Holli Thompson

The “Just Label It- We have a right to know” Campaign has acquired 500,000 signatures in it’s petition presented to the US Government, to insure that all genetically engineered foods are labeled. The Campaign’s sponsors, including the Organic Trade Association, United Natural Foods, Organic Valley, and Earthbound Farm, filed a petition with the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) last month urging mandatory labeling of all GE (genetically engineered foods) The Campaign is seeking 1,000,000. signatures, more than any campaign in FDA history, and is hosting an event to help them achieve their goal. Interested in helping? Listen in to conference call on Thursday, January 10, at 2pm ET to find out how. Tel number :: 1-650-429-3300 Access code:: 311 670 911

New Year Resolutions were out for me this year. I had enough work, and pressure, and a to-do list a mile long. No…what I needed was some laugh time. Silly time, ridiculous time…let it all go time. I vowed to laugh more, to find something funny.. to be impulsive and silly and recognize the humor in things.. to get carried away with laughter for the pure delight of it. I needed me some FUN. How’d I do? I had a ball. I had to rearrange some things, rely on a little help to get stuff done, but I managed to break for laughter. Zooming up town for “coffee talk”, pulling over to laugh at something ridiculous, getting out of the office to do dinner with neighbors, meet the ladies for a quick lunch, laugh at my husband’s jokes, plop down on the sofa for Modern Family. Laughter’s a bonus :: it stimulates weight loss, boosts your immunity, helps you sleep better and it fights depression. It also stretches muscles, exercises your ab’s, and improves your life.. bigtime. Laughter raises your metabolism by 20%, it sends endorphins rushing, and it makes you feel good.. so good you want to laugh again…

Alice Waters, one of my all time heroes, famed chef and food activist from Berkeley, California will be visiting DC as part of an event honoring her and her new portrait being installed at the National Portrait Gallery. The event is scheduled for Friday evening, January 20. Waters is an icon in the organic foods arena, one of the leaders in the Slow Food Movement in America, and owner at Chez Panisse, her restaurant in Berkeley, CA. She is also founder of the Edible Schoolyard, as well as the School Lunch Initiative; organizations dedicated to improving food in our nations schools. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a conversation between Waters and José Andrés, chef and owner of ThinkFoodGroup, a group of restaurants featuring unique and creative dining concepts in Washington, DC. At 7 p.m. a reception will feature light fare from chefs of Washington, D.C., area chefs and restaurants that serve locally grown organic food. Restaurants being highlighted are José Andrés, Chef, Owner, ThinkFoodGroup » Cathal Armstrong, Chef, Restaurant Eve » Adam Bernbach, Mixologist, Proof and Estadio » Mike Isabella, Chef and Owner, Graffiato » Todd Gray, Chef and Founder, Equinox Restaurant » Haidar Karoum, Chef, Proof…

  Itchy arms, flaky legs? The heat’s on inside your home and office, and the resulting dry, flaky skin can really be a drag. This is one of my favorite solutions to prevent it, and keep that beautiful outer layer of yours as soft as you want it to be. Dry Body Brushing is a centuries old method of stimulating the skin with a natural bristle brush, removing dry, dead, old skin cells with it. It has the added benefits of stimulating your lymphatic system, diminishing cellulite, keeping your immunity strong and making you more resistant to colds and flu. You will need a natural bristle brush that can be found at the supermarket, health food store or pharmacy. They generally have a long handle, and look like a back brush; my favorite one has a shorter handle that makes it easier to navigate. There are connoisseurs of dry brushing who will tell you to begin at the bottom, always work towards the heart, and use small circles to remove the dead skin. I say, do what works for you. Most of us will naturally brush up our arms and up our legs; go ahead and use small circles if…

Spinach, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds are beneficial foods for their high magnesium content, a calming, essential mineral that many of us are lacking. Adding in magnesium rich foods at stressful times, like the holidays, are a wonderful way to keep your balance and maintain your calm. Turmeric spice is anti-inflammatory, and is a great addition to your spice cupboard year round. Ingredients 1 butternut squash, approximately 2 1/4 pounds 1 teaspoon celtic sea salt 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 1 teaspoon ground ginger 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil for squash, plus 2 tablespoons for dressing 1/3 cup golden raisins 1/4 cup water, boiled 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar 4 ounces (about 3 cups) spinach and other salad leaves if desired 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds, toasted or sesame seeds toasted Preparation 1. Preheat the oven to 400° F. 2. Cube the butternut squash into 1 inch cubes, or purchase already cubed. 3. Put the butternut into a bowl with the salt, spices, and 2 tablespoons oil and stir until covered, then add to baking sheet (Don’t clean the bowl yet). 3. Bake the squash for 30-40 minutes. Check to see if it is cooked through by piercing with a fork; some…

If you are going to eat meat, then let it be the best meat possible. Ayrshire Farm, in Upperville, VA offers just that. Thanksgiving and Christmas turkeys are a specialty of Ayrshire Farm, a 100% USDA Certified Organic, Certified Humane farm. Ayrshire is the picturesque and friendly home to many heritage breeds of animals who live a wonderful life, and as NY Times writer and author Michael Pollan has said, “have one bad day”. The turkeys, pigs, cows and chickens are pasture raised and live a natural life, according to the Humane certification process. Turkeys live up to 26 weeks, the full natural maturity time, compared to the factory farmed turkeys you buy at the grocery store that are pumped with hormones, antibiotics, living in cramped quarters, being fed animal by-products, and “harvested” at 16 weeks to make more money. I’ve toured Ayrshire Farm numerous times, and I’m continually impressed by the integrity, sincerity and passion involved in running this farm. It shows in every aspect of Ayrshire, from their large organic vegetable gardens to the non-profit events they host to benefit environmental and animal rescue causes. The beautiful animals graze in chemical free pastures, and are rotated to give…