Be sure to check out the picture of the new rooster.  He’s one we hatched last spring, and he’s growing into a handsome young man.  He’s just now starting to figure out where he stands in the pecking order.  So far, he’s not even close to Marilyn (the old rooster) and only above about ½ of the hens.  He has some growing to do.  The kids are still debating his name.  Right now they’re leaning towards just calling him “Handsome”.

You’ll also see pictures of the guineas.  We really think they are the catalyst for the chickens doing a better job foraging.  Guineas are great foragers and we think the peer pressure got the rest the chickens out and around.  The guineas also give us some concern about keeping them out of the garden come spring.  They are much better flyers than chickens and now that they’ve gotten used to picking the garden, the spring might be a challenge.

Angela has had a table at a couple of health fairs in the last week, one at the library and one at Brewster Place.  Welcome to all of the new email list subscribers.

As those of you who have been our friends for awhile already know, our family is very involved in our community, including politically.  We try to keep politics to a minimum in our emails, but we believe that the conventional wisdom that keeps people from talking about politics is part of the reason we’re facing such difficult times.  We are supporting Ron Paul for President, and we are organizing Topeka / Shawnee County to support him in the caucus.  If you’re interested in learning more about why we support Dr. Paul, please visit the website we put together at www.CommonlyQualified.com and don’t hesitate to drop us an email or give us a call.  Regardless of whom you support, we hope that you participate in the upcoming election.

Peace to you and yours.

Stacey, Angela, Marley & Evander

The Magic Meals Team

Be sure to check out the news feed on the Magic Meals page on Facebook which is available here HERE.  This week we’ve shared news stories about how the growing demand for local food is creating jobs, secrets to reducing stress, a cool story about how a big company joined forces with a non-profit to provide micro loans to startup businesses that will create jobs and prosperity.  We need a little good news in the world, and you’ll find it on the Magic Meals news feed.

Marley loves her dance class.  She’s learning both a tap and a ballet routine.  Who knew that a three year old would need two costumes and two pairs of shoes for dance class, but it’s worth it.  She’s practicing all the time, and you can see the excitement in her eyes as she manages to successfully complete a new move.

Evander is making sketches of things he wants to build when he gets a few more skills of his own.  Yesterday he took apart a broken alarm clock and salvaged all of the switches and other bits.  He’s not sure what we’ll use them for, but he’s starting to get quite the collection of spare parts.  He continues to learn about electronic circuits with the kit that Dad got him for Christmas.  If you have a little one with a passion for invention, Stacey & Evander recommend this kit, Snap Circuits SC-300.

We’ll visit with you all next week,

Stacey, Angela, Evander & Marley

The Magic Meals Team

We had a range of family in town at various times in the last week, as well as traveled in the area to see more family.  The kids are so blessed to be surrounded by family, and a little confused that Christmas isn’t actually a month long event.   We wouldn’t change a thing, but it’s nice to get back to work so we can get some rest.

Each year Stacey chooses not to make New Year’s resolutions, instead he updates his list of ‘life goals’.  This year he discovered that he’s been calling his list by the wrong name all this time; apparently it’s becoming quite vogue to make a “Bucket List”.   Stacey’s list ranges from the smallest goals to the most grand.  Each year it’s limited to one page and some things have been there for years, and others come and go as his priorities grow and change.  Some goals he shares with everyone, others he keeps private.  His list includes: writing a cook book for those on a limited budget, deer hunting, fixing up an old pickup, building a playhouse with the kids, and more.  

We’d love to hear what some of the items on your “Bucket List” are, so if you have a moment go to the Magic Meals page on Facebook and share some of your Bucket List items, you just might inspire someone else.

If one of your goals is to finally reach a healthier weight, keep in mind that Magic Meals Home Delivery has helped countless people in the Topeka and Lawrence area achieve their goals.  Our affordable, prepared weight loss meals make eating healthy not only simpler, but tasty and satisfying as well. 

Sincerely,

Angela, Stacey, Evander & Marley Davis

The Magic Meals Team

• Current menu (below) is available for Free Greater Topeka and Lawrence Delivery.  Delivery to surrounding communities available for a nominal delivery fee.  See Service Area for details.
• All items on this menu are GLUTEN FREE, except #8 (wraps) and Breakfast Sandwiches in #10.
• Orders Due by 5pm, Monday, Feb 20.  Orders from this menu will be ready for delivery Monday, Feb 27.

1. Salisbury Beef: Ground Beef Patties topped with a rich Mushroom Sauce, with side dishes as appropriate to your chosen menu plan.
2. Chicken Dijonnaise:  Chicken Breasts topped with an Herb and White Wine Dijon Cream Sauce, with side dishes as appropriate to your chosen menu plan.
3. Black Bean Tamale Pie:  Seasoned Black Beans with Green Bell Peppers, Onions, Tomato Sauce, Corn and Cheddar Cheese topped with a Cornmeal Crust, with side dishes as appropriate to your chosen menu plan. (Vegetarian.)
4. Fish in Parmesan Herb Breading: Baked Fish coated with Parmesan and Italian Herb Bread Crumbs, with side dishes as appropriate to your chosen menu plan.
5. Barbeque Short Ribs:  Slow-cooked Pork Ribs in a mild Barbeque Sauce, with side dishes as appropriate to your chosen menu plan.
6. Italian Skillet Chicken: Chicken Strips simmered in Tomato Sauce with Onions, Garlic and fresh Basil served over Whole Grain Penne Pasta, with side dishes as appropriate to your chosen menu plan.  (Available in a vegetarian version.)
7. Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole: Unique, Creamy Egg Noodles with Turkey, Red Bell Pepper and Poppyseed, with side dishes as appropriate to your chosen menu plan. (Available in a vegetarian version.)
8. Creamy Beef Wrap:  Tender shredded Beef with Brown Rice, Spinach, Mushrooms and Swiss cheese, rolled in a Whole Wheat Tortilla spread with a light, creamy Horseradish spread. (Available in a vegetarian version.)
9. Garden Vegetable Soup:  Light Broth and Herb Soup with Red Lentils, Rice, Tomatoes, Carrots, Green Bell Peppers, Garbanzo Beans, Cabbage and Zucchini, with side dishes as appropriate to your chosen menu plan. (Vegetarian.)
10. Breakfasts for Weight Loss Plans:  10-Grain Blueberry Muffins and/or Breakfast Sausage Goulash.  Either breakfast item can also be substituted for an entrée in any Home-Style or Grab and Go Package.

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We’ll have a new menu coming out next week to kick off the new year.

If one of your new years resolutions is going to be to lose some weight, keep Magic Meals Home Delivery in mind as tool to help you succeed in reaching your weight-loss goals.  Our healthy and tasty low-calorie meals can make dieting a good thing instead of a burden.  At Magic Meals we believe most diets fail because people don’t have have food they like available when they need it.  So we design our lite meals to be tasty, easy, quick, and healthy.  If your following a specific diet, we can help too.  Just give Magic Meals the details of your diet plan and we’ll prepare your diet lite meals so you’ll not have to add shopping and cooking to your busy days.  Then we’ll deliver those meals right to your kitchen in the Topeka, Lawrence, and NE Kansas area.  We’ve worked with people following Weight Watchers, HCG, Atkins, Volumetrics, Mediterranean Diet, Low Carb, Low Fat, and many other diet plans.  Magic Meals delivered diet meals makes weight loss easier for dieters in Topeka, Lawrence, and NE Kansas.  We can help you too.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Joyous Holidays to you and yours!  Below is a link to our Christmas Year in Review Video.

Magic Meals Christmas Video

Now we’re back to work!

We’ve started ordering seeds for next year’s garden.  Stacey ordered stevia seeds to try for the first time.  Stevia is a natural sweetener that we often use in our meals as a complete or partial sugar replacement.  We’ll start some seeds inside next month and let you know how it goes.  Last year we didn’t get our inside seeds started early enough, so this year we’ve vowed to start earlier.  The way things go, we’ll probably have a late spring and be transplanting 3 foot tomato plants.  Oh well.

As you place your order this week, remember that we are taking next week off as well; so this is the last Magic Meals menu for 2011.  We’re not vacationing this time; we just know from previous experience that both we and our clients are so busy with family and friends that we’ll not have many orders that week.  So instead we’ll just try to catch up on sleep we missed during our real vacation.

You still have time to order Magic Meals Gift Certificates!

You will get an email next week, though it won’t have a menu.  Stacey is working hard on a digital Christmas card for all of you, so be sure to watch for it.

Sincerely,

Angela, Stacey, Evander & Marley Davis

The Magic Meals Team

The menu in this email is for meals to be delivered on Monday December 19^th.  This is also the menu to order Christmas Meals!   After this menu, you will get just one more menu before the end of the year.   So be sure to plan ahead, and make sure you have your yummy healthy Magic Meals on hand for the coming weeks.

Christmas Meals!

We are offering a Honey & Apricot Glazed Ham with sides in our regular individual meal trays.  We are also offering an array of side-dishes in family size pans for those of you who want to cook your own ham or turkey but would like some help with the rest of the meal. 

For larger orders, call or email for a price.  We’d love to help make your holiday easier!

Our family is taking this week off.  We will not be answering the phone or emails until next Monday (12/12).  Feel free to leave us a phone message or send us an email before then, but know we’ll not get back to you until Monday.  If we get a message or email from you, we promise that we will make sure to save you a spot in this cook week.

Sincerely,

Angela, Stacey, Evander & Marley Davis

The Magic Meals Team