A Room with a View....

Here is the view outside of the Recca home today! I couldn't resist taking a few pictures and posting them on our blog. If this isn't a reason to move to North Caroina -- I don't know what is!! Having lived in Florida for many, many years where things are GREEN all year long, day after day, year after year -- we all get excited when the leaves start changing and the temperature starts dropping because that means that Blaise will be igniting the fire pit, I will be firing up both ovens for baking, and we all will be decorating the house for the holidays. North Carolinians embrace the onset of fall and all through the neighborhoods on any given day you smell the sweet smell of burning wood in firepits -- burnining leaves -- and burning logs in fireplaces.

HELLO - And Welcome to the Carolina Pines Realty Blog!

We are so glad you are here!
We have created this blog especially for people like YOU. Why should you move to North Carolina???? That's easy - just click on a few of the links over on the right, or explore the information below. Here you will find a plethera of information that will touch on and hopefully answer many of the questions that folks may have who are considering the possibility of relocating to our beautiful State. For example, on the right you will find links to some of our favorite day and weekend trips -- all destinations of which are little more than a 2 - 5 hour drive. Also, down below you will find information and articles on employment, education and housing -- as well as radom informational and fun facts and pictures -- just to help you get acquainted with the area. In no time at all you will see just why the Raleigh area of North Caorlina is the perfect place to live, work and play! And, once your finished here -- visit our http://carolinapinesrealty.com/ website. There you will find all kinds of practical information such as pictures, prices and details of all of the homes listed in our Multiple Listing Service as well as information on school districts, subdivisions, communities and more. So sit back, relax and explore all of the wonderful opportunities that await you in the Raleigh, Wake Forest, Cary, Research Triangle Park, Rollesville, Wake, Johnston and Franklin County areas area of beautiful North Carolina!!

Thanksgiving Fruit Cake Recipe to Die For.....

This week I deviated a bit from my usual Carolina Pines Realty Newsletter contents and instead of writing about Real Estate News, I decided to share one of my favorite recipes instead. So, if you didn't get a copy of our newsletter -- here's the recipe in its entirety:

Alton Brown's (I wish I could say it was my great, great grandma's -- but it's NOT!)
Free Range Fruit Cake

1 cup golden raisins - 1/2 cup sun dried cranberries - 1/2 cup sun dried blueberries -1/2 cup sun dried cherries -1/2 cup dried apricots- chopped Zest of one lemon -chopped coarsely Zest of one orange- chopped coarsely 1/4 cup candied ginger- chopped 1 cup gold rum - 1 cup sugar - 5 ounces unsalted butter (1 1/4 sticks) - 1 cup unfiltered apple juice - 4 whole cloves-, ground 6 allspice berries -ground 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon - 1 teaspoon ground ginger - 1 and 3/4 cups all purpose flour - 1 1/2 teaspoons salt - 1 teaspoon baking soda - 1 teaspoon baking powder - 2 eggs - 1/4 to 1/2 cup toasted pecans -, broken Brandy for basting and/or spritzing

Combine dried fruits, candied ginger and both zests. Add rum and macerate overnight, or microwave for 5 minutes to re-hydrate fruit. Place fruit and liquid in a non-reactive pot with the sugar, butter, apple juice and spices. Bring mixture to a boil stirring often, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for at least 15 minutes. (Batter can be completed up to this point, then covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before completing cake.) Heat oven to 325 degrees. Combine dry ingredients and sift into fruit mixture. Quickly bring batter together with a large wooden spoon, then stir in eggs one at a time until completely integrated, then fold in nuts. Spoon into a 10-inch non-stick loaf pan and bake for 1 hour. Check for doneness by inserting toothpick into the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean, it's done. If not, bake another 10 minutes, and check again. Remove cake from oven and place on cooling rack or trivet. Baste or spritz top with brandy and allow to cool completely before turning out from pan. When cake is completely cooled, seal in a tight sealing, food safe container. Every 2 to 3 days, feel the cake and if dry, spritz with brandy. The cake's flavor will enhance considerably over the next two weeks. If you decide to give the cake as a gift, be sure to tell the recipient that they are very lucky indeed.

Due to the alcohol content of this delicious little number - be sure to keep AWAY from open flames (and the kids!!!) Enjoy - and let me know if you try it and how you liked it!