While relaxing in the Outer Banks, N.C. yesterday, I had the time to thoroughly read the newspaper for once! I came across an article which was highly disturbing regarding prepackaged cookie dough and e-coli. A Las Vegas woman is mute, her kidney and liver have shut down as well as many other life threatening symptoms, after eating several spoonfuls of Nestle's cookie dough. She is one of 80 people in 30 states to be sickened by the very deadly bacteria, E.coli 0157.H7.

I have never bought cookie dough, as I make my own with all organic ingredients, but this is just another example of how the food industry is unable to protect consumers. It is also another reason why people should be extremely careful when they buy food, especially processed foods. They should be avoided at all costs.

Food borne illnesses affect millions of Americans each year. It is enough to make one want to grown their own vegetables and fruits, and at the very least ensure you know where your food is coming from. Spend the extra cents and dollars to buy only the freshest, locally-grown and if possible, organic foods. You just might be saving your life!

I have become wary to eating out anymore, and when I do, am extremely careful of where I eat and what I eat. It is just not worth the risk of becoming ill. Of course, eating at home is my favourite option because I know the food I buy is fresh and I am extremely cautious in how I wash vegetables, fruits and meats. Also, the flavour I can achieve with fresh garden herbs is far superior than what I am normally served while dining out, with a couple of exceptions!

I did eat a local bistro last week, Croc's 19th Street Bistro. I know the owner and I asked where the chicken comes from. I did receive a very lovely Middle Eastern wrap with lots of fresh lettuce and free-range chicken and I could taste the goodness of it. However, with more frequency, I choose not to go out because I cannot trust what I am eating will not make me become ill. I think diners should take the time to ask where their food comes from when dining out! If more people adopted this prinipal, trust me restaurant owners will start adapting new standards!

Just be careful about what you eat and take the time to chew your food over and over. Cayce advised that this is a great way to alkaline your body! And, when your body is alkaline and not acid, your body will not become ill.

Local Farm Markets

This past Saturday, I had my first book signing at the Old Beach Farm Market in Virginia Beach, VA. What a lovely market it is! Only local food vendors and no nick knacks.

The people beside us have a seafood business - LG’s Happy Clam, which is run by Laura Gray Dodson, a middle schooler at Broadwater Academy on the Eastern Shore. Her charming mum, Keith is Laura Gray’s driver and helps her daughter sell clams at the market. Her father Chip Dodson and her older brother Zach dig clams from their beds in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Laura, Keith and Chip were out bright and early selling clams, tuna, crab, mahi and North Carolina shrimp. It was so encouraging to see a family doing something together and to watch the interaction between Laura and her customers.

So many young people have no idea where their food comes from, but this young lady looked the perfect example of vitality and great health - very slim and alert! I was also impressed when they bought my book and Laura was leafing through it and seemed very interested in the various recipes and the health information inside. When I brought out samples of black bean and feta cheese dips, she was totally into them and did not say something along the lines of I don't like that.....impressive! She actually eats like a human being and no junk food in their lives. I cooked the clams we bought for dinner and I must say they were OUTSTANDING! The flavor was absolutely delightful and not one clam failed to open! There is nothing quite like eating a clam harvested that same day!

There were a lot of people walking through the market, arriving on their bikes and carrying their own bags to fill with the market's goodies! Organic herbs, organic meat, fish, organic veggies and not, freshly baked breads and muffins; home made lemonade and ice tea. I did not get to visit all of the stands as I was manning my post to talk with people about my book, but I loved being a part of this wonderful endeavor that Laura Wood Habr and her husband, Kal, owner of Croc's 19th Street Bistro have undertaken. It is totally eco-friendly and was just recently rated 6 in America for a market of its size!!!

My book sold very well, considering I am an unknown author. I was very pleased with the interest shown. So many folks had no idea that Edgar Cayce gave many readings on diet and nutrition. People are drawn to the cover of the book, which I truly love as well.

I do wish every person would support their local farms and markets and go out in force to buy locally-grown produce and products they offer. Not only is it healthier but it is a tremendous way to save money. A recent study was undertaken in Virginia and states that if every household spent just $10. a week on local foods, $384.2 million dollars could be generated annually in southeast Virginia and $1.65 billion statewide.

It is a beautiful day in Virginia and time for me to take a drive to the farms and buy tonight's vegetables to go with the shrimp that will come out of the freezer later today bought from the Dodson family!