Creations Creates!
This past fall I had the pleasure of attending the unveiling of the new Flavors Magazine cover at Creations. Creations is the teaching dining room of The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Atlanta. Everything served at Creations is prepared by upper-level students under the supervision of expert chef instructors. The wait staff are upper-level students learning dining room management with our dining room instructor.
Having kept that information in mind, I recently decided to give Creations a try and I am so glad that I did! What the dining room lacks in ambiance it makes up for with service and absolutely delicious cuisine. (There is this unspoken passion by everyone there who want your entire experience to be fantastic and leave you wanting to come back.)
To start, the homemade Flat Bread was some of the best I’ve had. This could have easily been a meal topped with just about anything. The menu is filled with wonderful Tapas which range in price from $3-$6 each. My eyes, always bigger than my stomach, were filling up just looking at all the offerings:
Caesar Salad
Romaine Lettuce, Parmesan Tuille, White Anchovy-one of the best Caesar salads I’ve had!
Grilled Cubelle Pepper (Chef’s special that evening.)
This was served with a roasted something I don’t remember, Jack Cheese and Pico de gallo-LOVED THIS!
Shrimp Meatballs
Saffron Yogurt, Gingered Cucumber “Noodles”-My first Shrimp Meatballs! I’ll be back for more!!
Roasted Winter Squash Ravioli*
Truffle-Scented Honey Broth, Ricotta, Sumac Salt-Really enjoyed the Winter Squash although I wasn’t totally hip on the lite broth. To me, this dish needed more flavor.
Duck Tacos (most popular on campus!)
Mango-ChipolteMojo, Queso Fresco-I would love to see these offered with a soft shell too.
Apple Smoked Chicken Sausage
White Cheddar Grits, Carolina Tomato Jam-If you love sausage, get these!!
For my Main course!! (Love to eat), I ordered
Panko Crusted Salmon
served over Ginger Crab Fritters and Balsamic Soy vegetables-This was light, flavorful and moist.
and yes, DESSERT!!
Banana Coconut Cream “Pie”
Banana Cream, Coconut Biscuit, Candied Macadamia-served in a Martini glass, if you love banana’s, get this!
Molten Chocolate Cake
Rum Raisin Ice Cream, Spiced Cherry Sauce-rich, decadent, and sinful. I went to confession afterwards!
There is a nice selection of wines available from a $5 House Wine (which I enjoyed) on up. I’ll be back!
Hurry though as the winter quarter is over March 12th. For more information on Creations, click HERE.
Still Hungry? Click here for my favorite Italian restaurant in Woodstock Georgia!
Seasons of Love!
Click HERE for a Band that sings of a Higher Love
Join Holly Firfer and I on opening night, Friday March 5th! Buy your tickets by clicking here.
Speaking of Love, click HERE for an unbelievable story on Love.
Ego
Click Here if you have been touched by the Divine.
I just picked up Eckhart Tolle’s book “A New Earth, Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose” and am fascinated by it. Oprah conducted her Monday Worldwide web discussions over a year ago and I caught a few of the shows. Now I am beginning to understand more and more about myself, about my ego. We all have an ego and that often takes over our desires, wants and needs. But deep within each of us is who we really are. (I could have used this book during my last job as I certainly dealt with big ego’s!)
On page eight Eckhart Tolle writes “When you recognize the unconsciousness in you, that which makes the recognition possible is the arising consciousness, is awakening. You cannot fight against the ego and win, just as you cannot fight against darkness. The light of consciousness is all that is necessary. You are the light.”
This is also another of my favorite sayings “The past has no power to stop you from being present now.” I am present now and loving every page. I also just picked up “The Power of Now” and am equally as excited about the journey that lay ahead.
Learn more about Eckhart Tolle by clicking here.
Speaking of spirituality, Click HERE to read my take on the movie Avatar
Old Navy Supermodelquin Contest!
Hi!
Please vote for TOM as a Supermodelquin in the Old Navy Contest. Simply click the picture below and you’ll be taken to the OLD NAVY contest page where you can vote for Tom! (and rate him a “10″ so he and his doggie can make it to the finals and represent!!) Thanks ya’ll. Plus, you’ll get a 15% off coupon on your entire purchase at Old Navy!
Click Photo to get to the VOTING PAGE. It’s Easy and FUN!! You will vote on the OLD NAVY PAGE once you click the picture below.
Thank You!!
Wana be in the movies, on TV? Click here to read about Casting Calls
Tax Deductions
Click HERE for more money saving Deals!
Looking for more ways to save money? Consider these deductions when preparing your taxes. You do take deductions, right?!!
* “Making Work Pay” deduction. You may have already received the $400.00 single, ($800 couple) in your paycheck. If NOT, ask your tax preparer about this deduction! (Only for salary of $75K or less a year, $150K couples or less a year.)
* “American Opportunity Tax Credit” gives you a $2,500 tax credit! (This replaces the “HOPE” credit. For single filers salary is $80K or less a year and $160K or less a year for couples.) Books, materials also included. Read more about it HERE.
* 1st Time Home Buyers Tax Credit: Gives new home buyers for first time a tax credit of up to $8,000. You must be first time buyer of home costing more than $80K. There are stipulations (as always). You must have home under contract by April 30, 2010 and closed by end of June 2010. More info click HERE.
* Mileage deduction. You already know about the deduction for miles driven for work (not the miles you use to GET to work, but miles driven for work related business.) How about miles for Medical Care? .24 cents a mile for travel for exclusive medical care–doctor, eye exam, chiropractor, dentist, etc. Any trip to a medical professional is deductible. Charity work? .14 cents a mile for travel to charities in which you volunteer your time!
* Property Taxes. Ask your tax preparer about this deduction that goes on Schedule L.
* Tax Preparation. Expenses involved with preparing your taxes are deductible! Money you paid to a tax preparer are deductible including supplies used to prepare your taxes.
* Childcare Tax. Ask your tax preparer about the Childcare Tax CREDIT. Through your employer in your FLEX account (using pre-tax dollars) you can use up to $5,000. But ask your preparer about an additional $1,000 of your own money spent outside of FLEX that could be deductible.
* New Vehicle Tax. Did you purchase a new vehicle in 2009 between mid February and end of the year? If so, you may deduct the new vehicle sales and excise tax. (Also may go on schedule L if you don’t itemize.)
* Unemployed? The money you spend looking for a job is deductible! Expenses involved in a job search including travel, preparation of a resume, long distance phone calls, stamps to mail related items and more are all deductible.
Did you know the first $2,400 of your unemployment benefits are TAX FREE?
These are just some of the many deductions you should be taking on your taxes to further save money. Also visit White House web site for more.
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