Fiesta Chili

Chili is usually one of my go to dinners when I don't want to spend hours cooking.  I love chili but was getting tired of the tomato based chili and wanted to try something new.  This chili has no tomato in it and almost has a tortilla soup taste to it.  It is so easy and delicious, I almost feel guilty not spending hours in the kitchen preparing it!  Enjoy!

Fiesta Chili

Ingredients

2 15oz cans of Great Northern beans
2 15oz cans of black beans
2/3 cup corn kernels
1 15oz jar of salsa verde (I used Herdez brand)
4 cups vegetable broth
1 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
2 tsp cumin
Salt to taste
Optional toppings: avocado, cilantro, sour cream, shredded cheese, crushed tortilla chips, flour tortilla

Combine all ingredients in crockpot, cook on high for 8 hours.  Serve with optional toppings.

Apple Pie Protein Shake

Yes you read right, Apple Pie Protein Shake!  Being a vegetarian, I am always struggling with different ways to get in my protein.  After I made my Pumpkin Pie Protein Shake, I thought I would try an apple pie shake, another favorite of the fall season.  I played around with some ingredients and I think I have found the holy grail of protein shakes!  I'm talking so good, it will feel like a cheat meal!  Tastes fresh and seasonal and just like a freshly baked apple pie (minus all the calories).  Its quick and simple, enjoy!

Apple Pie Protein Shake

Ingredients

3/4 cup almond milk
1/2 apple, peeled, deseeded and chopped
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (I use Jay Robb's non-GMO egg white vanilla protein powder)
1/2 tsp apple pie spice (if you don't have the premixed apple pie spice, please see a recipe down below)
1 tsp pure honey
few ice cubes (don't use too many, or it will water down your shake)

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.





Apple Pie Spice

Ingredients

1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp all spice
1/4 tsp ground ginger

Mix all together and store in an air tight container.

LEG DAY!!! A simple routine to get your legs screaming!

I have a love/hate relationship with leg day!  I love the results, but hate the soreness the day (and 2 days) after a good leg workout.

Yesterday was leg day for me, and today I am regretting living in a 2 story house (the dreaded stairs)! You know the saying, "no pain, no gain", well here is a foolproof leg routine, created at workoutlabs.com, that I guarantee will have your legs screaming!

For each workout, I have modeled my reps after Beachbody's Body Beast method, starting with higher reps and lower weight, and working up to lower reps and higher weights.  Here is what my workout looked like, please make weight adjustments as needed.

Dumbbell Deadlifts: 

Start with your lightest weight (i.e. 2, 20lb dumbbells=40lbs)- Do 15 reps

Rest 90 seconds

Move up your weight by 10 lbs (i.e. 2, 25lb dumbbells=50lbs)-Do 12 reps

Rest 90 seconds

Move up your weight by 10 lbs (i.e. 2, 30lb dumbbells-60lbs)-Do 8 reps (this one should be challenging for you), No rest, go straight into drop set

Drop set-Go back to your lightest weight (i.e. 2, 20lb dumbbells=40lbs)-Do 8 reps

Goblet Squat:

Start with your lightest weight (i.e. 15lb dumbbell)- Do 15 reps

Rest 90 seconds

Move up your weight by 5 lbs (i.e. 20lb dumbbell)-Do 12 reps

Rest 90 seconds

Move up your weight by 5 lbs (i.e. 25lb dumbbell)-Do 8 reps (this one should be challenging for you), No rest, go straight into drop set

Drop set-Go back to your lightest weight (i.e. 15lb dumbbell)-Do 8 reps

Sumo/Plie Dumbbell Squat:

Start with your lightest weight (i.e. 15lb dumbbell)- Do 15 reps

Rest 90 seconds

Move up your weight by 5 lbs (i.e. 20lb dumbbell)-Do 12 reps

Rest 90 seconds

Move up your weight by 5 lbs (i.e. 25lb dumbbell)-Do 8 reps (this one should be challenging for you), No rest, go straight into drop set

Drop set-Go back to your lightest weight (i.e. 15lb dumbbell)-Do 8 reps

Two-Arm Kettlebell Swing (can also use a dumbbell):

Start with your lightest weight (i.e. 15lb kettlebell or dumbbell)- Do 15 reps

Rest 90 seconds

Move up your weight by 5 lbs (i.e. 20lb kettlebell or dumbbell)-Do 12 reps

Rest 90 seconds

Move up your weight by 5 lbs (i.e. 25lb kettlebell or dumbbell)-Do 8 reps (this one should be challenging for you), No rest, go straight into drop set

Drop set-Go back to your lightest weight (i.e. 15lb kettlebell or dumbbell)-Do 8 reps

Let me know how you feel the next day ;).  Until next time!