Video on MN Housing Market in November

Thanks to the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors for the video update on the Minneapolis/St Paul housing market in November, 2009.

Pumpkin Roll Up

Cake

• 1 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup cooked pumpkin
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 3 eggs1/2 cup powdered sugar
• Filling1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla2 Tbl. butter
• 8 oz cream cheese

Combine cake ingredients, except powdered sugar; mix well. Cover a 12" x 15" cookie sheet with waxed paper and pour cake mix on top. Bake in preheaded oven at 375 degees for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle 1/2 cup powdered sugar onto a towel. Flip cake over onto sugared towel. Carefully remove waxed paper and roll cake up in towel. Unroll cake when cool.Mix filling ingredients until smooth. Spread evenly onto unrolled cake. Reroll. Top with sifted powdered sugar. Serve chilled.

Thanksgiving recipe: Maple Mustard Chicken with Apples

Ingredients:
20 oz pkg Gold'n'Plump Boneless Skinless chicken breasts
1 Tbl. butter or margarine
2 tsp. chopped garlic
1/4 tsp. salt and pepper
2 medium apples, pared, sliced in 1/4" wedges
2 Tbl. maple syrup
2 Tbl. honey mustard
1/4 cup chopped pecans

In 10" skillet heat butter until sizzling; stir in garlic, salt and pepper. Add chicken breasts. Cook over medium heat, turning once, until golden brown (5 to 6 minutes per side)Place apples around chicken; continue cooking until apples are soft (5 to 6 minutes). In small bowl, mix together syrup, mustard and pecans. Add to chicken breasts; stir until ingredients are coated and syrup is sizzling. Serves 4.

Homebuyer tax credits expanded

As expected, Congress and President Obama passed both an extension of the $8,000 First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit and added a REALTOR® supported $6,500 Homebuyer Credit for citizens who have lived in their home for 5 consecutive years in the past 8 years.

Passing the law is great for real estate through April 30th, 2010. It is anticipated that the Congress will not continue this program after this Extension/Expansion.

Details have been somwhat elusive - but the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors has some info:
FAQ - Homebuyer Tax Credit Changes
NAR Issue Brief

Buy a house, get a check

According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the House has decided to extend and expand the first time home buyer rebate. First time home buyers are still able to get $8,000. Now buyers who have owned their current homes at least five years would be eligible, subject to income limits, for tax credits of up to $6,500.

Here are the basic rules as stated by the Star Tribune:

Buyers who have owned their current homes at least five years would be eligible, subject to income limits, for tax credits of up to $6,500. First-time homebuyers — or people who haven't owned homes in the previous three years — could get up to $8,000. To qualify, buyers have to sign purchase agreements before May 1 and close before July 1.

For more details, you can check out the NAR Issue Brief Homebuyer Tax Credit Changes. For more help, please contact Minnesota's Buyers Real Estate Group!

Apple Cranberry Pecan Stuffing (Kraft Foods)

We wanted to share some of our favorite recipes for the holidays. We wanted to start with some that include apples. I love using apples in my recipes this time of year!

Apple Cranberry Pecan Stuffing (Kraft Foods)

• 3 cups apple juice


• 1/4 cup margarine


• 2 small apples, chopped


• 1 cup dried cranberries


• 2 pkg. (6 oz each) Stove Top Stuffing for Chicken


• 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans

Bring juice and margarine to boil in medium saucepan on high heat. Stir in apples, cranberries and stuffing mix; cover. Remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes, stir in pecans. Serves 16, 1/2 cup each.