2016 Goals

We have so many goals moving into the new year, so much we would like to accomplish, so many new things to dive into - Where do we begin!?

Personal Goals
1. Begin and stick with a serious budget - This will take a lot of effort on all fronts.  We build a budget each year, but sticking to it and all it entails will be the ultimate challenge.
2. Pay off my car - This explains itself.  If we can accomplish #1, this one shouldn't be to hard.
3. Meal prep - This should save us money if done right, and should help with my next goal as well.
4. Lose weight - Not just weight in general, I want to finish losing any lingering weight to get me to my goal weight.  Since I haven't been on a scale in a month, I don't know how much that is yet.  But I will weigh in on the first and we will get this party started!
5. Pass the CPA - This by far is the most important of the personal goals, it also explains itself.

Farm Goals
1. Grow - We plan to add more chickens to our flock, along with letting the ducks hatch a few ducklings.  If all goes to plan we will add about 6 new chickens and any ducks that come along.
2. Diversify - This year we will be expanding our livestock by adding goats to the farm.  Dairy goats to be specific.  Research is still underway and I am writing out a grant request as we speak, so keep your fingers crossed that this goes smoothly!
3. Fencing & Buildings - With the goats comes to need for fencing around the entire property, as well as a cross-fence to section off a back yard.  It will also bring additional buildings to our land.  I would like to build a larger coop/run area that has a goat house built in. 
4. Vegetable garden - We will give this a second try, year one was a bust, so hears to second chances!

This is a lot, but I can't ever do things to easy way.  So I will do my best to keep everyone up to date and keep this blog posted on all of our accomplishments and growth over the next year!

Crock Pot Chili

I made this recipe during the first cooler weekend of fall this year.  Growing up I was not a tremendous fan of chili - I really couldn't even stand the smell of it.  But when my sweetie pie boyfriend specifically requested it, I couldn't help but accept the challenge.

As a semi-relevant side note...I am a HUGE fan of the Pioneer Woman.  Although she is from Northern Oklahoma whereas I am from South Central Oklahoma, I still feel like we have the world in common...well, except that she lives on a ranch and I live in the city... and she is a fabulous chef, whereas I am learning to no longer cook from a box.... But we both like cowboys... we do have that in common ;)

Anywho...this recipe was adopted and adapted from The Pioneer Woman

Crock Pot Chili

Ingredients

2 pounds ground beef (or ground turkey)

1 can tomato sauce

1 can rotel

2 tbsp chili powder

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground oregano

1 tsp salt

1 can kidney beans

Instructions

1. Brown ground beef (or turkey) on stove top, drain the grease then dump into crock pot.

2. Add the remaining ingredients into the crock pot (make sure to rinse the kidney beans).

3. Add 1/2 cup of water to the crock pot.

4. Stir...

5. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.

I forgot to mention this may be the easiest recipe I've ever made... (yes, even easier then hamburger helper!)  Enjoy!

What are your favorite fall recipes?

Is chili a staple cold weather meal in your family?

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Okay okay...so its been a week, maybe two, since I've posted anything whatsoever.  My mind has been elsewhere but I think I'm ready to dive back into the blog world again!

I tried this recipe from my pinterest page a few weeks back and it was absolutely to die for! But fair warning - on the healthy scale its about a 3.  I doubled the recipe for the topping (what can I say, I love sauces!) so be sure to half this recipe for a semi healthier version as wells as a more delicate taste.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken(adapted from "My Kitchen Escapades")

Ingredients3 boneless chicken breasts

1 cup light mayonnaise

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp garlic powder (I did 3 tsp...I like garlic...)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray the inside of a square glass pan.

2. Mix together all ingredients and spread evenly over each piece of chicken.  Be sure to cover all exposed meat to prevent the chicken from drying out. Sprinkle additional parmesan on top.

3. Bake uncovered for 45 minutes.  Voila! (Not the prettiest meal - but again...OH SO GOOD!)

Pot Roast Recipe

Well - the weather here in Oklahoma has finally started to cool off a little and the rain has arrived for the fall season.  What better meal to have than crock pot - pot roast?!  Because I was running low on food to take to work with me for lunch - I decided to start a roast before I went to bed in order for it to be ready to take to work with me in the morning.

Homemade Pot Roast



3 to 4 pound Roast Beef or Round Steak

Salt and Pepper

1 small Onion, chopped

1 package Brown Gravy Mix

1 cup Water

1/2 cup Ketchup

2 teaspoons Dijon Mustard

1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Place roast in crock pot. Sprinkle meat with salt and pepper.  Combine remaining ingredients; pour over meat.  Add any veggies on top that you like - I added red new potatoes cut into quarters and baby carrots.  Then add water until everything is just covered. Cover and cook on low 8-10 hours.

When I woke up the aroma was beautiful and the meat litterally just fell apart with the touch of a fork- this is a great meal for any cool, wet afternoon or evening!