Ingredients

• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
• 3/4 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 (6 ounce) cans tomato paste
• 2 (6.5 ounce) cans canned tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 12 lasagna noodles
• 16 ounces ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 pound mozzarella cheese, sliced
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven, cook sausage, ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, fennel seeds, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley. Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in boiling water for 8 to 10 minutes. Drain noodles, and rinse with cold water. In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, remaining parsley, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
4. To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture. Top with a third of mozzarella cheese slices. Spoon 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil: to prevent sticking, either spray foil with cooking spray, or make sure the foil does not touch the cheese.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake an additional 25 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Source: AllRecipes

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — The recent run-up in gas prices is taking a big bite out of most consumers’ budgets. But there are ways to save at the pump that don’t involve driving less or buying a more fuel-efficient car.

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Your home needs attention after the Winter, as you prepare for the beauty of Spring. Here are 10 Home Maintenance Tips for Spring to help you get started.

1.Check for loose or leaky gutters.

Improper drainage can lead to water build-up. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation and are clear and free of debris.

2. Fill in low spots in the yard.

Low areas in the yard or next to the foundation should be filled with compacted soil. Spring rains can cause yard flooding, which can lead to foundation flooding and damage. 

3. Examine roof.

See if any shingles were lost or damaged during the winter. Also make sure the flashing around plumbing vents, skylights and chimneys need to be checked and repaired by a qualified roofer.

4. Service a/c.

Have a qualified heating and cooling contractor clean and service the outside unit of the air conditioning system. Clean coils operate more efficiently, and an annual service call will keep the system working at peak performance levels. Change interior filters on a regular basis.

5. Replace exterior lightbulbs.

Check around your home to make sure all exterior lightbulbs are in working order, and are the correct wattage.

6. Set your watering timer.

Set the timer for your watering device for your lawn if you have one. Make sure it’s set to the times you are authorized to water in your area.

7. Check all fire alarms & carbon monoxide alarms.

Make sure fire alarms are in working order, and check the battery to make sure you are protected.

8. Replace the filter in your fridge.

Replace the water filter in your fridge to ensure fresh water without contamination for the rest of the year.

9. Check your fence for weak spots.

If you have a wood fence, nail any loose planks back into place. Check all other fence-types and get professional help if needed.

10. Clean flower beds.

Now is the time to clear winter debris (if any) from flower beds. Trim trees and prune shrubs.

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At a time when virtually all things real estate have been distressed, there’s one corner of the sector that has been fruitful for investors. Many factors working against the residential housing market have actually helped returns on real estate investment trusts.

REITs — which invest in commercial properties from office buildings to shopping malls, as well as rental apartments — have outperformed the S&P 500 since the financial crisis. Total returns for REITs were 28% in both 2009 and 2010, besting the S&P 500, which returned 23% and 15%, respectively, according to the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, the industry trade organization. Though the gains in REITs are still 20.84% below their February 2007 peak, their performance is impressive.

Indeed, a few factors make REITs especially attractive, even with the fragile economic recovery. For one, prices for REITs don’t necessarily move in tandem with the broader stock market. They tend to rise and fall with the commercial property market. And because a REIT (by law) must distribute at least 90% of its income to shareholders, the investments pay relatively high dividends.

The best performers are tied to the residential rental market, such as Campus Crest Communities (CCG) and Camden Property Trust (CPT). In 2010, investments in apartment complexes led gains in the overall REIT market with total returns at 47%, followed by lodging and resorts at nearly 43%, free-standing stores at about 37% and regional shopping malls at about 36% (see also The American mall: Back from the dead). 

The returns from apartment REITs are due in large part to a housing market still in disarray — and they might just continue being a wise investment, given the grave market for buying single-family homes.

Via Fortune: Full Story

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Sales of existing homes recorded modest gains in January, the third straight month of month-over-month increases.

According to the National Association of Realtors, homes sold at an annual rate of 5.36 million in January, up 2.7% from December and 5.3% higher than January 2010 sales. At the same time, the median home price fell 3% to $158,000, compared to a year earlier.

It was the first time in seven months that the monthly sales total was higher than the year before.

“The up trend in home sales is consistent with improvements in the economy and jobs,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.

The report was slightly stronger than expected. A consensus of experts surveyed by Briefing.com had expected sales to hit 5.23 million.

Yun pointed out that home sales have benefited from unusually favorable conditions: Mortgage rates are still very low; there’s a large supply of homes to choose from; and home prices have fallen to near post-housing bust lows.

One factor holding buyers back is the still tight mortgage lending.

“Buyers have been constrained by unnecessarily tight credit,” said Yun. “As a result, there are abnormally high levels of all-cash purchases, along with rising investor activity.”

NAR reported that all-cash sales went up to 32% of the total, up from 26% a year earlier. It estimated the percentage of investor purchases hit 23%, up from 17% a year ago.

“Unprecedented levels of all-cash purchases — primarily of distressed homes sold at deep discounts — undoubtedly pulls the median price downward,” said NAR president, Ron Phipps.

Whatever the source of the sales, they do have a welcome impact on supply. Inventory dropped 5.1% to 3.38 million units, a 7.6-month supply at the current rates of sales. That was the lowest inventory level in more than a year.

Normally, a five- or six-month supply is considered a good balance between supply and demand. That’s when sellers will start to regain some of the “pricing power” they’ve lost in the bust.

Right now, said Hoffman, “Sellers are desperate to sell and buyers bidding low.”

Full Story on CNN Money

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(Via CNN Money)

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Sales of existing homes jumped in December, marking the fifth month of gains in the past six months, based on an industry report released Thursday.

Previously-owned home sales climbed 12.3% in December to an annual rate of 5.28 million, from 4.70 million in November, according to the National Association of Realtors.

That puts sales at the highest level since the homebuyer tax credit expired in June, said Stuart Hoffman, chief economist at PNC Financial Services Group.

The December rate came in much higher than expected. A consensus of experts surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast an annualized sales rate of 4.8 million. However, sales were down 2.9% from 12 months earlier and fell 4.7% in 2010.

“December was a nice finish to the year, but looking at the bigger picture — home sales and prices have been scraping along the bottom for the last three years,” Hoffman said. “So, while we’re not digging a deeper hole — the housing market is still quite weak, and there are still more homes available on the market than there are likely to be buyers.”

The median price of all existing homes sold in December was $168,800, down 1% from a year ago.

Meanwhile, the inventory of homes on the market fell 4.2% in December to 3.56 million units. That’s enough inventory to last 8.1 months, and is down from a 9.5-month supply in November.

While that’s an improvement, Hoffman said that data doesn’t reflect the large number of foreclosures that could soon enter on the market.

“What’s hidden behind the curtain are potential foreclosures adding to those inventory levels,” he said. “Even as we have jobs growing, inventory is still large and more foreclosures are going to be coming on the market. Prices will go down and it’s going to continue to be very much a buyer’s market.”

That said, Hoffman expects sales to gradually improve — rising about 4% or 5% — by the end of 2011, as the employment picture improves.

“I do think there will be more sales in 2011, because job growth will support homebuyers,” Hoffman said. “We’re getting back to the underlying demand without the homebuyer tax credit, but housing is still not contributing much to the overall economic improvement in the economy.” 

Full Story on CNN Money

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Tax refunds can feel like Christmas in springtime. With a sudden boost to your bank account, you can look forward to going on a shopping spree, catching up on debt or squirreling the refund away in savings. While you can’t control the fact that you have to pay taxes, you can control how big of a refund is in your future. Some of the following suggestions still apply for 2010, while you can use others in years to come. So how can you get the biggest tax refund?

• Increase Withholding: When you reduce the number of exemptions on that form, then a larger amount of money will be withheld from your check each payday. Your tax refund will therefore be larger.
• Don’t Forget Familial Obligations: Taking care of kids (and aging parents) can rack up huge expenses. Fortunately, you can deduct the costs associated with taking care of your dependent children and parents.
• Invest in Tax Planning: A tax-planning professional (or you) can play with the numbers in computer software to evaluate what changes you can make to lower the tax bill, therefore upping the refund.

Full List at How Stuff Works.

Source: 10 Tips for Getting the Biggest Tax Refund Holy Kawl

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Most cities have a recycling program in place, but if you’re like me, you’re probably not totally sure about how the program works, or what you can and cannot recycle. I gathered this information from the Recycle City website to help us understand the recycling process for our cities. Enjoy! 

The Three “Rs” of Recycling 

The three R’s in the same order: reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Reduce always comes first because reducing what we use and what we waste means using fewer natural resources and less energy. Less waste also means less land put aside for burying waste in landfills. Ways to reduce waste include purchasing goods that use less packaging, sharing or renting things (like carpet cleaners) that aren’t needed regularly instead of buying them, and buying household cleansers that do not contain hazardous ingredients.

Reuse comes second because reusing items—using them twice or many times instead of just once—keeps them from becoming waste. Some ideas for reuse include using glass or plastic jars after they’re empty, or taking a cloth sack to the store when you shop (you don’t need a bag, and you can use the sack again the next time).

At the school, many of the kids bring their lunches in plastic containers, which they can wash and use over and over again, instead of wrapping their food in plastic and paper that they throw away every day. Meanwhile, some businesses have donated their old computers to the school for reuse, and the local theatre company donates its used sets and costumes to the Drama Club.

Recycle comes third, but not last. Recycling—converting used items back into raw materials, then making new products with them—conserves our valuable natural resources and reduces the need to put as much waste into our landfills. Many schools have started recycling programs that help raise money for needed items. And many items they buy can be made from recycled materials—such as paper, notebooks, playground equipment, furniture, and carpet.

Recycling Around the Home

Many everyday items—such as bags, plastic containers, and coffee cans—can be used more than once. As part of a project for Miss Redux at school, Sheila and Sidney came up with ideas for how some things can be reused at home:

• Paper and plastic bags and twist ties can be saved. Bags can be used to clean up around the house or taken to the store on the next shopping trip. Brown paper bags are great for wrapping packages to be shipped. Twist ties can be used to secure wires on appliances or a computer.
• Paper and envelopes can be reused to write notes or make lists before being recycled. Gift boxes can be used again as well as larger pieces of wrapping paper, tissue paper, ribbons and bows.
• Packaging, colored paper, egg cartons, and other items can be used for arts and crafts projects for school, at day care, or senior citizen centers.
• Newspaper, packaging “peanuts,” and bubble wrap can be reused to ship packages.
• Glass and plastic jars, milk jugs, coffee cans, dairy and other kinds of containers can be washed and used to store leftovers, buttons, nails, or thumbtacks. Empty coffee cans can be turned into flower pots.
• Used wood can be made into birdhouses, mailboxes, compost bins, or other woodworking projects.

BUT motor oil cans or pesticide containers CANNOT be reused because they contain harmful residues. They must be discarded following the manufacturers’ instructions on the label.

There are some items around the house that are dangerous if they are just thrown away with the regular garbage. These items can damage the environment and injure plant and animal life.

Cleaning Supplies

• Dry cleaning fluid
• Moth balls and flakes
• Furniture or floor polish
• Rug cleaners
• Household cleansers
• Spot removers
• Metal polish

Household Supplies

• Aerosol cans
• Lighter fluid
• Batteries
• Mercury from a broken thermometer
• Butane lighters
• Pet shampoo
• Chemotherapy drugs
• Shampoo for lice
• Flea powder
• Shoe dye and polish
• Fluorescent lamp tubes

Your local waste management agency has information on how to properly dispose of these items. Learn more about safer alternatives to some household products by visiting the Savemors’ house next to the school!

There are some items around the house that are dangerous if they are just thrown away with the regular garbage. These items found in garages and gardens can damage the environment and injure plant and animal life.

Home Garage Supplies

• Antifreeze
• Chrome polish
• Automotive cleaner
• Diesel fuel
• Auto body filler
• Engine degreaser
• Automatic transmission fluid
• Gasoline
• Brake fluid
• Kerosene or lamp oil
• Carburetor cleaner
• Lubricating oil
• Car batteries
• Motor oil
• Car wax

Garden Supplies

• Fungicides
• Soil fumigants
• Herbicides
• Snail and slug poison
• Insecticides
• Vegetation killer
• Rat, mouse, gopher poison
• Weed killer

Your local waste management agency has information on how to properly dispose of these items. Learn more about safer alternatives to some household products by visiting the Savemors’ house next to the school!

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — New home sales edged higher in November, but the recovery remains sluggish.

Sales of new homes rose 5.5% to an annual rate of 290,000 in November, the Commerce Department reported Friday. And while that shows improvement, sales are still off 21.2% from a year ago.

The results also fell short of analysts’ expectations. Housing experts at Briefing.com expected sales to increase to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 300,000 units, from a revised 275,000 unit rate in October.

The median price of a new home in November was $213,000, up from $194,000 in October, which was the lowest price in seven years. Additionally, the most popular price point for homes was between $150,000 and $300,000.

Full Story CNN Money

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Source: Market Watch

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Take a good look at the impressive gains that both U.S. and global stock markets posted this year, to many investors’ pleasant surprise. You don’t want to miss the repeat performance in 2011.

The third time’s a charm, as the saying goes, and 2011 offers a trio of financial-market milestones. It’s the crucial third year of the so-called presidential cycle, the beginning of the third year of the bull market that started in March 2009 — all 10 bull markets since 1949 have celebrated their third birthdays — and, in June, the start of the third year of agonizingly slow but still positive U.S. economic growth.

“It’s going to be either a good year, or a great year,” said Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at Standard & Poor’s Equity Research.

Read Full Story…

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