Hurry! The Greater Cincinnati Originals   are offering their  deals on dining certificates this morning. They sell out quickly, so if your’re looking for $50 gift certificates for just $37.50, do it righ now! You’ll find gift certificates from Daveed’s, Bella Luna, Brown Dog Cafe, Jag’s Steak and Seafood and Mesh, just to name a few. The gift certificate sale is one of those wonderful win/win situations- you get a great deal on dining out while supporting your neighbors and their locally owned restaurants. Eat Local. Support Local. We all benefit!

The variations here are limitless. Top these little potatoes with chili, caviar, taco meat, shredded chicken, grilled vegetables, chutney…the list goes on. I baked the shells the night before then reheated them gently before topping with cheese and broiling. I prefer them warm but room temperature works, too. Use more- or less- cheese and toppings, just make sure to keep them finely chopped, in keeping with the small scale of the  potatoes.

Loaded Mini Baked Potato Skins
Makes 48 pieces

24 small (uniformly sized) redskin potatoes, pierced a couple times with a fork
Olive oil or olive oil spray [Read more →]

If you’re stuck inside today due to the nasty winter weather, you might find yourself doing some online shopping.  Make sure to check out  CurrentCodes.com  where you’ll find  promotion codes for lots of websites.

Stay warm!

Amy

Do you find the nutrition information on packaging hard to decipher? Here’s a helpful link to help you understand food labels- and make smart choices.

Basic Compound Butter
Butter, softened
Flavoring of choice
Salt and Pepper

Place softened butter in the bowl of a food processor; pulse several times.  Add flavorings; pulse to combine. Season with salt and pepper.  Spoon a row of butter on a sheet of plastic wrap or parchment paper and roll up. Refrigerate or freeze until needed.

Flavor Ideas

Lemon Dill (used in class)
Saffron-Chive
Roasted Garlic-Basil
Lime-Ginger
Lime-Jalapeno/Chipotle-Cilantro
Orange-Dill
Orange-Fennel-Chive
Tarragon-Grapefruit
Sun Dried Tomato & Herb
Lemon with-Dill/Thyme/Tarragon/Basil/Chive or Caper
Black Olive-Basil
Spicy Roasted Red Pepper

Pam is the monthly food columnist for USA Weekend and Better Homes and Gardens. She is author of five books—CookSmart, as well as Julia Child award winning, The Perfect Recipe, and James Beard Award nominees, How to Cook Without a Book and Perfect Recipes for Having People Over. The Perfect Recipe for Losing Weight and Eating Great is her latest.

I’ve admired Pam’s work for years and have been impressed at her recent transformation. She finally tired of yo-yo dieting and figured out how to change her life. Three years ago Pam lost 40 pounds. More to the point, she’s kept it off. To lose weight and maintain it, she had to find a way to shave calories from her diet, without much compromise. Like everyone else, she wanted her meals fast, foolproof, flavorful and fun.

Her tip of using evaporated milk in place of heavy cream  in Fettuccine Alfredo is a great one. With the exception of pan sauces, Pam says you can use it in almost all recipes that call for cream (of course you can’t whip it like cream). Evaporated milk comes in a 2% version, too, for even greater calorie savings.

Do you have clever ways to save money? I’m looking for your ideas to share with Amy’s Table listeners.

Here’s a site I stumbled upon that offers up some interesting ideas and a 31 day -by -day plan to fix your finances. Check out thesimpledollar.com and see what you think.

While you need a stronger strategy than hope of a windfall, check out unclaimed.org to see if you or your family has unclaimed money. My husband and brother in law did! So did some of my sister’s friends.

And while it’s primarily a diet and fitness site, check out Sparkpeople.com  for good budget information, plus downloadable forms you can use to get started.

Here’s wishing you good luck- and good fortune!

Amy

Michael McGrath is one of the world s leading experts on decision-making. The author of five books, he has applied his decision-making skills to business and was featured in Forbes Magazine for his CEO decision-making and turn-around skills. Michael says that every year millions of people make New Year’s Resolutions yet more than 90% are not kept. The reason, according to Michael is that we need to change our approach- instead of New Years Resolutions; we need to make New Year’s decisions.

10 New Year’s decisions that Michael McGrath says are life-shaping:

1. Decide to make yourself a budget
By making and living within a budget, you will regain control of your financial life – and feel better about yourself. It will guide your spending decisions, making it easier and less frustrating to decide how to spend money throughout the year. You don’t need to make all these decisions on New Years; simply make the decision to do a budget and live within your means, and then set yourself a deadline to make your budget.
2. Decide to reduce your debt.
If you are like millions of Americans, you have too much debt – credit cards, mortgages and school loans – and now is the time to reduce that burden. Make a New Year’s decision to reduce your debt during 2009. Then set a deadline to come up with a specific plan. Make it part of your budget decision. Don’t you feel better already knowing that you will end 2009 with less debt than you started with?
3. Decide to change your job or even your career.
If you are not happy with your job or career, you can decide to start the decision process to change jobs. Make the decision to look at new possibilities and start applying for new jobs. Set a time frame for yourself: “Over the next three months (or starting in June), I’m going to look for a new job.” This may be a difficult time to get a new job, but you won’t find one if you don’t decide to look.
4. Decide how to allocate your time next year.
Budgeting your time is just like, or maybe even more important, than budgeting your money. You do this by making decisions on how to allocate your time: to work, to family, to friends, to maintaining your household, to entertainment, to social activities, etc. Your New Year’s decision is to allocate your time better in 2009, so don’t you feel better already! Then work on it over the next few weeks.
5. Decide to improve your relationships next year.
Many people are unhappy about their relationships, but seem to go on without changing them – just like the frog in boiling water. You can make a New Year’s decision to improve your relationships, and then set yourself some deadlines to make specific decisions to make that happen. Be positive: make the decision now to improve your relationships for 2009
6. Decide to make some major, maybe even life-changing, decisions in 2009.
You may have major decisions like [Read more →]

Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
Serves 4-6

1/2 cup chicken broth
3 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
Peanut oil as needed
6 green onions, chopped, some reserved for garnish
1 small onion, cut into 8 wedges
1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
1 small carrot, peeled and sliced diagonally
1 cup mushrooms , sliced
1 cup fresh or frozen snow peas
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken, cut into bite-size pieces
1/3 cup cashews
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Hot cooked rice as an accompaniment

In a small bowl combine the broth, oyster sauce, cornstarch, honey, soy sauce and rice wine vinegar; set aside. Heat about 1 tablespoon oil in a wok over medium-high heat. Add most of the green onions, reserving some for garnish, and the onion wedges; stir-fry 1 minute. Add bell pepper and carrot; stir-fry 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and snowpeas; stir-fry 2 minutes. Remove vegetable mixture from pan. Keep warm. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the wok; add chicken; stir-fry 5 minutes. Add broth mixture, vegetable mixture, cashews, and crushed red pepper flakes; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute or until thick. Serve over rice; garnish with remaining green onions.

Potstickers
Makes about 80

2/3 pound ground pork
1 cup minced cabbage [Read more →]

If you like  “Dancing with The Stars”, here’s an event you’ll love.  

Doreen Beatrice, professional Ballroom Dancer and Director of the Step-N-Out Dance Studio in Covington is producing the second annual Winter Gala Dance Show. You’ll see the top professional ballroom dancers in the Tri-State as well as amateurs performing your favorite dances. Proceeds from the show benefit the Farris Educational Programs at The Carnegie for the advancement of studies in the visual and performing arts.

When: Sunday January 25th at The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1028 Scott Boulevard Covington, KY 41011. P,  

Time: 3:30 p.m.

Tickets $15 on sale now at www.thecarnegie.com