presses with the band.
• Planks with Spidermans – I held a straight arm plank for 15 seconds, then completed 10 “spidermans” (pull knee out and up to the chest) on my left side. I held a plank again for 15 seconds and did the final 10 spidermans on my right side.
• Toe Taps on the Step – A drill where I shuffle my feet quickly, tapping my toes up on a step. 45 seconds.
• Kettlebell Cleans – 10 reps per side with 20 # kettlebell
• Wide Stance Squat with Upright Row – 12 reps with 10 # dumbells

The combination of complex moves that work the entire body, plyometric style drills, and new-to-me equipment (kettlebells!) gave me a much tougher workout than I expected. I went through the circuit three times…and still finished in around 20 minutes! Wham, bam, thank – you – ma’am subconscious!

I felt the effects of this workout later in the day when I craved a hearty and filling dinner. I wanted my favorite enchiladas!

Kill the Hunger Beast Enchiladas

• 6 oz lean ground beef (or chicken or turkey)
• 1/2 can refried beans
• 1 cup corn kernels
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup grated carrot
• 1 can green enchilada sauce
• 1 can 98% fat-free cream of chicken/mushroom soup
• 1 small can diced green chilies
• 12 corn tortillas
• 1 cup shredded cheese of choice

Preheat oven to 350. Cook your ground beef/chicken/turkey. In a large bowl, mix the filling ingredients (meat through grated carrot). In a separate mixing bowl, stir the enchilada sauce, soup, and diced chilies to create the sauce. Pour 1/3 of the sauce into the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.

Place approximately two large spoonfuls of filling mixture into center of corn tortilla. Roll and place seam-side down in the baking dish on top of the sauce. Repeat until you fill all your tortillas. Pour the remaining sauce over the enchiladas. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over the top. Bake for 20 minutes, until cheese begins to bubble.

You can easily make this recipe without the beef and simply use the full can of refried beans. We use the beef on occasion for added texture. You can also use your personal favorite enchilada sauce. I do the soup mix in mine to create a thicker sauce because I’m a freak about thinner sauces making my enchiladas too soggy. Overall, lots of ways to mix this up and I’m sure they will all taste good. Unless you add some chocolate covered grasshoppers or something crazy like that. But I trust you’re smarter than that.

• Do you like enchiladas? Green or red sauce? What fillings?
• Of Possible Interest: Check out my interview as the “Fit Blogger We Love” over on the Fitness Magazine site this week!

As many of you know, yesterday marked the celebration of Father’s Day here in the US. And even though a certain someone forgot Mother’s Day last month, I still made sure to put in the effort for him on his day. After all, marriage means having to “forgive and forget” as the sage man from Taiwan told Ashley & Constantine on The Bachelor last week. Did anyone else find that conversation totally random and uncomfortable? Ah, the pleasures of trash television.

So I figured I should practice what The Bachelor preaches (where’s that sarcasm font again?) and devote some time and attention to Peter. He works hard to support our family, love and play with our children, believe in me, and put up with watching shows like The Bachelor. I guess he deserves a little special treatment. I happily obliged.

I started the traditional way by preparing a special breakfast for him. The man loves peanut butter. The man loves pancakes for breakfast. Peanut Butter Pancakes naturally made a perfect breakfast selection. And as luck would have it, we could easily adjust our standard pancake recipe to make a hearty peanut butter version.

Peanut Butter Pancakes

• 1 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 80 grams (about 1/3 cup) natural peanut butter <—I do grams so I can just measure the pb directly into my mixing bowl. It’s easier than trying to scoop it into a measuring cup and then get it all out of the measuring cup.

Mix the dry ingredients together (flour through salt). Whisk milk and peanut butter together. Add the wet to dry and stir until combined. The batter should be thicker than traditional pancake batter because of the peanut butter. Prepare pancakes as normal by dolloping even spoonfuls onto a hot griddle or pan. Cook for around 2 minutes per side. Makes 10-12 medium sized pancakes.

The pancakes came out perfectly. I prefer a hearty, dense pancake that will fill me up and these did just that. I topped the pancakes with maple syrup and served them alongside a simple fruit mix of bananas and strawberries. The flavors went so well together and the peanut butter flavor didn’t get lost in the pancakes. I loved taking a bite of pancake with a piece of the fruit, especially banana. Mmmmm!

Besides a special prepared breakfast, I also picked up a few items for Peter that I knew he would never buy himself even though he wanted/needed them – a new wallet and a new pair of jeans.

Originally, I had tried looking for tools and other man items that I have no clue what to look for in quality or price. I scratched that idea when he mentioned something a few weeks ago about needing new jeans. And then last week griped about his old wallet. Wallets and jeans I can figure out. Wood routers (????) not so much. I hate shopping for men, so I’m so thankful he gave me ideas I could handle. I’m also thankful for ideas that don’t mean the start of a new house project. 😉

Father’s Day celebrations continued with some stops to visit both of our parents. We only had time for a quick stop over to see Peter’s parents because we planned to spend as much time as we could with my family before my brother left to return to Arizona.

My brother planned a special meal for my dad – large and in charge burgers on the grill.

Typically, I’m not a huge burger person, but sometimes they sound so good. Yesterday was one of those times. I loaded up my burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, pepperjack cheese, ketchup, and mustard. Of course, a burger is nothing without chips or fries so I had to grab a nice sized handful of the barbecue kettle chips.

I think you could safely say that I ate well yesterday. Very well indeed. We can’t forget how the night finished now.

I secretly picked up a 2 slice pack of Edwards Key Lime Pie for Peter and I for dessert last night. For some reason, this standard, frozen, grocery-store pie delights Peter so much. Who am I to deny him his favorite dessert on Father’s Day? I only wish I had captured the surprised and overjoyed look on his face when I brought it out to him after dinner. We both get way too excited about dessert. A Happy Father’s Day indeed. I know I didn’t mind celebrating!

• Did you do anything special for Father’s Day?
• Do you find it hard to shop for guys? Any good man gift ideas you have come up with before?