I have been having the most intense, specific cravings lately. Cheeseburgers, crispy peanut butter cups and absolutely anything BBQ, to name a few.
(Why can’t I ever crave fruit, by the way?!) 
Anyways, sometimes the cravings are so intense that it’s literally all I can do to not drive straight to the store and get the ingredients to make the dish on the spot. Cravings so strong I can literally taste the dish on my tongue days before I even fire up the stove!
Well the craving for tonight’s dinner hit so hard last week, that I immediately texted Ben to see if he was in:
“Babe,” (yes, we’re babe’ers) “can we pleeeeeease have tacos next week?”
Ben hates tacos.
“Hard or soft?” came the reply.
“Hard. They’ve got to be hard!”
“Chicken or beef?
“Beef. They’ve got to be beef!” (I’m telling you, this craving was intense AND specific!)
“…sure…”
Victory! 
Tacos for dinner – and DANG – they were good!
Just like that classic cheeseburger I was craving the other week, these tacos had to be of the tried & true variety. Hard shell, seasoned ground beef, fresh tomato, cheddar cheese, salsa & taco sauce. Nothin’ fancy. Just the good stuff.
Ok – I did amp up the volume and nutrients in my ground beef by adding a huge bowlful of torn baby spinach to the beef when it was nearly done cooking.
I have a giant bag in the fridge that needs using and, why not?
UGH THESE WERE SO GOOD! Just what I was craving.
Fresh-grated, sharp cheddar cheese in these babies was so key, too. I feel like the flavor of pre-grated cheese can get lost in dishes sometimes. These thick, flavorful shreds totally shined through though.
Craving fulfilled!
Things that I have NOT been craving lately?
Salads. I went through a period of like, 3 weeks where I made dinners that didn’t have anything leftover for lunches the next day, so I made and ate salad after salad, after salad after salad, instead. Bleh. Can’t even think about ‘em.
Also, candy. I know! I actually feel really weird/bad about this. Grape laffy taffy? Nah, I’ll pass. Starbursts Favereds? Eh, I’d rather have some crackers. Red sour punch straws? Pass the corn nuts. It’s weird!
In other news, to kick off Week 2 of The Fitnessista’s Summer Shape Up 2011, I buzzed through a KILLER 32 Minute HIIT Treadmill Routine after work:
| Time | Speed |
| 1-2 | 4 |
| 2-3:30 | 6.5 |
| 3:30-4 | 7.0 |
| 4-5:30 | 6.5 |
| 5:30-6 | 7.5 |
| 6-7:30 | 6.5 |
| 7:30-8 | 8.0 |
| 8-9:30 | 6.5 |
| 9:30-10 | 8.5 |
| 10-11:30 | 6.5 |
| 11:30-12 | 9.0 |
| 12-13:30 | 6.5 |
| 13:30-14 | 9.5 |
| 14-15:30 | 6.5 |
| 15:30-16 | 10 |
| 16-30 | Repeat minutes 2-16 |
| 30-32 | 4.0 |
| Total: | 3.51 miles |
Then huffed & puffed through Workout #2. Between the run and the workout – I haven’t sweat that hard in a really long time! I’m enjoying pushing myself though.
Especially when it means I get to enjoy a little extra dessert…
Speaking of those crispy peanut butter cups… 
Ok! Off to catch a re-run of the 2nd part of the Real Housewives of the OC Reunion Special. I had no idea it was on last night and was utterly devastated when I couldn’t keep up on the gossip with my Mom on our morning walk today!
See ya’!
(and no I am not preggers – just hungry! )
~~~~~
Have you OD’d on any foods lately?
Oh, I can add baby carrots to the list too. Ugh, I need a few weeks off!
HAHAHA! The first thing I thought was “oh, she’s pregnant”. Too funny. The tacos do look amazing though and that’s a fantastic idea to show spinach into the taco mixture! I am definitely stealing that one.
I wondered exactly the same thing you guys did about a baby! And IGE did just take an anniversary vacation….
In college I OD’d on ramen noodles, I haven’t ever been able to eat them since. Lately I’ve OD’d on chicken breasts. When I was going through my health kick I ate so much of it I thought I was going to sprout wings and fly away. My latest obsession is frozen yogurt. I’m obsessed with lemon tree frozen yogurt in Ankeny, I can’t get enough of the stuff!
OK when you start talking about cravings that specific and intense, the first thing that pops in my head is that you are pregnant. (???) It all sounds so delicious, though. I am missing fresh tomatoes, lettuce and cukes (still dealing with the confusing e.coli thing here in the EU)
I can’t stop eating Chipotly chicken bowls. I can imagine it in my mouth before I’ve even decided NOT to cook but to eat that instead. I’ve become a monster… but its just sooo good! And I haven’t noticed any questionable meat in mine
Agree with prior comments re: pregnancy. I don’t really get intense cravings. I eat an insane amount of peanut butter sandwiches but wouldn’t say I have OD’d. I could eat one right now…. love ‘em.
I love how you put your tacos in between shot glasses. I can’t do sunflower butter…no more!!!
I’ve been on a nut butter kick lately!! Can’t get enough!
I am loving interval sprints on the treadmill! They are so challenging and intense yet so rewarding afterward!!
Just made some cookies for a post on Friday and definitely OD’d…taste testing a little much…enough said!
Have a wonderful afternoon…love your blog!
LizAshlee
twitter.com/lizashleeblog
I love your blog! Sometimes we just have to go with what we’re craving, ya know? Love the “dang!” glasses haha
[...] Comments « Cravings [...]
I laugh when you talk about having leftovers of things like cookies and peanut butter cups! I have 3 kids ages 10, 13, and 16 and between them and their friends we NEVER have leftovers! I made the peanut butter cups yesterday and there were about 6 left when I left for work this morning. I’m hoping to get one when I go home for lunch in an hour! Thanks for the great recipes, I make them all the time!
Over the weekend I made a HUGE batch of spicy sweet potato stew. I had been craving it for weeks and knew I wouldn’t be happy unless I ate some. After I finish it, I probably won’t make it again for months.
I eat salad almost daily. It’s one of my comfort foods. Lately I’ve also been craving a lot of frozen yogurt. It means extra workouts but it’s so worth it.
Also, the bf and I are babe’ers too.
great…now I’m craving tacos! these look so good!
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