Spring Greens - What to Do With Them....

Spinach is in season RIGHT NOW and over here at the Recca House, we eat a ton of spinach as it's so easy to grow here in North Carolina.

You can only eat so many spinach salads, so what do you do with all that spinach?

An easy recipe that is as healthy as it is delicious - spaghetti with spinach. And the variations - are endless!

What You Need:

Spaghetti (I prefer to use whole grain spaghetti as it lends itself nicely to this type of dish)

At least 4 cups of fresh (baby) spinach

1 Tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Garlic Cloves (as few or as many as you like) Crushed

Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese

And here's where the fun starts. This recipe is so versatile. You can add any, all or none of the following ingredients depending on your taste:

1-3 (depending on your taste) tablespoons of capers

1-3 tablespoons of pine nuts (my favorite)

2 or 3 sliced dried red chillies or a teaspoon of red pepper flakes

1/4 Cup of Feta Cheese (this is really good)

Some crumbled bacon (I don't use Bacon Bits, I like to use fresh, cooked bacon)

1/2 Cup of sliced up chicken breast

1/2 Cup of sliced mushrooms

Really, list goes on and on. Use your imagination.

Directions:

Boil your pasta al dente. Do NOT overcook whatever you do.

Drain and Rinse

In a nice sized skillet, heat up olive oil, throw in garlic and cook it until it starts to turn light brown. When the skillet and garlic are nice and hot, throw in your chicken if you are going to use it. Let it get nice and hot. Then it's time to throw in the pasta and toss around for a few minutes - you don't want to brown the pasta but again, you want it to get nice and hot.

Then it's time to toss in whatever else you are adding - capers, peppers, etc.

and toss that around for a minute - not much more.

Finally, throw in your spinach - and toss until it wilts.

Put it in a pretty bowl (I love to use a nice white pasta bowl) and sprinkle with Parmesan. NOTE: if you use Feta cheese, I put that in BEFORE I take it out of the pan so it has a chance to soften up just a wee bit.

Time this takes to prepare - once the spaghetti is cooked - about 5 minutes. It's a beautiful and impressive dish sure to please the most discriminating palette. Great for a light dinner or a fancy lunch.

I like to serve this with some fresh semolina bread and a glass of red wine. Yumm!

Bon appetit!

P.S. I also make this exact same dish but instead of spinach, we use broccoli rabe - I like that even more. It's absolutely delicious - and oh so healthy!

BizJournal.com ranked Raleigh, NC #1 Best Place to Launch a Small Business, AND...

Counts the Raleigh-Cary market among a small group of Metropolitan Statistical
Areas that ADDED JOBS in the fourth quarter of 2008, says a study released Monday.

Bizjournals used a six-part formula to analyze the nation''s 100 largest metropolitan areas, noting population growth between 2002 and 2007, employment growth from 2003 to 2008, small-business growth from 2005 to 2006 and small-business population. Bizjournals defines a small business as any private-sector employer with 99 or fewer employees.

The country's top five rankings went to Raleigh, N.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Seattle, Wash.; Austin, Texas; and Boise, Idaho.

Not only that, Bizjournals counts the Raleigh-Cary market among an ELITE small group of Metropolitan Statistical Areas that added jobs in the fourth quarter of 2008, says a study released Monday.

The number of jobs in the Raleigh-Cary MSA, which comprises Wake, Johnston and Franklin counties, increased by 3,500 from the fourth quarter of 2007, according to a bizjournals analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Bizjournals is part of American City Business Journals, the parent company of Triangle Business Journal.

Raleigh's total of 434,100 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2008 gave the MSA a 0.8 percent gain year-over-year and a 21.6 percent gain (a whopping 77,000) job gain since 2003.

Why don't you visit our website: http://www.carolinapinesrealty.com/ where you can search our local MLS direction without passwords. Then, give us a call - let's talk about what we can do to assist you in making your dream of moving to North Carolina become a reality!

Have a great week!

Is it Spring Yet????

Well, officially - no, not yet. But with temperatures in the high 70's and 80, it sure feels like it. A week ago we had almost 5 inches of snow and temps dipped into the teens. This week - we're up to 80! I love the weather in North Carolina. Because we're the dividing line between the North and the South, when those weather systems collide - we get some really interesting results. My daffodils are blooming, the tulips are ready and my seedlings (radishes, turnips, beets, and broccoli rabe) are germinating already. So in my mind - Spring is here!

I don't know if you've noticed in your supermarket, but it also appears that Strawberry Season is Fast Approaching. While North Carolina is not an "official" US Strawberry producing state, we have our share of fresh strawberry farms and in our house - we love to take advantage of that.

Just up the street in both directions from our home – there are fresh picked strawberry stands where you can buy a bucket of strawberries for $10. It seems from April through June we always have a bucket of strawberries in our refrigerator.

We use them in protein shakes, on ice cream, in cobbler, on cheesecake, in cereal, in yogurt – I can name 100 ways we use fresh strawberries. Toward the end of the season, I always over-buy a few buckets, wash them, dry them and freeze them for future use.

Plentiful, naturally low in calorie and rich in antioxidents, strawberries are a staple here in the Recca house. So, in honor of strawberry season, here are two of my favorite strawberry recipes – one healthy, and one, well – just plain delicious!

Cathie's Spinach, Strawberry and Pecan Salad:

· 1 large bag of fresh spinach, washed and patted dry with paper towels
· 1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
· 1/2 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts or pine nuts)
· 1/2 cup mayonnaise (I use Kraft Light Mayo)
· 1/4 cup sugar (I use 2 packets of Splenda)
· 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
· kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste

Preparation:

1. Place spinach, strawberries and pecans in a large salad bowl.
2. Whisk together remaining ingredients. Pour over salad. Toss gently, but well.

NOTE: a variation from the mayonnaise dressing, I also use basalmic vinaigrette dressing with this salad - either bottled, or you can make your own.

This is a pretty spring/summer salad – great served with steak, hamburgers, or as a main lunch dish. You can add radicchio for more color.

Chocolate – Strawberry Shortcake:

This is so easy it's ridiculous – but it's a nice twist to traditional strawberry shortcake. Considering the chocolate lovers that live in this house – this one is a winner for Sunday dessert.

Ingredients:
· 2 cups all-purpose flour
- Bittersweet chocolate squares (4)
· 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
· 1/3 cup granulated sugar
· 1 Tbsp. baking powder
· 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
· 4 Tbsp. cold butter, cut into chunks
· 1 large egg
· 2/3 cup half and half or heavy cream
· 1 quart fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
· Fresh mint leaves
· 1/4 cup powdered sugar
· You can use store bought whipped cream or thawed frozen whipped topping – but I like to make my own whipped cream using heavy cream and sugar – whipped on high.

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a large bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder and salt.
3. With a pastry blender or two forks, cut in butter until crumbly.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and cream.
5. Pour cream mixture into the flour mixture, and mix with a fork until the dough just comes together. It will be sticky.
6. Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.
7. With an ice cream scoop, drop dough onto prepared cookie sheet. Flatten with your fingers to about 3/4-inch thick.
8. Bake 12-15 minutes.
9. Meanwhile, stir together strawberries and powdered sugar.
10. Melt dark chocolate or bittersweet (sweetened) squares in a metal bowl over pan
of gently boiling water.
10. To make shortcakes, place on chocolate biscuit, flat side up on a plate. Top with strawberries , fresh whipped cream, drizzle with chocolate and garnish with mint leaves.

For dozens of Southern recipes utilizing strawberries, (including the 2008 prize winner) visit the NC Strawberry Organization recipe page.

And when you finally decide that you'd like to call North Carolina "home" so you can pick your own strawberries in April (!) – give us a call at Carolina Pines Realty. Let us assist you in making your dreams of home ownership in North Carolina a reality!

Also, be sure to visit our website at http://www.carolinapinesrealty.com/ where you can search for your dream home in our local Multiple Listing Service without passwords.

Have a great week!

Why Do So Many People Still Want to Relocate to Raleigh, NC?

If you’re like most folks who are considering relocation, you’ve got a lot on your mind. Things like the current state of the housing market, employability, quality education and superior health care are but a few of the concerns that may enter into the picture.

For that reason, I am sending you a link to a great website that will provide you information on exactly what Raleigh has to offer by virtue of those very concerns, addressing topics such as Raleigh’s:

Livability
Climate
Business Opportunities
Educational Opportunities
Public Safety
Recreation
Health Care
Professional/Collegiate Sports
Cultural Opportunities
Cost of Living
Taxes

It is very important to educate yourself before deciding on whether or not relocation to Raleigh is the best things for you and your family. Follow this link to see why Raleigh is the City four YOU and YOUR family. http://www.raleigh4u.com/rising/index.html#/landing/

Let the professionals at
Carolina Pines Realty
Assist you by providing you with the information necessary
to educate and inform you so that you are best prepared to make decisions that will affect your family’s future.

Raleigh, North Carolina
A Great Place to Call Home.

Blaise & Cathie Recca

Who Wouldn't Want a $15,000 Tax Credit for Buying a Home????

Carolina Pines Realty is excited to share with you a Press Release from Senator John Isakson’s website, which describes the NEW $15,000 tax credit to individuals who purchase a home in the next year. This Amendment effects us ALL and is NOT JUST FIRST TIME BUYERS! Read on…….
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWednesday, February 4, 2009
Senate Unanimously Approves Isakson Amendment to Stimulate Housing MarketHomebuyer Tax Credit Revived Market in 1975 and Would Work Today
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate today unanimously approved an amendment by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., to stimulate the nation’s declining housing market by offering a $15,000 tax credit to individuals who purchase a home in the next year.

“It is time to fix America’s problem, not throw money at the symptoms. It is time to fix housing first. It is rare that we have a road map to success in times of difficulty, but this country has once before realized a housing crisis every bit as bad as the one we have today and economic troubles every bit as dangerous,” Isakson said. “We have a pervasive housing problem, and we have a historical precedent that works. I am proud this Senate has joined together, learned from history and repeated a method that worked by adopting this amendment.”

We are thrilled to share this information with you. You may or may not already be aware of it. Please click HERE which will take you directly to Senator Isakson’s website and explains the Isakson Amendment in greater detail. Now keep in mind - this is not finalized yet and in this uncertain economic climate - who knows how it may change. But the point is - there are steps being taken to assist hombuyers and homeowners.

If you’d like to talk about exactly what this may mean to YOU, give us a call and we’d be happy to explain it, as well as how this may effect the already in place the $7,500 tax credit.
Don't forget you can also visit our website at http://www.carolinapinesrealty.com/ and search for homes in our local MLS without passwords. Come and see what your money can buy for you here in North Carolina -- you will be AMAZED!

First Time Buyers or Anyone Who HAS NOT Owned a Home in the Last 3 Years - Read On......

GREAT NEWS FOR...

First Time Home Buyers
or Anyone Who Has NOT Owned a Home in the Last Three Years

There are TWO programs being offered RIGHT NOW to help you make your dream of owning a home become a reality:

1. The $7,500 Federal Housing Tax Credit; and
2. The USDA’s Rural Development Housing Program

Are you ready to move in to your very own home?
Then read on, as I explain the basics of these two programs:

$7,500 Tax Credit Program - Here is the “jist” of the $7,500 tax credit which applies to single taxpayers earning up to $75,000 and married couples earning up to $150,000 and who have NOT owned a home within the last three years:

• The tax credit is available for first-time home buyers only.
• The maximum credit amount is $7,500.
• The credit is available for homes purchased on or after April 9, 2008 and before
July 1, 2009.
• Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000 qualify for the full tax credit.
• The tax credit works like an interest-free loan and must be repaid over a 15-year period.

Here is a link for you to review this proposal in more depth:
http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/
and, if you have further questions, here is a link to their frequently asked questions page which is also very helpful:
http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/faq.php

Now with regard to rural development, North Carolina is lucky to have quite a few areas that qualify for USDA Rural Development Housing Program Dollars.

Did you know that USDA is accepting applications for $45.8 million in loans and grants to support rural communities and spur economic development through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program? You can look through the site, as well as search for homes that directly qualify for that program.

Here is a link to the USDA Rural Development Housing Program:
http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/

Blaise is your direct link to these two programs. Give us a call at 919-491-2885 and let him explain these programs to you in detail.

Don’t wait – you only have until July 1, 2009 to take advantage of the $7,500 tax credit.

Easy Come, Easy Go.....

It came..... it went...... but not without a whole bunch of attention. We did get our snow (almost 7 inches) and it hung around for about 3 days -- plenty of time for the Reccas, and everyone else to go outside and have some fun. Another great thing about North Carolina is - while we don't get much snow, when we do - EVERYTHING shuts down, or delays so everyone can take a deep breath and take advantage of the beauty and the opportunity to share some down time with those who matter most!