About 7 or 8 months ago, our group was sitting around talking about vacations we would like to go on and places we would like to see. This couple mentioned that they had talked to his mom and brother about going to spring training for the Texas Rangers in New Mexico. See, these guys are huge Rangers fans; I mean his brother can tell you just about everything you want to know about the Rangers (…and maybe even some stuff you don’t want to know). So why do I tell you this story? I don’t think they understood at the time but they were solidifying a goal of theirs. They had talked about this goal with his family, and there it may have been more like a wish or a desire, something they wanted to do but hadn’t really yet formulated a plan. But now, they had brought it out into the open with the group, which meant they were turning this wish into a GOAL. I am pretty sure that shortly after that night they went to work setting money aside and developing a financial plan to make this goal possible. This is the key to goals: deciding what you want and making a plan to achieve it. Just telling someone or yourself that you want to achieve something isn’t enough to achieve it. That’s like cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the first time and with no recipe for the turkey. It’s a great thought, but without temperatures and times you will not get the desired result. You might get lucky and have a halfway decent turkey, but you have a stronger chance of making people sick. By telling the group, this was their plan to do later this year and going home to figure out how they could accomplish it set in motion gears of the world. Their minds became more focused on achieving the goal, and they could begin to see themselves enjoy the fruits of their labors. What’s the result? I received a text from them earlier this week with a this picture that said “View we’re having with lunch today.”

They did it. They thought about what they wanted. They formulated a plan and the steps to achieve it. Now they are enjoying it. Goals can really be that simple…

Spinach Chicken & Cheese

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

1 tablespoon Flour

1 Cup Milk

1/2 (10-oz) Package of Frozen Spinach

1/8 each (a few strips) Red, Yellow, and Orange Bell Peppers

1/2 Cup Grated Cheese

1 Tablespoon Butter

1/4 Cup Chopped Onions

1 Cup Panko Breadcrumbs

1 Egg

1/2 cup Flour

1 Tablespoon Garlic Salt

2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil

Directions

1. Preheat Oven to 350 degrees (175 degree c).
2. Pound chicken breasts flat until they evenly 3/4″ thick.
3. Fill 3 separate shallow dishes: 1 flour, 1 beaten egg, and 1 bread crumbs.
4. Add garlic salt to flour and mix thoroughly.
5. Dredge chicken breasts in flour, then egg, and finally in the Panko breadcrumbs.
6. Add oil to skillet and heat to medium-high; once pan is to temp, gently place in chicken breasts (watch for splattering).
7. Cook 3 mins both sides.
8. Meanwhile, in a sauce pan saute onions and peppers in butter until onion begin to turn opaque.
9. Rinse and completely drain spinach and add to onion mixture; cook until spinach is warmed through.
10. Add milk and flour; bring to a boil, then and cheese and cook until cheese is thoroughly melted.
11. Place chicken in an oven-safe dish and cover with spinach mixture.
12. Bake for 20 minutes; remove from oven and serve.
13. Enjoy!