ALMOST A WHITE CHRISTMAS IN CARTERET COUNTY!

WE MISSED A WHITE CHRISTMAS 'DAY' BY LESS THAN 24 HOURS! North Carolina's Coast is beautiful regardless of the time of year but a white Christmas is very rare. So rare that we who live here believe it makes us appreciate it when we do get it EVEN MORE! This blog is dedicated to the wonders of Nature and the gifts it give us on rare occasions! Enjoy the pictures! The 2011 Chocolate Festival is scheduled to begin February 4, 2011 and end at 5 p.m. on February 6, 2011. Go to: http://www.visitnc.com/events/view/33497 for details. 'An Evening Wrapped in Chocolate' kicks off the festival with a delicious dinner at Shepard's Point benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Carteret County 90-100 people, 6:30 PM Friday February 4 $32 Per Person, with a letter of gift in kind for labor and pastry donations. Seating is limited so purchase your tickets EARLY! CONTACT: Cynthia Barber 808-2286 or myself, Gena Gilbert 659-2367 Bring your Valentine to a delicious Festival Gala Dinner, live auction and silent auction for a wonderful evening of food, wine and chocolate! ARE YOU A CHOCOLATE LOVER? HERE IS A SIMPLE OLD FASHIONED CAKE & COOKED, HERSHEY CHOCOLATE ICING RECIPE! FROSTING: Cook On Double Boiler 2 Cups of Sugar 1 Small can of Pet milk ¼ Cup Hershey Cocoa 1 Stick of Butter **Pecans (chopped or whole optional-see cake recipe below) CAKE: TWO - Duncan Hines Butter Cake mixes Follow directions on cake box for each cake Grease and Flour each cake pan DO NOT add vegetable oil as directed on cake box!!! INSTEAD - Add: 1 stick melted butter per cake mix 2 Tablespoons of real vanilla per cake mix **Add chopped pecans in the cake mix OR place whole pecans on top of cake after frosting When cakes are done, place on cooling trays; cut each layer into two layers You should have 8 thin layers Drizzle the hot cooked icing on each layer, one at a time Drizzle left over icing over the top of the cake and let it run down the sides DELISH!!!! WE WISH A HAPPY, SAFE & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE! Gena & Harold Gilbert "Your Coastal Sales Team" since 1994

CHRISTMAS ON THE CRYSTAL COAST

OUR YOUNGEST GRANDSON JUST CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THESE HUGE CANDY CANES ARE FOR HIM! How will he ever eat them all by Christmas? Guess he will just have to share them with his brother and sister and all of his cousins! What a wonderful season Christmas can be. It is so full of wonder and love for one another and people sharing from their hearts to help others. Why can't the spirit of Christmas be experienced each and every day?! CLAWSON'S PUB & RESTAURANT IN BEAUFORT, NC hosted its 12th Annual Sing Along! Free fun, great music for the holidays! What a great way to celebrate the season! CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ARE SHINING REFLECTIONS OF LOVE AND FELLOWSHIP! The pictures above are very rare for our area of the Crystal Coast of NC and very, very unlikely to happen at Christmas. This snow storm came the day 'after' Christmas 2010. They make wonderful photos to 'edit' for the holidays and to share all family and friends. A large Sago Palm covered with snow is definitely a unique sight in Carteret County, NC. With the unusually frigid temperatures we are recently experiencing, it is also a sight locals do not like to see often. Our lowest temperatures normally do not reach below the 40's day or night more than a few days a year. It is not uncommon to be out on the many waterways during every month of the year, especially for our local fishermen both commercial and personal. The shrimp boats are still going out to sea, the game fishermen are still catching various types of fish and our local seafood markets still have fresh fish, shrimp, oysters and delicious crab cakes! And speaking of crab cakes, here is a great recipe for them! "DELICIOUS FRIED CRAB CAKES" 2 lbs. lump crab meat (adding more crab meat does make it better!) 2 egg yolk 2 tsp. salt Large dash of coarsely ground black pepper 2 tsp. dry mustard 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 2 tbsp. mayonnaise 1 tbsp. chopped parsley 1/2 tsp. paprika 1.5 tbsp. melted butter Bread crumbs for coating cakes (Old Bay or Italian are best) Vegetable oil for frying Toss crab meat lightly and all other ingredients (except bread crumbs) in order listed. When well-blended, shape into cakes. Roll each cake in bread crumbs until coated on all sides. Heat oil in skillet to high. Fry crab cakes quickly in hot oil. Fry until golden brown. Be very careful to watch over while frying not to over cook crab cakes. Yield 6-10 servings depending on size of cakes.

INTEREST RATES FOR HOME MORTGAGES are rising! Rate sheets came in today (Dec. 28, 2010) at 4.75% from one lender. The older generation remembers interest rates as high as 12-18%. What are we thinking today? How high do the rates have to go before action is taken? Think about that! There are many true 'deals' on the real estate market today and those who are taking action are enjoying the benefits. For example: In Beaufort, NC; 1311 Live Oak St, 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, over 2500 heated square feet of living space, approximately .45 acre in the city limits of Beaufort, NC is now being offered as a 'Short Sale' property at an asking price of $219,900 with lender's approval. There are also several bank owned properties in our area which could possibly sell for 60-65% of their actual real market value. Remember what our parents taught us when they said 'Don't ask and you will most likely not get an answer'? An experienced Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) is more valuable to buyers today than ever! Let Gena or Harold at NC COASTAL PROPERTIES Gena Gilbert Real Estate assist with your purchase or refer you to an experienced ABR in your area. Don't regret having to say 'I wish I had purchased my home or water front property while the market was SO good back in 2010-2011!' Do you need assistance selling the house you currently own? We can also refer you to an experienced Sellers Representative Specialist (SRS) in your area. Our sincere wish for the New Year is for all to learn the tough lessons of life we have had to learn for the past two or three years. Make 2011 the BEST year of your life! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

HARD TO BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CRYSTAL COAST OF NC LAST YEAR - BUT IT DID! What is it about snow and Christmas? It looks so cold yet it is so beautiful! Well, unless the weather changes very dramatically within the next twenty days around here The Crystal Coast will not see anything like this this year. Instead, we see bright sun shiny days and above average warm temperatures thus far. SHOWING YOUR HOUSE DURING THE HOLIDAYS If your home is on the market during the holidays be sure to keep the clutter in tow and the decorations light and simple. Make your home a warm, inviting place to be that everyone will enjoy. If you are doing some holiday baking let the aroma fill the house, especially if it is going to be shown to a prospective buyer. Leave some of those home baked cookies out with a little holiday note that says 'Please have a cookie on us'. The buyer will definitely stick around a little longer and may see just the right thing about your house that seals the deal. Here is a HOLIDAY RECIPE to share that is always a winner! “MELT IN YOUR MOUTH” COCONUT ICEBOX CAKE Icing: Blend and refrigerate overnight 18 oz frozen or fresh coconut 2 cups sour cream Cake: Mix Duncan Hines Butter Cake Mix with a whole stick of real butter Cut into four (4) layers Spread Icing between each layer and all over the outside Cover and refrigerate four (4) days before eating KEEP REFRIGERATED! AND ENJOY! HERE IS A BONUS RECIPE AS OUR CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO YOU! Aunt Mildred’s Praline Cookies 1 c butter (2 sticks) 1 c chopped pecans 1 c brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla 1-1 ½ sleeves graham crackers Preheat oven to 350. Combine butter, pecans, brown sugar and vanilla in saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes. Place broken (at seams) graham crackers in a well-greased (or sprayed) 11 x 15 inch pan with edges (jelly roll type). Pour boiled mixture over top of crackers—don’t worry if it doesn’t spread over all completely. Place pan in oven and bake for 8 minutes. Remove from pan onto wax paper before they cool. Merry Christmas! I AM IN THE MOOD TO BAKE TODAY. HERE IS ONE MORE GREAT RECIPE! RECIPES: BUTTERMILK PIE! AWESOME!!! DON'T KNOCK IT TIL YOU TRY IT! 2 cups sugar 1 TB flour 3 eggs 1.5 Tsp real vanilla 1 stick of melted butter 3/4 cup buttermilk Dash of salt 2 'Deep dish' graham cracker pie shells Cream sugar and flour together; then add the rest of the ingredients Pour into pie shells Bake at 275 degrees 10 minutes; 300 degrees for 50 minutes REAL ESTATE TIPS: Today's real estate market offers the BEST deals, the BEST savings and GREAT interest rates! 1239 Nine Foot Road, Newport, NC 28570 MLS #10-4919 Asking Price: $135,000 Well maintained home with hardwood and ceramic tile in main areas. Priced below market for quick sale. Located approximately 10 miles from MCAS Cherry Point. This is a must see at this price will not last long. Being marketed as a Short Sale requiring lender approval. 103 Coachman Lane, Newport, NC 28570 MLS #10-4095 Asking Price: $174,994 This beautiful 2 story home is located in the heart of Newport on a Corner lot, just minutes away from the beach and Cherry Point. It has 3 Bedrooms, 2 1/2 Baths, and a bonus room which could be used as a 4th bedroom. There is a formal dining room, big living area, and large kitchen with breakfast area. Out Back is a nice 10X20 Deck and 9X17 Pool, all enclosed with wood privacy fencing. 191 Cedar Swamp Rd, Newport, NC 28570 MLS #10-3967 Asking Price: $184,900 Croatan School District) Want Elbow Room? This 4.7 acre property offers you privacy and space for Gardens, Horses,or farm animals. Major updating-Ceramic Master Bath, Covered Front Porch & Rear Deck. New Sunroom. approx 1/2 acreage cleared-Landscaped around home. Lrg Living Room w/Beautiful Wood Mantle Fireplace(Gas). Detached Garage & Carport & Storage. Must see to appreciate the Owner's Updating! CALL OR EMAIL GENA OR HAROLD TODAY AND ALLOW US THE CHANCE TO SHOW YOU TRUE PROFESSIONALISM AND EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF REAL ESTATE!