Everyone around me is either pregnant or has a new baby so I want one (or some) too. I went for some of the feathered kind. After finding a local breeder in Pennsylvania we have come home with 2 Americaunas (blue eggs) and 3 Maran/Americauna 2nd generations (dark olive eggs).

So meet our new birds: Chef Nugget (because she sleeps on the food dish), Lady Cluck (because she sings a lot), Chicken Boo (because we have been watching “The Animaniacs”), Stretcher (because she stretches so much she even points her toes while she eats), and Sweet Pea (because she’s cute, little, and gives green eggs).

The thought appeared easily enough. I had just sat down for some sushi for lunch when I started to think how much I love sushi. I could eat it for every- ooh, I love Mexican too. Ok Mexican and Sushi for every- but French, Italian, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Mediterranean, and all the sub cultures within these broad cuisines. What if I were to eat 80 days of meals all from different regions of the Globe, never repeating a region? Could I actually do it?

I could post the recipe I made the night before up on my site for you to follow along as well. We’ll chalk the delay up to jet lag. Could I really come up with 80 different regions/dishes for dinner?

I would love to hear your suggestions for this challenge. I am going to need your help! Challenge will start 2 weeks from Sunday on March 10, 2013. And end on May 28, 2013.

I had a very hard decision to make this week. Harder than any that I have had in a long time. We had to break up with our CSA, which provided us with our meats, eggs, breads, fruits and vegetables. It was a very hard, sad day. When we signed up over a year ago now it was conveinent. My husband was working in the city so he could pick it up on the way home. Then my husband lost his job, relocated out of the city for his new job, and it became my responsibility to drive in the 45+ minute drive each way to pick up. Occasionally he would say he could do it and then get tied up at work and unable to pick up. After this last time I realized it wasn’t fair to us or to them to continue on this way.

I began researching CSA’s closer to home. None will ever hold a candle to the fondness I have for our previous one, but does anyone get over their first love. I found a farm that will hopefully fill our need. They are looking to expand what they currently provide, produce and eggs, into meat, dairy, breads, etc. Maybe I will be able to get involved more at the farm since it is closer or help them find opportunities. Who knows. Our new CSA starts in April. It delivers to our doorstep so no more worrying over who will find the time to go pick it up. And it is from a farm about 10 miles from our home so it really is more local.

Find a CSA, farm stand, farmers market, etc that works for you. There are many popping up every where. Perhaps contact an established one and see if you get a group of people signed up can you create a pick up spot more conveinent for you. Many accept SNAP so great, local food can be had. If you can’t find something now, keep checking back this is a growing movement and many more are popping up all the time.

Here are a few resources to help you find your local food:
www.LocalHarvest.org
www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml
www.csafarms.org
www.justfood.org
www.farmersmarket.com
www.localfarmmarkets.com

And there are many more specific websites by state if you google your area.

I follow a lot of food related blogs and activists, but few- very few- do I find myself reading and sharing as much as Food Renegade. Kristen Michaelis, founder of Food Renegade, has an amazing handle on what needs to be shared. She does not post “down with the man” negativity, but how to make your own positive changes in life and bringing awareness to the currently broken food system. I was so excited to learn she has a new book coming out! “Beautiful Babies” If knowing her blog posts and her social media feed wasn’t enough for me to make sure I add this book to my library she has the testiment of Joel Salatin as a forward to the book.

Beautiful Babies

“Beautiful Babies” won’t be released until next month, available for pre order from Amazon now- GO ORDER! With the pre-order purchase you receive a free online class, a $199 value! (offer available at the time of this post, see FoodRenegade.com for more info) This book is wonderful for those wanting to conceive, are pregnant, or recently had a baby. “Beautiful Babies” is also useful for anyone who wants to know more of how our body’s performance reflects the types of foods we eat.

Food Renegade has generously offered a signed copy of “Beautiful Babies” for one of you! Please enter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My talented friend over at One Little Star posted the other day her favorite Fall things. One was Cookie Butter she had gotten at Trader Joe’s. I was excited for this one because it got me thinking of a great opportunity for teacher, co-worker, neighbor gifts. I could make pretzel bites and give them with cookie dip for the holidays. But this idea did not leave my head and I started craving pretzel bites with some dip. So….