Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be all roses and soulmate searching. It can be about friends and free chicken. That is why we created a quiz for you to find your Farmer Focus Bestie and get the chance to win some FREE organic chicken! Take the quiz to see who your Farmer Bestie is and why. Check our social media @FarmerFocus for information on how to enter a giveaway for FIVE free Farmer Focus Coupons.
This is a Farmer Focus Simple Recipe, but the flavors are so much more than simple! Tender organic chicken breast is the star of the show. You can’t go wrong with a classic pasta dish with high-quality ingredients. Get the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo Recipe here!
Elevate what one may call “pizza night” to a delicious flatbread packed with protein and your favorite vegetables. We list out some veggies you could include, but we recommend using your favorites to please whoever you enjoy this meal with. Get the recipe here!
Want the crispy texture without the greasy mess? Try this oven-friend method to get the perfect crisp for chicken breast ready to pair with your favorite sides. Get the recipe here!
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Our pre-seasoned line is made to help home chefs break up mealtime monotony with easy-to-make, healthy, clean, and chef-inspired flavors at home. Just in time for the Big Game, these new flavors join the Farmer Focus existing pre-seasoned gluten-free line, which contains low to no sugar, and offers globally inspired flavors developed for YOU. Which one will you be trying?
This island-inspired recipe blends spicy chili peppers with cinnamon and thyme to provide an organic, allergen-free, and easy-to-cook dish that will turn any meal into a vacation.
The earthiness of black garlic matches perfectly with the fresh burst of ginger to deliver a chicken thigh dish like no other, an allergen-free teriyaki alternative for all.
chopped green onions (as many as your heart desires)
Instructions:
1. Place FF chicken breast on an oven-safe pan and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through or until the internal temperature reaches a minimum of 165°F. You can also check to ensure the chicken is fully cooked if the juices run clear.
2. Shred the chicken breast. You can do this with a fork or put it in a mixer until it is shredded.
3. Place all ingredients in a slow cooker in the order they are listed.
4. Cook on high for 1.5 hours, then mix well.
Enjoy!
Butter Chicken Dip
*serves 4
Ingredients
1 cup shredded FF chicken breast
1/2 Tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup onion, chopped
1/2 Tbsp fresh garlic, minced
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt
1/2 cup cilantro, diced
Instructions:
1. Heat the olive oil in a medium pan over medium heat.
2. Add onion and garlic and cook until they are soft, about 2 minutes.
3. Stir in the cumin, paprika, and salt. Cook until the spices are fragrant, about 3 minutes.
4. Reduce the heat to low and add the crushed tomato, Greek yogurt, diced cilantro, and shredded FF chicken breast.
5. Stir until combined and transfer to a serving dish to enjoy!
3. Shred the chicken breast. You can do this with a fork or put it in a mixer until it is shredded.
4. Clean and finely dice the jalapenos.
5. Preheat oven to 375°F.
6. In a bowl, combine shredded chicken, cooked bacon, jalapenos, mayo, sour cream, cream cheese, shredded cheese, ranch dressing powder, salt, and pepper. *Leave some bacon and cheese aside for the top.
7. Add the dip mixture into an oven-safe casserole dish and top with the set-aside bacon and cheese.
8. Bake at 375° for 15-18 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the dip is bubbling.
If you aren’t a meal prepper, these tips will turn you into one! Meal prep doesn’t always mean you fix one big meal and divide it into servings. It should mean that you are saving time and money by eating the meals you want when you want.
Follow the five tips below to ensure you are getting the foods you need while making meal prep a breeze!
1. Schedule your meal plan and prep
“I don’t have time” is something we all say. And we get it! There are things we’d rather spend our time on than meal prep. If meal prep is important to you, writing time to plan in your schedule will help keep it a priority. You’ll want to set aside 1-2 hours weekly to build your most wanted meals and shopping list. Additionally, set aside time for post-shopping prep, like chopping veggies or fruit into snack pieces. The key here is to do what is best for you and stick to it to build a good habit.
2. Don’t forget your food groups
Do you remember learning about a well-balanced plate in school as a kid? This still applies! Healthy meal-prep focuses on whole foods and less on processed sugars and salty food (which you can have in moderation 😉). Here is a list of some whole food options:
Whole grains: brown rice, quinoa, oats, bulgur, whole-wheat pasta, and chickpea pasta, polenta
Legumes: canned or dried black beans, garbanzo beans, pinto beans, lentils, raw nuts, and seeds
Canned goods: low-sodium broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, artichokes, olives, corn, fruit (no added sugar), tuna, salmon, chicken
The list could go on and on! Learn more about food groups and examples of foods within the groups here.
3. Shop Your Pantry First
A short and sweet thing that will save you time and money: the pantry! Take stock and build your meal from what you already have to avoid unnecessary buying. Don’t forget to check expiration dates; your pantry may hold some items close to expiration that need to be used! So before you head to the grocery store with your shopping list, head to the pantry.
4. Choose containers wisely
If you open your drawer of reusable containers and it is a mess, this can make packing your food a mess. You’ll want to consider how you will be packing and using your food to get the right containers. For example, are you freezing your food? Microwaving it? How will you be washing it? Make sure your container is safe for what you need. Consider using glass containers; they are eco-friendly and microwave safe.
5. use shortcuts
Use the instant pot or crock pot for your proteins or recipes. Find ways that you can quickly get some things prepped and forget about them as it cooks.
Now you’re ready! Get inspired by our meal-prep recipes and recommendations here. Here’s to building great habits and becoming the meal prepper you’ve always wanted to be!
Fill in the blank: ‘Tis the season for _____. Is it friends, family, Christmas, Hannukah, traditions, or giving? This time of year looks different for everyone. For Farmer Focus, this tends to be the season of giving and celebrating, and we are all about supporting small, local businesses. If you celebrate the holidays by giving and feel like you’re running out of time before the year ends, check out our holiday gift guide! We took the guesswork out of giving for you featuring businesses with gifts you can have shipped to your door or picked up locally.
HARMONY HARVEST FARM
“Flowers for extraordinary people, from extraordinary farmers.”
Dried Flower Bouquet from Harmony Harvest Farm.
Farmers/Owners at Harmony Harvest Farm (Photo by Harmony Harvest Farm)
Harmony Harvest Farm is family-owned and operated by a mother-daughter trifecta, Chris, Jessica, and Stephanie, in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Ordera unique handcrafted bouquet or arrangement full of 100% American-grown flowers from family farms. Get fresh flowers from the farm, or make a statement with a dried-flower arrangement that will last forever!
Follow along with Harmony Harvest Farm on their Instagram account, where they go behind the scenes of their farm and share their family story daily.
WITH SIMPLICITY
“Give the gift of natural beauty.”
wS Founder, Irina, and family. Image from “About” wS.
wS Turmeric & Vitamin C Brightening Mask. Image from wS.
Irina operates With Simplicity with other strong women dedicated to bringing us all-natural products we can feel good about putting on our skin. After seeing her makeup fall on her baby, she wondered if it was made with safe, natural products…long story short, she decided to create products herself! “We only use the finest, ethically-sourced ingredients in our products. Our Production Team works hard to ensure that all our ingredients come from natural, plant-based sources to make you the best natural beauty products possible.”
If you buy this for yourself or gift it to a loved one, know that their packaging is recyclable! You can ship empty containers back to With Simplicity for points or recycle them on your own. With every purchase, the company donates to charities they support in the community.
ROS O’BRIEN CERAMICS
“Make Life More Beautiful”
Ros O’Brien Ceramics planters, mugs, and more.
Let’s talk about unique gifts for a second. Mugs, vases, planters, and more are not only handcrafted but designed with the inspiration of native plants and scenery of the Shenandoah Valley! When you order one of these unique gifts, all of the packaging is recyclable and biodegradable so that mom can feel good about all aspects of this gift.
Check out Ros O’Brien Ceramicshereand view the online shop for the gift that will bring presence and tranquility into a home.
Pressed cedar branches ceramic mug from Ros O’Brien.
Photo by Lineage. Lineage Shenandoah Deluxe Tote.
LINEAGE
The business started with a mom-to-be searching for a diaper bag, so her husband created a durable and handmade bag to last. Soon after, family and friends asked for their very own, and they knew they had something special.
All bags and accessories are handmade from waxed cotton canvas and full-grain, vegetable-tanned leather sourced from small, family-owned US mills and tanneries. The materials of your bag will take on a unique character over time and are handcrafted to be unique. Order a bag or accessories no one else will ever have here.
sage bird ciderworks
Mulling Spices at Sage Bird Ciderworks.
The story of Sage Bird Ciderworks reminds us of the entrepreneurial spirit and passion that many of our farmers hold. Zach and Amberlee Carlson source Virginia apples for their cidery in Harrisonburg, VA, where many gather for fellowship and local goods. They started hand-pressing apples on their porch, learning how to make cider, and now they have a variety of ciders on tap and fantastic mulling spices to enjoy in their cidery! Get your mulling spices here and search their store for gifts. If you’re local, pop in for fresh cider on tap, trivia nights, and local artisan workshops. *Great gluten-free gift!
Happy Holidays from Farmer Focus! We hope this “shop local” gift guide will take the stress out of gifting, so you can focus on what really matters to you this season.
