♪ jingle, jingle we're back with more of "today" on this friday morning, the 4th day of december 2009. nice day to spice up with sun. we've got blue skies in new york city and fairly comfortable temperatures. this is part of a system that's coming in. we understand we could even have a little snow in the area by tomorrow. >> i would say late tomorrow on into sunday. >> it's about time! >> it's the holiday. >> it's about time! >> shovel about three inches of holiday spirit out here. >> love that. >> i'm matt lauer along with natalie morales and al roker. and coming up, we're going to talk real estate again, aren't we? >> yep. >> we're going to have barbara corcoran here, taking us on a tour of the country. and today, barbara, our resident real estate guru, is going to show us affordable homes under $100,000. >> great. that's beautiful. >> get a pad and paper out. also, taking care of the skin you're in. we all have questions when it comes to our skin care. for example, does vitamin c really fight wrinkles? should all of us be using toner after we wash our face? we're going to get to the answers to that with our expert dermatologist in a little bit. all right. did you guys put your trees up yet? >> no. >> no. >> well, before you deck the halls, there are some things you might want to know. not all christmas trees are created equal. we're going to tell you everything you need to know to get the perfect tree. >> that one's really cool. >> yeah. >> it's probably not real, right? >> i don't think so. >> no, no. >> let's get a check of the headlines now from ann curry. >> thanks, matt. good morning, again, everybody. new figures this morning show an improvement in the nation's unemployment rate. unemployment dropped to 10% in november. that's down 0.2% from october. and for the month, the economy lost 11,000 jobs. that's far fewer than many economists had expected. today, president obama is talking about jobs and the economy during a trip to pennsylvania. at a job summit on thursday, he urged more than 100 ceos and small business leaders to consider new ways to get companies hiring again. secretary of state hillary clinton is in brussels briefing nato on the new u.s. war strategy in afghanistan. today, nato said at least 25 countries will send a total of at least 7,000 additional forces to afghanistan next year as the u.s. gears up to send 30,000 more troops. meantime, a new marine offensive is under way to cut off supply lines in taliban strongholds. there was a violent attack this morning in pakistan right after friday prayers at a mosque near the military headquarters in rawalpindi. a series of bombs exploded and gunfire rang out. at least 35 people were killed. two ranking members of the house homeland security committee are demanding testimony from the white house social secretary. on this broadcast this morning, democrat loretta sanchez and republican peter king both said social secretary desiree rogers should help explain how two uninvited guests entered a state dinner and met the president. meanwhile, the head of the secret service revealed that three officers had been suspended in the wake of the security breach. in indianapolis on thursday, two robbery suspects fleeing police crashed their vehicle into a daycare center. four children and a daycare worker were injured. the suspects are under arrest. and an oregon couple is back home after spending three nights -- rather, three days and two nights stuck in deep snow in their vehicle on a mountain road, a remote one at that. keith and jennifer lee had gone searching for a perfect christmas tree in the woods when they got stranded with no food but plenty of water, and she says she just kept thinking about their children back home. they finally got unstuck and made it home on thursday with, as you can see, their tree. it is now three minutes past the hour. let's get another check of the weather from al. >> thank goodness they got the tree. thanks, ann. as we take a look, see what's happening. we've got this big storm, winter storm warnings, winter weather advisories working their way from texas all the way into alabama. the earliest measurable snow expected today houston, austin and shreveport, as that snow creeps up toward austin and dallas. we're looking for generally one to two inches, but some areas could pick up three inches of snow in the south. we've also got a stationary front causing problems for florida, flood watches for west-central florida, rainfall amounts anywhere from one to two >> mixture of sunshine and clouds expected as we head into the afternoon. temperatures around average. high in the u ♪ ow, she's a brick house now to "today's real estate," and the way to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to home buying. from california to rhode island, "today's" real estate contributor and our resident brick house, barbara corcoran, is here to tell you where the affordable homes are. >> good morning, al. >> good to see you. homes for $400,000 and less today. >> we're keeping them a little on the cheap side today, but these homes will not disappoint. >> let's start in oklahoma, broken arrow. this is priced at $209,000. three bedrooms, two baths. >> you got it and it's only 20 minutes from tulsa, oklahoma, if you want to put it in your mind's eye. it's got a low cost of living, a strong job market and it's a great place for raising a family. that house there is called a trad brick home. it has over 2,600 square feet. it has a huge corner lot. the living room right there, that's a working fireplace, again, a brick fireplace, large spaces in the kitchen both for eating and for preparing food. that's the master bedroom there. there's plenty of light in this house which these pictures really don't justify. >> hey, hello! >> let's have a look at that. >> you see, obviously, this guy's a hunter. will a room like that cause a problem for a seller? >> i'm so happy you asked that, definitely. this is something that nobody -- even a hunter isn't going to appreciate. what you can't see here is the other wall has more animal heads and a bear rug. no, that ought to be taken out. that's the only thing wrong with this house. the rest is beautiful. >> as we take a look now in ohio, let's head to columbus. this home is priced at $249,900. >> i love it. >> four-bedroom home. >> a very pretty home and again, a lot of space for only $249,000. columbus is the capital city and it's smack in the middle of the state. this is called a four square brick home, and why it's called that is it was actually, most of these homes, ordered from catalogs back at the turn of the century, in opposition to the very ornate victorian homes. so everything about this home is plain, but i think the better word is simple. everything's arranged wonderfully. strong colors here, which is not good when selling your home because people have a overreaction to color. >> a fireplace in the kitchen. >> the only thing it needs is a table in front of the fireplace. but notice how simple the lines are, how even every space is, how the windows are pasted. everything about this house was intended to be simple. >> very nice. let's move on to bentonville, arkansas. this is priced at $312,000, four bedrooms and three baths. >> yep, but it's near the ozark national forest, which is rell recreated by everyone who lives in this area. it's like having the biggest backyard in the nation. that is a big house, almost 3,000 square feet big. >> wow. >> and it has a huge backyard, which you'll see in a minute. that's, of course, the driveway right there entering in. okay, there's your dining room. >> wow, that's a grand entry way. >> a bigotry way there. and it just looks impressive. i love the arch windows, that's a nice touch, love the brick wall. the floors are wide open, it's tailor-made for a family. great kitchen. >> for people who like to entertain, i would think. >> look at the detail in the master bedroom there, something i've never seen and it's quite pretty. there's the kblaerst bamaster b. everything about this is in move-in condition. >> let's go to rhode island. >> it's in a coastal town about 20 minutes from providence, rhode island, and you can't get closer to the water than that or you'll be inside the water. dunk me in. this is perfect for a young couple or someone who's single or a vacation house within commuting distance to cities. everything about this house is miniature, but it's so comfortable. looks like a nest on the water. >> almost 20 minutes from providence. >> 20 minutes, so very commutable. providence, of course, is a very vital working town. so, this would be a very easy escape, and it feels like an escape. everything about it feels like you could go there and not have a phone or a tv and be happy forever. >> great views from the windows, too. now let's go to keystone, south dakota, $345,000, heart of the black hills. >> you got it. and this is a very different style of house. it's an a-frame and it's on a 3 1/2-acre wooded lot. that's actually the backyard looking up through the trees on top of the hill. you can see how pretty that house is. it's half about the setting and half about the house. it's got a country kitchen. well, there's the side entrance. actually, it's right off the driveway in the front. it's got a country kitchen, large living room. all the ceilings are tremendo tremendously high, which gives the already large space a more spacious feel. there's the dining room. love the bay window there with the wood trim. again, this house is a great deal. remember the price you're looking at, $345,000. it comes with a huge porch! what's wrong with that? >> and you can see mt. rushmore? >> you bet, and you can see it right from your deck as well as the side of your house. >> will people pay extra for that kind of view? >> let me tell you, it adds about 25% in value. if you didn't have that view, this house would be worth 25% less. >> amazing. lastly, sacramento, california, top of our list, $400,000. >> which sounds like a lot today, but think about what you get in this house. it's right smack in the midtown of sacramento with its art district, hopping night scene. so you can walk out your door and have a great time every single night of the week, if you wish. what a difference that white picked fence makes to the house, right? >> it's great. >> tall ceilings, high windows, hardwood floors, a cozy kitchen with wall-to-wall windows, a dining room and pantry. everything about the house has been totally restored in keeping with the feeling of the house. that's the master bedroom. and the backyard is actually a gardener's paradise with an arbor, lawn and rose bushes. all for that price. >> barbara, you've brought us some amazing houses. you'll have a hard time topping a house with a view of mt. rushmore. >> just wait and see what we find next week. >> barbara corcoran, thank you. have a good weekend. if you have questions for barbara, check out our website, todayshow.com. still to come, chef nigella lawson makes a great breakfast with ingredients you probably already have in the pantry. but next, skin secrets revealed. we'll sort out some common beauty myths, right after these messages. an event so big it happens only once a year. [ music stops, amplifier feedback ] [ indistinct shouting ] and right now for a limited time, get 0% apr financing on many of your favorite models. [ horn honks ] [ exhales ] [ sighs ] i didn't get one. we've got more. [ male announcer ] it's not just an event. it's toyotathon! hurry to your toyota dealer today. my muscles just ache... ... all over my body... ...it just doesn't go away. it's so baffling. (announcer) does this sound like the pain you've been experiencing? this is fibromyalgia. chronic, widespread pain and tenderness that affects millions. sometimes i need a hug... ...but i know it's gonna hurt... (announcer) there is hope. understanding your pain... ...is the first step to treating it. talk to your doctor and visit fibrocenter.com for answers and support. made with gooey hersheys mini-kisses. spontanious joy may occur. wait. what day is it? saturday. but it feels like black friday all over again. that's because it is. awesome! find black friday doorbusters every saturday starting at 7am... at the guaranteed lowest prices. this saturday, get sweaters for her for an amazing $11.99. and get half off this craftsman 204-piece mechanics tool set, only $99.99. plus, this 40" toshiba lcd is just $629.99. more values. more christmas. that's life. well spent. sears. ♪ forever young this morning on "today's beauty," skin secrets revealed. whether your skin is dry or oily, there are some common beauty myths that could keep you from protecting your face and keeping your skin youthful. so, what really works? well, dermatologist debra wattenberg is here with the facts. dr. wattenberg, good morning. >> good morning. >> what's the question most women ask you? >> how can i make my skin healthy? how can i look better? that's the number one thing. people just want to look good, and you know, look better than they actually feel most of the time. >> and some of us are dealing with a lot of myths about how that can happen, and you want to help us learn the facts. let's talk about some of these things in terms of fact or fiction. oily skin doesn't need moisturizer. a lot of people are afraid when they have oily skin that they're possibly going to break out. what is your recommendation for people with oily skin? >> so, everybody needs moisturizer. ann, even if your skin is oily, it doesn't mean it's hydrated or healthy. it just means you're producing a lot of oils from the oil glands on your skin. using moisturizer that are oil-free, that contain silicone or humectants, like products that will absorb the water into their skin will make a huge difference in the skin, even if you're acne-prone or have oily skin. avoid products with lanolin. look for products that will not clog up your pores but will make your skin more hydrated. the goal is to increase the hydration. just because there's oil on your skin doesn't mean that your skin's heaty and hydrated and glowing. >> you're probably lucky to have oily skin in the end as long as it doesn't cause clogging of the pores because can't it make your skin look better? >> the oils can make your skin seem better temporarily, but they need to hydrate in a different fashion, but everybody needs moisturizer. >> does everybody need a toner, however? i find they bug me. >> so, toners are sort of the cosmetic industry's way of selling you just another product. >> oh. >> they're really not needed. toners strip away the natural oils from your skin, can make your skin more sensitive, more irritated. and products that contain things like alcohol specifically should be avoided. so, if you're going to use a toner because you love that cotton ball, clean skin feel, which is really just a personal opinion, then look for products that contain chamomile, witch hazel. look for things that contain cucumb cucumber. those won't strip the natural oils. they'll give you the clean feeling and leave your skin hydrated for putting the moisturizer back in. >> a moment ago, i told you that i didn't know vitamin c helps fight wrinkles. this is one of the facts or fictions here, and you looked at me like, where have you been? how long has this been known? >> vitamin c is a fantastic antioxidant. you can get it systemically by taking fruits and vegetables. you can take vitamin c supplements, which is great for your body, your immune system, but topical vitamin c for the past, i would say ten years, has been shown to be quite effective as an antioxidant. it eats up all the free radicals that are created. those are the things that eat up the collagen in your skin from smoking and pollution and sun exposure. if you destroy the collagen in your citizen, it will not look as good. if you put vitamin c on topically, which is available in many over the counter products, inexpensive serums. your skin will glow, brown spots will improve, your skin will absorb moisture more effectively and it will look more radiant and healthy for the upcoming holiday season. >> you basically look for a skin product that has vitamin c in it. >> well, the vitamin c is treated in a way so that it gets absorbed. if you just try to rub a capsule onto your skin, it's not going to work. >> okay. close shaving prevents ingrown hair. that is? >> a myth. the reason is the more closely you shave, the more likely the hair follicles will get trapped under the skin if you shave too closely. so, the goal here is to shave with the grain of the hair. use something that's moisturizing and hydrating to the skin to prevent those hairs from getting trapped underneath. >> finally, a good tan will help clear up acre nae. >> one of the biggest myths out there. people love the way sun feels on their skin and temporarily it might make your skin look better, but with the upcoming holiday season, do not go outside trying to get a sun burn. it's going to make your sun worse. you'll have rebound acne that will look significantly worse a few days later because the sun will burn the top layer of the skin, trap the oils and bacteria underneath and your skin will start to break out much, much more. >> well, what is not a myth is that you're trying to help us all look a little bit more beautiful. dr. debra wattenberg, thank you. >> thank you. coming up, should you fake it or cut down? we're talking about helping you pick out the perfect christmas tree. it is. it's just. you spent way too much. what? i've been a bad girl. i've been reading allison's diary, and i got a d on a spelling test, and i forged your signature... honey, we didn't really spend that much. ♪ chestnuts roasting ♪ on an open fire. son: hey mom! wife: what is this? guy: it's a special paste i invented to replace socks. wife: why? guy: because we can't find socks that shape to our feet. we're sick of it! announcer: hanes makes better-fitting socks. guaranteed or your money back. like 2009 h1n1, there are several steps you can take. wash your hands and get your flu shot. regularly disinfect surfaces to reduce the spread of germs. and perhaps the most important step of all, talk to your friends about doing the same. instead of spreading flu viruses, like 2009 h1n1, let's help spread protection. we often take it for granted, that feeling of putting on new shoes, but for some children, new shoes are a luxury. and one of our generous partners in our toy drive is stride right and jen is the senior vice president of product. jen, good morning. >> good morning, natalie. >> stride right is always so generous with our toy drive year round. how much have you donated so far this year? >> this year, stride right has donated $700,000 worth of new footwear for children for the toy drive. >> wow, that's great. and you've been doing this now three years in a row, is that right? >> that's right, natalie. this is our third year, and we just reached over the $2 million mark in new shoes for children across the u.s. >> and it is, as we said, such a luxury to have a new pair of shoes, but for a lot of families, it's a basic necessity that they're not able to get. >> true, natalie, and that's why this is so important to stride right. we're really pleased to be able to partner through the foundation with kids in distressed situations, and through them, we reach communities across america to really help families, especially this year. >> thank you so much. jen cutchmar with stride right. ( doorbell rings ) we never get the time to tell people stuff. ♪ say what you need to say ♪ say what you need to say ( holding last note ) we couldn't have made it through this last year without you, mom. this year, appreciation may be the best gift of all. a hallmark card. it's the biggest little thing you can do. mmm. oh gosh. oh dear. big deal. you're delicious. so what. i've got news for you. there's no such thing... ...as a bear sheriff. you think i'm afraid of you? hey what? you don't have to be mean to the cake. i do. you don't. i do. just eat yoplait light. they have great flavors like... boston cream pie, raspberry cheesecake. even though i work here, i've lost weight. wow. yeah. carry on. (announcer) 28 delicious flavors at around 100 calories each. woolite isn't just for your delicates! it's for all your clothes! with woolite complete you can wash everything, from jeans to tees, cause it has the right balance of care and cleaning. and say goodbye to fading, shrinking and stretching. after all, a lady never reveals the true age of her clothes. woolite complete, cleans and cares for all your clothes. girl: grandma had come up for a visit. mom: so we took her to our olive garden. just us girls. mom: we kept the fun going all through dinner. vo: olive garden brings you new manicotti formaggio with ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses. served with either sauteed shrimp in our creamy carbonara sauce. or with pan seared chicken, with roasted peppers in homemade parmesan sauce. both with unlimited salad and breadsticks. girl: it was really cool just hanging out- the three of us. vo: olive garden. it's time for holiday bargain hunting. which requires a razor sharp eye and blazing speed. especially if you're shopping for a chevy. can we speed this up? not only do they come with the best deals of the year, they come with the best coverage in america. you snooze you lose. hey! i'll take it! let the chevy red tag event begin. now during the chevy red tag event, get 0 percent apr for 72 months on most '09 models. see red and save green. now at your local chevy dealer. >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am sarah caldwell. baltimore city police are investigating a double stabbing in northeast baltimore that left a young girl that under disabled mother critically injured. it happen before 7:30 yesterday morning. a 32-year-old man forced his way inside a home at midwood avenue. he beat to the mother and daughter and stabbed to them. >> we found a 17-year-old female who had been assaulted and stabbed and pronounced dead on the scene. we've got a 59-year-old woman who has been stabbed. >> neighbors said the girl quit school to take care of her mother, who did not have legs. a short time later, police were able to arrest the suspects a few blocks away. police have a woman in custody for a murder in northeast baltimore. police say she robbed and killed a man found inside a home at glenarm avenue wednesday night. the victim has not been identified, but police believe that she did not know her alleged victim. now let's look at the forecast with tony pann. >> a mixture of sunshine and a few cuts expected as we head into the afternoon. no precipitation. temperatures around average for this day. upper 40's to around 50 degrees. a little bit of light snow to develop on saturday. at this point, i am thinking you're an inch of accumulation for most of you. the key to the forecast as the temperature staying above freezing. roads will be fine. if you see a little bit of snow, it should be ok. sunday, a high near 43. maybe a couple showers on monday. >> might be nice to see snow. we will have another update at 9:55. $95? >> dad, the salesman said this would last a lifetime. and just think, if i live to be 90, that's about $1 a year. >> theo, i don't have a $95 shirt, and i have a job. [ laughter ] >> the classic and the one, the only bill cosby, the ultimate dad. still talking family values these days, but in a whole new way. he's going to fill us in on that next week on "today." but this morning, the gang's all here. we barely got enough room on the couch. >> i think we could squeeze one more person. >> maybe right here. >> i don't think so. >> wide, wide legs. >> on my lap. >> what's coming up? >> first, nigella lawson. she was here earlier this week. she's still here from across the pond to share her decadent pancake recipe just in time for the holidays. and let me just tell you, it's sugary. well, that there is actually very healthy, but there's something involving pecans and candy. so, stay tuned for that. >> sounds delicious. also ahead, we'll tell you about all of your christmas decoration options from the fresh to the artificial. lest lester, you're up. coming up on "weekend today," the latest in the italian murder trial of amanda knox, now in the hands of a jury. and we'll introduce you to a 7-year-old who's been called the next picasso. the paintings have gone for more than $28,000. pretty impressive. >> look at that. those are beautiful. >> yeah. really nice. and we can't forget about nanja the orangutan who takes pictures of her daily life at the zoo. she takes pictures of her daily life. getting a big following, on facebook, actually. that and so much more coming up. does she think she knows that was fuzzy? >> did she take that picture? >> that wasn't great that was a little blurry. photo-sh photo-shop. >> with the focus, she can take it, but the framing has got to be interesting. >> that's interesting. anyway, before you hold "al's book club," we have a check of the weather. >> that's right, all of our book club kids are ready to go. first, there's your weekend weather. showers up and down the eastern seaboard, sunshine along the west coast. then sunday, sunday, we're looking at more sunshine along the eastern seaboard, wet weather in the mississippi r >> things are pretty quiet on this friday morning. there will be a few clouds later on today. a mixture of sunshine and clouds. high temperatures will climb into the upper 40' >> and of course, you know it's friday. that means we have to tell you about the biggest day of the week, sunday, and sunday night "football night in america." the minnesota vikings and the old dog, brett favre, comes into the university of phoenix stadium to take on the cardinals. partly cloudy, mild, temperatures in the mid-60s, but it's a retractible dome, so who cares? you care, because it's "sunday night football night in america." >> gets better and better every week. great delivery, al. i feel better. al, thanks. coming up next, we'll be talking about whether you want a fraser fir or a burlap spruce. we're going to talk about the perfect christmas tree. maple brown sugar, strawberry delight, blueberry muffin. yeah, a little family reunion. ( blowing, shouting ) what now? we're cereal here! what? just cooling it down. - enough said. - gotcha. yeah, safety first. whoo hoo! watch the whole grain. try kellogg's frosted mini-wheats hot. just add warm milk and you've got a hot, new way... to keep your kids full and focused all morning. oops! dude, your eight layers are showing. mini-wheats hot. keeps 'em full, keeps 'em focused. what's the difference between rough winter skin and soft summer skin? jergens ultra healing lotion delivers healing moisture 5 layers deep for softer, visibly smoother skin no matter what the season. jergens ultra healing lotion. - no to fake foods. - and yes to real. yes to hellmann's. made with eggs, vinegar and oils... that are naturally rich in omega 3. with all the taste in the world. mmmmmm. hellmann's. it's time for real. >> announcer: "countdown to christmas" is brought to you by discover. it pays to discover. this morning on "today's countdown to christmas," holiday greens. picking the perfect christmas tree or wreath to jolly up your living space only happens once a year, so you want to make sure you do it right. but with all the options, how do you choose? ahmed hasan is the host of "yard crashers." he's going to help us out this morning. good morning. >> good morning. >> good to have you here. >> my pleasure. >> basic rules of thumb when picking the perfect tree. >> i want to set you in the right direction. size, width, how much space you have to put a tree, you want to decide that. and then it's whether or not you're going real or artificial. >> right. also, how do you make sure you're getting the freshest tree? >> if you have a tree like this, this is the fraser fir, one of the things about this tree, this is a real, live tree. >> right. >> but it's dead and doesn't know it yet, because it's cut off at the bottom. but when you go with a tree like this, it will look fresh pretty much the entire month long. >> right. >> so it's really selecting the best tree. the fraser fir is the favorite. >> and then you have the burlap spruce. you can replant this again, right? >> right. you can plant it with the kids, it's sentimental. you put the tree outside and look, that was our christmas tree. >> and do you have to keep watering? of course. >> of course. elevate it on some rocks, give it water, keep it moist before you bring it into the house, but usually three, four weeks, then you have to get outside and plant it in the ground. but if you don't want a live tree -- >> environmentally friendly, i guess. >> now usually a bring a bunch of different trees. >> this is strange. >> strange but my favorite. this is the bubbling tree with a bubbling trunk. you've got three pieces, the base, the bubble and the top. you have to fluff the branches, but that's it. >> and you can bring it out again next year. >> and it's got different colors, l.e.d. lights and an aerator in there. it's something unique. >> fun, okay, great. >> let's step over here. >> let's say you want to bring someone a nice plant. you have a lot of different options for us. >> a lot of different options. nothing says the holidays like poinsetti poinsettias. they're classic. i'm kind of bored with them, so i like to decorate them differently, put them in a vase. >> that's a good idea. >> figure out a different way to use them or use the basic plant. >> just marbles. >> a few marbles, water in there. also, the christmas cactus. >> very beautiful. >> very easy to take care of. >> don't have to worry about watering them. >> and you get the credit for being a green thumb even if you don't. >> that's my kind of plant. the a.m. littmaryllis are beaut >> they're basically an elegant flower, great as gifts. i mean, you give a gift like this, and it's got a bud on it and later they get this. >> so great. >> and you're the superstar. >> looks great on a mantle. wreathes, i love the magnolia wreath. this is beautiful. >> this is the way i typically start out my holiday season, get the wreath going, get the poinsettias, get the tree up. but these magnolia wreaths you can make. anyone with a southern magnolia tree would love to give you their lives. >> this is fresh right now, but it's nice when they're dried out. >> work either way. >> then we have the box wreath. >> very modern style. the amaryllis goes well with the boxwood wreath here. >> now what about this one? this one's going to smell really good, right? >> this is like potpourri in your house. >> wow. >> we have cinnamon sticks, essence of oil. don't forget the mistletoe. and i come prepared, so -- >> oh, my. i had no idea this was happening. does that mean i have to oblige, all right, all right, there we go. >> that was a little one. >> okay, now, one thing -- >> should i? >> you're fine. we also should tell people be wary of these. the berries are poisonous. >> yes, but you know what, you can get fake ones or take off the berries and put other colorful berries that aren't poisonous or put it up high, kids can't get to it. >> another meeting of "al's book club" is being called to order right after this. se. what you do with it is up to you. what will you get back with your cash back? now more than ever, it pays to discover. ...and plain tissue... ...caused quite a commotion. mom knows to use soothing puffs plus with lotion. plain tissue can irritate the sore nose issue. puffs plus with lotion is a more soothing tissue. but i've got a warm, fresh baked strawberry toaster strudel. see the difference? mmmm. i do. (announcer) pillsbury toaster strudel. the one kids want to eat. by changing her medicare prescription plan. all we had to do was go to cvs.com and use the free savings calculator. we learned that changing your medicare part d plan could save an average of $612. woman: we just entered my prescriptions, and it compared plans for us. it was easy to find the right plan for the prescriptions i need. your cvs pharmacist can help, too. come in today, or go to cvs.com before december 31st to find the best plan for you -- at cvs/pharmacy. this morning on "al's book club to kids," where the mountain meets the moon. a young woman is fascinated with folk tales and sets out in search of the old man of the moon. grace lynn wrote "where the mountain meets the moon," and our book club kids are tatiana perry, dellroy brockett, danielle azanini, ian goldstein and treasure nolton. good to see you guys. nice to meet you, grace. >> nice to meet you, too. >> it's a beautiful book, beautifully written, beautifully illustrated. and you grew up reading chinese folk tales. >> mm-hmm. actually, when i was younger, i was very ashamed of my culture and i wasn't really -- >> why was that? >> i grew up in upstate new york where there was not a very diverse community, so i was the only asian in my classroom, and except for my sisters, i was the only asian in my whole school. so, a lot of the time i spent trying to forget that i was asian or trying to ignore my heritage. >> but your mom gave you some of these to try to help bolster that. >> yeah. so, she knew that i loved books, so her way of kind of sneaking the culture in was to give me these chinese fairy tale books. >> then you had a life-changing experience when you took a trip to china when you were in college. >> yeah. i went to china and i actually got a great opportunity to travel to hong kong and taiwan, and it was there that these stories i read when i was younger came to life and then all of a sudden kind of jumbled together and became the book. >> so, "where the mountain meets the moon," has that been a dream of yours? >> it's kind of -- i guess so, you could say that. it was kind of a dream that came to me while i was traveling. >> okay. let's start off with our book club kids, because i know they've got some questions. tatiana, what's your question for grace? >> what made you decide for the valley to be called valley of the mountain? >> why did i decide that? it's called the valley of the fruitless mountain because the mountain at the very beginning, nothing grows on it because it is actually the sad, broken heart of jade dragon, who is children have left. so, nothing grows on it, so that's why it's fruitless, because there's no fruit. >> there's no fruit. no fruit for you! ian, what's your question? >> was there a specific chinese folk tale that you decided to write the book because of? >> was there a specific chinese folk tale that i decided to write the book because of? well, the whole book is actually very, very roughly based on a folk tale called "olive lake," which is a very, very old, obscure folk tale, and what's different is that in the book it's a young girl that goes on a journey, and in "olive lake" it was a young man who went out west. so, i changed that. >> since you're a young lady. >> definitely. >> daniel, how about you some. >> did the moral of the stories come from a real-life experience? >> did the moral of the story come from a real-life experience? um, yes and no. i think when i was writing this book, actually, my late husband, passed away, and while that was happening, i realized i was really, really grateful and very, very thankful for all the time that we had together, and so, that was the moral of the story, to be thankful for the love that you have. >> and what do you have? what questions do you have for grace? >> by the way, i like the book. now, my question is that when the gold fisherman gave min lee a gold fish, he said it was good luck. what do you mean by that in the book? >> what do i mean that a gold fish is good luck in the book? well, in chinese cultural, gold fish and gold translates into gold ain your house. so, gold is a very lucky, auspicious symbol, so that's why they like to have gold in their house. >> treasure, what's your question? >> my question is, how similar are you to min lee? >> how similar am i to min lee? well, that's a very good question. i guess i'm similar in a point. i think min lee is very earnest and she always tries her very best, and i think that's kind of like me, but hopefully, she's not a goodie two shoes. i hope i'm not a goodie two shoes. >> and tatiana? >> i asked my question. >> but you look like there's something else you want to ask. >> yes. did you enjoy writing this book? >> did i enjoy writing this book? yes. i loved writing this book. this book, a lot of children asked me what's my favorite book that i've written and illustrated, and i say this one is my absolute favorite because not only does it have the writing that i love, in the interior, there's colored illustrations, which is very unusual for a novel like this. and so, this book, i got to do both things that i love, which is writing and illustrating. >> well, grace lynn and our book club kids, thank you very much. the book is "where the mountain meets the moon." now, time to reveal our next book club choice, two oldies but goodies. 2010 marks the 80th anniversary of the beloved nancy drew series. so, in honor of this historic occasion, we're going to read nancy drew's "the secret of the old clock" by carolyn keen and "the harthe hardy boys "the tow treasure" by dixon. these are books i read as a child. yes, they're that old. thank you very much, kids. still to come, the ultimate comfort breakfast courtesy of (child) mom. did you hear that? i think it was ben. but was it mooomm... ...or maaoomm? i have no idea. mooomm. i know that one. (announcer) some things a mom just... ...knows. like when they call for... ...you, you turn to us. triaminic thin strips. each strip is pre-measured, so you know you're giving... ...the accurate dose of medicine, everytime. it's the number one pediatric brand ... (child coughs) ...committed only to children's cold symptoms. put your trust in triaminic. this morning in "today's holiday kitchen," chef nigella lawson, the best-selling author, has written a new cookbook sure to spice up your holiday entertaining with some simple, yet sinful, recipes. it's called "nigella christmas: food, family, friends and festivities." hi, nigella, good morning. >> good morning to you. >> it sounds like fun. how much do you love christmas? >> i just love it, i suppose. if you like to be surrounded by people and talking and you love food, it's kind of your time of year. >> exactly. >> so, it's tailor-made for my particular passions. >> and one of the things that sometimes in all the wrapping of things we forget about is really how to make the christmas breakfast so special. and you've got this fantastic recipe, and ps, it's also healthy, because it's got sweet potatoes in it. >> you know, i think a lot of food -- i mean, my view always with food is if you're using real ingredients, it's healthy. what's not so healthy is food that doesn't really bear any relation to the sort of food stuffs that a stuffs our ancestors would have known about. >> exactly. now by sweet potato, you mean pumpkin, right? >> it's pumpkin, but anything orange is good in that way. >> and we're putting in? >> buttermilk. >> buttermilk. why do you use buttermilk? >> because i think the buttermilk and the sweetness of the pumpkin really adds something. i think balance is very important, not just in food, but in everything, you know. it really makes a difference. >> so, this is a recipe if we want to try to achieve balance. i'll work for you here if you want -- >> well, you can do the flour. >> now we put the flour in. by the way, you're putting that directly into the wet mixture, but you can just dump this or do you have to go slowly? >> well, do you know what? everybody will tell you you have to go slowly, but in the end, you whisk until the lumps are out and it doesn't matter. okay, come on. i haven't got the patience to go slow skrrks we only have a couple minutes in the broadcast. >> and sugar. >> uh huh. >> and then baking soda, baking powder, and you just, in the end -- i won't carry on because i'm going to put flour all over you and i love your top too much. >> thanks, nigella. >> and in the end -- >> it looks like that. >> it's so beautiful. i always think if you consider regular pancakes, they're like a blanket. when you eat these, it's like a comforter. >> and they smell good when they're being cooked as well. a nice little aroma -- >> this is a horrible noise. it's like people used to -- when i was at school, people used to put, you know, their fingers on the blackboard. there they are. that one needs a teeny bit longer. >> i think we didn't get give you the best griddle, but -- >> no, no, it's perfect. >> and there's a plate of them. now, this is what you put on top of them, right? >> okay, i'm coming over, and this is what i put on top of them, which i love. these are pecans, which are toasted first in a skillet, just so the full nuttiness comes out. >> just simple, without anything? just oil? >> no, no oil. because nuts have -- >> oil anyway. >> -- oil anyway. then i douse them a bit in maple syrup and carry on cooking until the syrup almost crystallizes and gives them almost like a candy. >> and they're very pretty. >> aren't they lovely? >> mm-hmm. >> and so then -- >> then. >> then it's just -- >> then it's just. >> so easy. it's just a question of adding some of these gorgeous pecans. >> mm-mmm. >> see, i think maple syrup is, again, like a natural sugar. i mean, it exists like that, therefore, it must be good for you. >> of course, it is! >> it's an antioxidant. >> speaking of antioxidants, look at this salad you've come up with. >> yes, wow. >> well, my feeling is that we tend to overindulge in the holiday season, and if you have a bit too much to drink -- you see, i prefer to get my medication in food form. so, instead of going to a health store and getting tablets, i have, you know, antioxidants there in the salad. >> this is great. and what are we drinking here? >> martini. >> perfect. >> there you are. there's your balance. nigella lawson, thank you so much this morning. >> thank you. >> happy holidays. coming up, some lucky laid ease from our plaza get a ambush makeover. but >> live, local, latebreaking. this is wbal-tv 11 news today in baltimore. >> good morning. i am sarah caldwell. for the first time since that jury found her guilty of misappropriating gift cards, baltimore mayor sheila dixon is speaking about her experience did it was only 63 seconds, and while she did not say she was sorry, she did it knowledge what to put the city through. she gave no indication that she would step down. she took no question at the conclusion of her statement. >> now let's look at the forecast with tony pann. got some snow on the way. >> for the beginning of the weekend. today things will be nice and quiet. high temperatures this afternoon in the upper 40's to around 50. light snow in the forecast for saturday. about an inch of accumulation at this time. >> thank you for joining us.