My inclination is to pull up a deck chair, put my legs up, put a lemonade on the table, and watch with pleasure as the reality of the next monthly economic report plays upon the real estate market, the credit markets and international markets. I expect a fair amount of chatter about how, yes, we really are moving into apparent recovery and, yes, it's a good time to enter this marketplace aggressively.

This will not silence the doomsters, of course. For reasons pretty well known, and because of a determined expectation that the markets will turn and slide into another crunch, there are plenty of analysts willing to offer an intimidating pooh-pooh to the good news the markets are likely to bring us on Friday and before. We shouldn't be dissuaded. Good news is good news and, as Marty Zweig was famous for saying, "Don't argue with the tape." In other words, don't try to deny reality.

Not many indicators for now that will support or challenge the jobs figures, so we'll all have time to digest what we see while sipping something. Enjoy!

Chocolate Guinness Goodness

This rich and luscious dessert came about because I needed a special dessert for a St. Patrick’s Day tasting menu. I was on a mission to use my favorite beer, Guinness, something I consider to be one of Ireland’s gifts to the world.

As the 17th of March drew closer, I looked for inspiration at my favorite Irish pub in Manhattan. As I savored my pint, I saw a Guinness poster that said, “My Goodness, My Guinness!” It was like an angel sang in my ear:

“What if you combined a dark chocolate pudding and Guinness, topped it with whipped cream lightly flavored with Guinness, and then put it in a glass to make it look just like a pint of the black?” After a few failed attempts, I got it just right. Make the effort to find a good dark chocolate (about 70 to 72 percent cacao).

The better the chocolate, the creamier the dessert. And, unless you have an Irish pub next door where you can pull it straight from the tap, a 14.9-ounce can of Guinness Draught works best.

Editor’s note: This recipe was developed by Shane Philip Coffey, the chef at Alias restaurant on New York City’s Lower East Side.

Ingredients

•8 large egg yolks

•1 cup sugar

•One 14.9-ounce can Guinness Draught

•3 cups heavy cream

•7 ounces high-quality bittersweet (70 to 72% cacao) chocolate, finely chopped

•Special equipment: Six 8-ounce old-fashioned glasses

Preparation In large nonreactive mixing bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar. Open can of Guinness and slowly pour into 4-cup measuring cup, pouring down side of cup to reduce foaming. Pour half of Guinness (about 7/8 cup) into heavy-bottomed 3-quart saucepan.

Add 2 1/4 cups cream and whisk to combine. Set over medium heat and heat, whisking occasionally, until bubbles just begin to form at edges. Remove from heat, add chocolate, and whisk until smooth. Slowly pour hot chocolate mixture into eggs, whisking constantly to prevent curdling. Return mixture to saucepan and set over moderately low heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens and coats back of spoon, about 15 minutes. (Pudding will look separated.) Pour into blender and blend on high for 1 minute.

Divide pudding among glasses, leaving at least 1 inch of space at top of each. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled and set. Meanwhile, pour remaining Guinness into small saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to moderately low and simmer, uncovered, until reduced to 1 tablespoon, about 20 minutes. Pour syrup into small bowl and let cool. Beat remaining cream until soft peaks form. Add Guinness syrup and beat until combined.

Divide cream among 6 glasses of pudding and serve.

Source: “Chocolate Guinness Goodness” epicurious.com, March 2006

On the short sale list, we have 2 new listings, 2 new escrows, 4 price reductions and no sales to report.

On the REO list, we have 1 sold to report and 1 price reduction. The listing at 880 Golfers Pass #3 listed at $239,900 sold 02/16/2012 for $239,000.

Incline agents are reporting increased buyer activity. That is to say buyers moving from looking to writing offers. We have seen a few multiple offers this past week.

Might be good to brush up on multiple offer and back-up offer practices. Inventory continues to drop nationally, and very significantly in the Reno market. Lake Tahoe and Incline Village, we are experiencing the same.

Denise Cash 775.691.3844 Ken Cash 775.691.3855

DeniseCash@TahoeLiving.com KenCash@TahoeLiving.com

www.TahoeLiving.com

Incline Village Condominium/PUD Short Sale Listings

MLS# Address Unit List Price Status Bed Bath Gar SqFt

940064 870 Southwood 3 $119,000 P 2 1 ½ N 1040

940104 945 Harold Dr. 1 $125,000 A 2 1 N 782

939687 989 Tahoe Blvd. 64 $145,000 P 3 2 N 1649

940182 801 Northwood 3 $165,000 A 2 1 ½ CP 960

939903 333 Ski Way 257 $175,000 A 1 2 CP 1062

938877 989 Tahoe Blvd. 67 $179,000 A 3 2 N 1649

940153 599 Crest Lane 33 $179,000 A 2 2 N 1120

110008157 845 Southwood 61 $179,000 A 3 2 ½ N 1332

939628 321 Ski Way 3 $184,900 P 3 2 ½ N 1280

940019 837 Southwood 24 $185,900 P 3 2 N 1332

940132 702 College 82 $224,900 A 3 2 N 1120

940266 908 Harold 23 $245,000 P 2 2 2 1452

940333 144 Village 96 $279,000 A 1 1 1 797

940204 1312 St Galen $295,000 P 3 2 ½ N 1688

940122 978 Glenrock 52 $297,700 A 3 2 ½ N 1440

940058 998 Driver 5 $328,000 A 2 2 N 1499

940237 4 Calaneva Dr 11 $349,000 A 2 2 ½ 1 1435

937825 1208 Styria $375,000 P 3 2 N 1568

940057 931 Incline Way 234 $425,000 P 2 2 1 1089

937846 978 Glenrock 59 $510,000 A 3 2 ½ N 1596

120001759 803 Rosewood Cir $825,000 A 4 3 ½ 2 2714

Incline Village Single Family Home Short Sale Listings

939893 573 Sugarpine Dr $361,309 P 3 2 ½ 1 1582

939701 422 Valerie $375,000 P 3 2 N 1392

940097 940 Wendy Lane $419,000 A 4 3 2 2480

940223 984 Tyner Way $424,900 A 4 2 ½ 2 2036

940156 382 Country Club $459,000 A 3 2 1 1596

940171 631 Village $470,000 A 4 2 2 1912

940117 640 Tumbleweed $479,000 P 3 3 2 2245

940221 550 N. Dyer Circle $479,000 P 3 2 2 2116

The above list is accurate as of February 25, 2012 as reflected in the Northern Nevada Regional

and Incline Village Multiple Listing Services. Prices & availability are subject to frequent change.

Denise Cash 775.691.3844 Ken Cash 775.691.3855

DeniseCash@TahoeLiving.com KenCash@TahoeLiving.com

www.TahoeLiving.com

Incline Village Single Family Home Short Sale Listings

MLS# Address Unit List Price Status Bed Bath Gar SqFt

940205 327 Winding Way $499,000 P 3 2 ½ 3 2677

939996 572 Lucille Dr $480,000 A 3 2 2 1688

940225 632 Woodridge $549,000 P 4 3 2 1864

940251 338 2^nd Creek $575,000 P 3 3 2 4000

940217 466 Winding Way $620,000 A 3 3 ½ 3 2802

110011033 522 McDonald Dr $644,900 P 4 4 ½ 2 3282

940299 985 3^rd Green Court $655,000 P 3 2 ½ 2 1864

940279 732 Betty $675,000 A 3 2 2 1682

940311 1057 Mill Creek Road $739,000 P 4 3 ½ 3 2430

939781 519 Ponderosa $1,349,000 A 6 5 ½ 3 5517

940323 836 Lakeshore $1,495,000 A 4 4 2 3489

940113 550 Fairview $1,849,000 P 4 5 ½ 2 6746

940077 689 Tyner Way $1,999,000 A 6 7 ½ 3 6146

70020699 250 Northlake $3,500,000 P 4 3 ½ 2 3039

Incline Village REO Condominiums/Townhomes

MLS# Address Unit List Price Status Bed Bath Gar SqFt

110013626 335 Ski Way 302 $166,500 P 1 2 CP 1064

940307 820 Oriole Way 51 $224,900 P 3 2 ½ 2 1440

110016028 700 College 35 $225,900 P 3 2 N 1120

110015366 120 Country Club 12 $314,900 A 2 2 ½ N 2208

120001685 875 Southwood 17 $359,900 A 2 2 ½ 1 1564

Incline Village REO Homes

940164 910 Harold Dr. “C” $250,000 A 3 2 ½ 2 1576

120001293 658 Tumbleweed $549,900 A 4 2 ½ 2 2912

The above list is accurate as of February 25, 2012 as reflected in the Northern Nevada Regional

and Incline Village Multiple Listing Services. Prices & availability are subject to frequent change.

On the short sale list we have 1 new listing, 6 price reductions, 3 new escrows and 2 solds to report. The condominium listed at 807 Alder #67 for $172,500 sold for $155,000 on 01/31/2012. The listing at 807 Adler #81 listed at $139,000 sold for $120,000 on 01/26/2012.

On the REO list there are 2 new listings to report and 1 sold. The home at 597 Ponderosa listed for $358,370 sold for $402,000 on 01/30/2012.

Denise Cash 775.691.3844 Ken Cash 775.691.3855

DeniseCash@TahoeLiving.com KenCash@TahoeLiving.com

www.TahoeLiving.com

Incline Village Condominium/PUD Short Sale Listings

MLS# Address Unit List Price Status Bed Bath Gar SqFt

940064 870 Southwood 3 $119,000 P 2 1 ½ N 1040

940104 945 Harold Dr. 1 $125,000 A 2 1 N 782

939687 989 Tahoe Blvd. 64 $165,000 A 3 2 N 1649

940182 801 Northwood 3 $165,000 A 2 1 ½ CP 960

939903 333 Ski Way 257 $175,000 A 1 2 CP 1062

940153 599 Crest Lane 33 $179,000 A 2 2 N 1120

939628 321 Ski Way 3 $184,900 P 3 2 ½ N 1280

940019 837 Southwood 24 $185,900 P 3 2 N 1332

110008157 845 Southwood 61 $189,000 A 3 2 ½ N 1332

940132 702 College 82 $224,900 A 3 2 N 1120

940204 1312 St Galen $295,000 P 3 2 ½ N 1688

940122 978 Glenrock 52 $297,700 A 3 2 ½ N 1440

940266 908 Harold 23 $299,000 A 2 2 2 1452

940058 998 Driver 5 $349,000 A 2 2 N 1499

940237 4 Calaneva Dr 11 $349,000 A 2 2 ½ 1 1435

937825 1208 Styria $375,000 A 3 2 N 1568

940057 931 Incline Way 234 $425,000 P 2 2 1 1089

937846 978 Glenrock 59 $510,000 A 3 2 ½ N 1596

939647 844 Rosewood Circle $875,000 A 4 3 ½ 2 2674

Incline Village Single Family Home Short Sale Listings

939893 573 Sugarpine Dr $361,309 P 3 2 ½ 1 1582

939701 422 Valerie $375,000 P 3 2 N 1392

940097 940 Wendy Lane $419,000 A 4 3 2 2480

940223 984 Tyner Way $424,900 A 4 2 ½ 2 2036

940156 382 Country Club $475,000 A 3 2 1 1596

940117 640 Tumbleweed $479,000 P 3 3 2 2245

940221 550 N. Dyer Circle $479,000 P 3 2 2 2116

The above list is accurate as of February 5, 2012 as reflected in the Northern Nevada Regional

and Incline Village Multiple Listing Services. Prices & availability are subject to frequent change.

Denise Cash 775.691.3844 Ken Cash 775.691.3855

DeniseCash@TahoeLiving.com KenCash@TahoeLiving.com

www.TahoeLiving.com

Incline Village Single Family Home Short Sale Listings

MLS# Address Unit List Price Status Bed Bath Gar SqFt

940205 327 Winding Way $499,000 P 3 2 ½ 3 2677

940171 631 Village $499,500 A 4 2 2 1912

939848 985 Wedge Ct $510,000 P 3 2 ½ 2 2592

939996 572 Lucille Dr $519,000 P 3 2 2 1688

940225 632 Woodridge $549,000 P 4 3 2 1864

940217 466 Winding Way $620,000 A 3 3 ½ 3 2802

110011033 522 McDonald Dr $644,900 P 4 4 ½ 2 3282

940061 542 Spencer Way $649,000 P 3 3 2 2172

940251 338 2^nd Creek $649,000 A 3 3 2 4000

940299 985 3^rd Green Court $675,000 A 3 2 ½ 2 1864

940279 732 Betty $675,000 A 3 2 2 1682

939151 968 Granite Ct. $699,900 P 3 3 ½ 2 2351

940311 1057 Mill Creek Road $739,000 P 4 3 ½ 3 2430

939781 519 Ponderosa $1,349,000 A 6 5 ½ 3 5517

940113 550 Fairview $1,849,000 P 4 5 ½ 2 6746

940077 689 Tyner Way $1,999,000 A 6 7 ½ 3 6146

70020699 250 Northlake $3,500,000 P 4 3 ½ 2 3039

Incline Village REO Condominiums/Townhomes

MLS# Address Unit List Price Status Bed Bath Gar SqFt

110013626 335 Ski Way 302 $166,500 P 1 2 CP 1064

940307 820 Oriole Way 51 $224,900 A 3 2 ½ 2 1440

110016028 700 College 35 $225,900 P 3 2 N 1120

110015447 880 Golfers Pass 3 $239,900 P 3 2 1 1470

110015366 120 Country Club 12 $314,900 A 2 2 ½ N 2208

Incline Village REO Homes

940164 910 Harold Dr. “C” $279,900 P 3 2 ½ 2 1576

940252 966 Little Burro Ct $550,000 P 3 3 2 2429

110015817 917 Michael Ct $609,000 P 4 3 2 2618

120001293 658 Tumbleweed $808,000 A 4 2 ½ 2 2912

The above list is accurate as of February 5, 2012 as reflected in the Northern Nevada Regional

and Incline Village Multiple Listing Services. Prices & availability are subject to frequent change.

Shrimp Po’Boy