Egg Recall

The Food and Drug Administration officials have found positive samples of salmonella linked to 2 Iowa farms resulting in a massive egg recall.

Salmonella was found in chicken feed used at Wright County Egg and Hillandale Farms. More than 550 million eggs in several states have been recalled. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that there could be as many as 1,470 illnesses linked to this outbreak, that's more than previously suspected.

The eggs effected were sold under the brands: Albertson, Boomsma's, Dutch Farms, Farm Fresh, Hillandale, Kemps, Lucerne, Lund, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Shoreland, Sunshine and Trafficanda.

According to USA Today, the eggs are in cartons from plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946, with dates ranging from 136 to 225. Dates and codes can be found stamped on the end of the egg carton. The plant number begins with P, then the plant number and then the date. For example: P-1946 223 means the eggs were from plant #1946 date code 223.

If your still not sure if yours are included, take them back to the store of purchase. It would be better to air on the side of caution here. Full story.

Looking for a safe egg? Organic Valley has posted a statement that their eggs are not included in this recall and are safe for consumption.

Rain Water Collection

Concerned about droughts in the U.S.? The entire continent of Australia has been dealing with severe drought for over 10 years. Yikes. There are companies out there with solutions for our water shortage. Even if at this point you never worry that clean water will stop flowing from your tap, there are answers for saving money and just being flat out responsible for such a precious resource. Rain Catchers are what they are and they will help you do just that!

Metanoya Cafe

Those of you on the North side of Atlanta remember Metanoya Cafe in the Plum Tree Village in Roswell. Small but quaint, eclectic and filled with great food. It was a sad day when they closed...or so I thought they closed. Yesterday we were in Marietta and guess what we found! The new location for Metanoya Cafe! They've been on Sandy Plains Road in Marietta for 9 weeks and it's actually their 2nd location since leaving the Roswell area. Same eclectic feel, same great food and at lunch time it was buzzin'. Pistachio muffins, paninis, and their specialty salads were all in high demand. Congratulations Chuck and Janet on your continued success.
2595 Sandy Plains Drd. NE
Suite 101
Marietta, GA
770-977-2020

Body Fat Percentage

Those that know me, know I don't count calories or fat grams but rather focus on the quality of the food we eat. However, today I did get a # that caught my attention. My body fat percentage. WHAT? It didn't help that Jennifer Lopez with her 40 somethin' post baby self was hip hoppin' it in a video right in front of me. I was so stunned I didn't even ask the trainer what it was supposed to be. Came home, found this site and realized I got work to do and it's called exercise.

Best Bikes Around

We're all obviously in favor of alternative transportation. Bikes are usually the best option for short distances, as they tone your legs and create absolutely no harmful gases, while simultaneously getting you to your destination. I went looking for the hottest classic and custom bikes around. And these are my top picks;

Republic Dutch bikes:
( picture courtesy Republicbike.com)

Chubby's Cruisers:
( picture courtesy Chubbyscruisers.com)

Velorbis bikes:
( picture courtesy Velorbis.com)

Union County Farmers Market

The Union County Farmers Market has a new home at 148 Old Smokey Rd. in Blairsville, GA. Don't worry about the blazing summer sun or the occasional downpour, this farmers market is covered. So every Wednesday and Saturday July through October 16 they'll be there, rain or shine.
Just head North on Weaver Road off 515 (next to Home Depot). The first right off Weaver is Old Smokey. They say you can't miss it! I was in the back seat but Dad found it just fine.Local honey, pickled veggies, all natural soaps made of shea butter or goat's milk, hand woven baskets, door mats made out of recycled horse shoes, and even raw cow's milk for your pets.

My personal favorite-Logan Turnpike Mill has a stand with yummy dill roll and Ezekiel bread samples. For all you other wheat grinders out there, it's nice to have a short cut every once in awhile. Logan Turnpike offers fresh ground 3 grain pancake mix. It's a hot seller so get there early. You can also find their products at Sunrise Grocery, directly at the the mill or online.

And here's something I've never seen before, not in Buckhead, Atlanta; NYC or even Paris-Living Wreaths. Carrie Hefferen owns From Seed, Inc. and creates wreaths from seeds. These living wreaths hang on the outside of your door soaking up all that sunshine. For watering, just lay them flat, water and hang back up. With a living wreath, you always have fresh herbs at your doorstep.

What to do with all that basil? Make pesto of course!

For more information on the farmers market, visit the Union County Farmer's Market online and be sure to click the link at the top of the green bar for some delightful mountain music to put you right in the mood.....for gardening.

Basil Pesto

2 cups firmly packed fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup walnuts or pine nuts
3 Tbsp grated Parmesan
2 small cloves garlic
1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

In food processor, combine all ingredients except the oil, pulse until a thick paste forms. With processor on, add oil in a slow stream until mixture is well combined. Makes about 1 cup

Transfer to an airtight container. Here, some may suggest pressing plastic wrap directly onto the pesto to keep the basil from browning. I'm going to encourage you Everyday Organics to add a squeeze of lemon juice to this recipe and skip the plastic wrap. The lemon juice will keep the basil green.

Refrigerate up to 4 days or freeze up to 2 months. You can also divide your pesto into ice cube trays. Once frozen, transfer them to a glass jar with a good seal. Defrost a cube or two as needed and enjoy.

-Toss it in minestrone soup
-Add to marinara sauce
-Coat fish fillets with pesto, then sprinkle with crumbs and bake or broil
-Brush onto chicken breasts before roasting
-Mix with boiled new potatoes, steamed greens or sautéed zucchini

Recipe compliments of Mary Shannon, who's always cookin' up somethin' good in those North Gerogia mountains.

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Living Walls

If you're like me, you've found a fascination with the whimsical idea of 'living walls'. If you're unfamiliar with the term, feel no shame. This simply describes a wall covered in living plants, otherwise known as a vertical garden. These indoor or outdoor accessories are not just pretty. Living plant walls filter out many contaminants, help control humidity and temperature and most importantly, oxygenate the air we breathe.

Though these walls are gorgeous, the prospect of creating one yourself can be a slightly daunting task, if not seemingly impossible. There is a solution! Woolly Pockets is a brand that creates breathable plant pockets made from 100% recycled materials. You can have a single one on a table or create a plant mural by tacking them along a wall. This way, a living wall is not only possible, but also very easy.

(pictures courtesy Woollypockets.com)

Step by Step

If you're an eco-hipster, you have no doubt discovered the international phenomenon that is Etsy.com. A website so jam-packed with hand-made gorgeous goods, it's known as the artistic equivalent to Ebay. Anyway, while perusing through all the green products, I came across two lines of 100% vegan shoes called HydraHeart and The Generation. These slip on flats are super cute and come in an array of colors and styles, including bridal. Though these two brands can have similar shoes, HydraHeart is more quirky, while The Generation boasts a more chic aesthetic. And at such reasonable prices, your tiny carbon-footprint can now be beautifully clad.