great day. specific specific big freeze, at least five more die as the week-long storm continues to cripple nearly half the country. snow and freezing rain now move into the south leading to thousands of accidents. ticking time bomb. new details emerge on the school board shooter clay duke, the trouble the gunman planned his chilling attack complete with a date circled on his calendar. we'll hear from his estranged wife and speak with police about the ongoing investigation. storming accusations. a meteorologist is accused of filing a false police report claiming to have been attacked and nearly raped while jogging in central park. we'll take you inside the bizarre case early this thursday morning, december 16th, 2010. specific specific specific

captioning funded by cbs good morning, everybody. not quite so cold in new york this morning. i'm harry smith. >> it is warming up a bit. i'm rebecca jarvis. hey, harry. >> good morning. we'll take another look at this case in panama city, this stunning video that we all watched yesterday. more details are beginning to emerge about what exactly transpired and who was the man with the gun. so, we'll have that in just a minute. >> a lot of miracles there, harry. we'll begin with the deep freeze that is blanketing the east now creating travel chaos across the south, where at least five people died in traffic-related accidents and a new storm system is making conditions even worse. cbs news correspondent don teague is in raleigh, north carolina with the latest. good morning, don. >> reporter: good morning, rebecca, snow, sleet, freezing rain causing problems all across the mid-atlantic and southeast this morning. here in north carolina, hundreds of schools are closed, as winter

arrives here in full force. a frigid wintry mess across the southeast and mid-atlantic, as snow, sleet, and freezing rain threatens cities from kentucky to the carolinas, even georgia, and alabama. already, the system has proven deadly. in mississippi, and alabama, at least five people died wednesday in crashes on icy roads. in memphis, tennessee, this school bus ended up in a ditch after the driver hit a patch of ice. thankfully, none of the children on board were hurt. >> she called me from her cell phone and said, mom, we had a wreck. i'm like where are you at? she's like i don't know. >> reporter: over a thousand weather-related accidents were reported in a matter of hours. in raleigh, north carolina, officials tried to get a jump on the storm. they've been pouring salt, sand and 100,000 gallons of de-icing solution on the roads for two days. >> obviously, ice and sleet are a big concern for us, especially with the stuff projected to come

in during the morning commute. >> reporter: the winter weather has already forced airlines to cancel flights across the southeast. florida's cold weather has the manads tee population looking for warmer water to survive. this group gathered in the warm waters around the power plant at port everglades. in north carolina, volunteers had to rescue these sea turtles because of a sudden drop in water temperature. and even in minneapolis, where snow and ice are common, there are more problems. the metrodome, which deflated sunday morning under the weight of snow and was being repaired, has now sprung another leak. back here in the southeast, north carolina state university, for one, has postponed their finals by a few hours this morning. this all began as snow a few hours ago, now freezing rain and ice in north carolina. that's bad news. got news is they are hoping for warmer temperatures here later today and this hopefully will melt. rebecca? >> cbs's don teague in raleigh

go get some hot cocoa. thanks for being with us. >> reporter: all right. >> the lates on the school board shooting in panama city, florida, learning more about the troubled gunman clay duke and the hero security guard who shot him as he fired point blank at six school board officials. cbs news correspondents mark strassmann is in panama city with the latest. mark? good morning. >> reporter: good morning, harry. later this morning mike jones the hero you mentioned will tell his story of how he wounded a gunman and stopped a potential blood bath. clay duke's attack startled everyone else but he planned this. police found the date circled on his home calendar. and once he held members of the bay district school board hostage, he ignored their pleas. >> i've a wife and family. i don't need to die. >> reporter: ginger littleton, the only woman on board snuck

back inside and tried to disarm duke with her purse. duke let her live, but no one could talk him down. >> please don't. please don't. please. >> i'm not a pansy, but i will tell you i was very afraid . >> this is was going to happen. he was going to do. this there was nothing we could have done to stop him. >> wednesday an emotional rebecca duke told reporters she hoped to give her husband some good news. >> trying to fill out applications and trying to get -- and some interviews so that i could actually say, honey, guess what, i got a job, you know, everything's going to be okay. but, um, evident lg, i didn't get that chance. i love my husband, he's really a gentle giant. >> reporter: by the time he opened fire, missing even at point blank range, duke was a troubled and broke ex-con, angry the school system had fired his wife, a special needs teacher.

his lawyer said duke was also bipolar, which kept him jobless so he couldn't afford his medications. by the time somebody called 911. >> oh, my gosh, he's firing. >> okay. >> he's firing! >> reporter: mike jones couldn't afford to wait. in the boardroom, here off-camera, the school district security chief returned fire and dropped duke. >> i'm telling you, mike saved our lives. now, it doesn't get any more real than that and you don't have to believe that or whatever but we were in there and i'm telling you that that gentleman was not going to stop shooting. >> jones, hugged and hailed as a high row by everyone told cbs news duke fired 11 shots, all missed. jones fires seven shots and at least three of them wounded duke before the gunman killed himself. in the dead man's pocket, police found 25 more rounds of ammunition. rebecca duke, the gunman's widow, said her husband was actually an excellent marksman and if he missed all those

targets, even at close range, probably it was because he wanted to. harry? >> mark strassmann in panama city this morning, thank you very much. also in panama city to give us an update on the investigation is deputy police chief robert colbert. deputy chief, good morning, sir. >> good morning, harry. >> was this fellow, this duke guy, was he a known character, known as a troubled character around town? >> yeah, he actually was a virtual unknown to us. we unaware of his -- any problems he had at the school board. he didn't show up on any of our computer databases. he is actually from a neighbors jurisdiction which probably led a lot to that. >> we're hearing a story that, as he entered the building there, he encountered a group of rotc kids who had just been in there for the presentation of the colors and the rotc cadets had rifles with them. was there an encounter, did he ask them some questions?

>> right. what they were carrying was more of a ceremonial type weapon. they're not a live weapon. obviously, these are teen-aged rotc students. what he did was begin questioning them as far as whether their weapons were real, whether they were loaded. what we believe, at that point, he was conducting his own intelligence gathering mission prior to going inside the school board. >> wow. what do you know about his sort of internet life? he had this web page and i guess he was not the only one who was sort of revelled in this anti-government kind of talk and sort of anti-government think. >> right. we do know that he was active on one of the social sites and that he had quite a few postings that were anti-government and -- and such as that, that he had -- he had began to get quite a gathering, as far as people chatting with him through the social site. >> apparently, there are people who are supporting his actions

on some of these sites. the other thing -- go ahead, sir. >> no, i was just going to say, that's correct. we've been able to, after this event transpired that there's been, you know, had been some activities of people that were voicing their support, as well as their opposition for their actions. >> talk a little bit about mike jones and the job he did. he's the safety director there for you guys. >> phenomenal job. you know, i said it earlier, you know, because of the actions of mike jones, there's going to be quite a few families that are going to have their loved ones with them this christmas. >> can't say it any better than that. deputy chief robert colbert, thank you very, very much for your time this morning. >> thank you. >> so happy the story ended the way it d. thank you very much. take care. >> thank you. >> rebecca? >> thanks harry. now heading to politics and the battle over extending bush-era tax cuts. the senate passed a bill and the house could take a final vote later today or could make changes that milt destroy the deal and lead to a tax hike for everyone january 1st.

cbs news congressional correspondent nancy cordes is on capitol mill with the latest. good morning, nancy. >> reporter: good morning, rebecca. that's right the bill passed overwhelmingly in the senate but faces much stiffer opposition in the house and it's not just from democrats anymore. mplts yaes, 81, nays, 19. >> reporter: even as it sailed through the senate by a vote of 81-19, house democrats were pushing to strike parts of the deal like cuts to the estate tax for the wealthy at a cost of $25 billion. >> think of what you could do with that $25 billion. first of all, you could reduce the deficit. >> reporter: some house republicans are also having second thoughts. ind's mike pence broke with his fellow republican leaders saying he would vote no because the bill extends the bush tax cuts for just two years. not permanently. >> we perpetuate the uncertainties that's built into our tax code. uncertainty is the enemy of our prosperity. >> reporter: hoping to stave off more defections, a group of 31

conservative blue dog democrats sent a letter to speaker pelosi urging her to, quote, promptly schedule this essential economic measure for a vote. the president after meeting with a group of top ceos left no doubt how he feels, telling reporters he wants the bill passed as soon as possible. before the vote today, house democrats are going to introduce an amendment to strike some of those estate tax cuts and, if that amendment passes, that throws the entire deal into flux because the bill would then have to go back to the senate where republicans have warned they might not accept any changes and keep in mind, rebecca, all these bush-era tax cuts expire in juks two weeks. >> a good points v. timely issue, nancy. in terms of whether or not the house dems have the votes to get the estate tax provision out of the bill, what's your sense there? >> reporter: well, it's a pretty uphill battle, rebecca, because it's unlikely any republicans would go along with it then you've got those 31 conservative democrats we mentioned who say

they don't want any changes to the bill so the rest of the democrats would all have to hang together if they want to see this through. >> cbs's nancy cordes on capitol hill continuing to follow an ever evolving story thank you. >> betty nguyen at the news desk this morning has the headlines. good morning, betty. >> good morning. this morning the white house releases its latest review of the war in afghanistan. the report finds that u.s. -led forces are making gains against the taliban. but, describes them as fragile and reversible. the report says militants continue to find safe haven in pakistan. the al qaeda leadership is weakest since the 9/11 attacks and the u.s. remains their principal targets. u.s. troops will start to withdraw in july but americans will remain in afghanistan until at least 2014. a report the u.s. government is working to build a conspiracy case against wikileaks founder

julian assange. meanwhile, a media frenzy is swarming around another bail hearing for assange this morning. cbs news correspondent elizabeth palmer is at the court house in london and joins us live. good morning, elizabeth. >> reporter: good morning. yes, an appeal hearing in the royal courts of justice, which you can probably see behind me under the huge crowd of reporters, you wouldn't believe how -- what a circus, in effect, this has become. the hearing's under way, assange is inside wearing a blue business suit apparently looking very relaxed but we don't know how it is going because the judge has said he will not allow anyone to tweet from the courtroom. . as soon as the prison van carrying assange pulled up in court there was a media frenzy. innocent or guilty, julian assange is now a celebrity, shielded from photographers. but one lucky shot this morning does show him flashing a "v" for victory. so far, though, it's only a

partial victory, at best. assange and his lawyers thought they'd won a bail hearing tuesday. but, the decision was immediately appealed and assange had to go back to prison to wait. if he's granted bail today, the conditions are tough. he'll have to wear an electronic monitoring tag, report to police every day, and put up just over $300,000. this morning, his lawyer said the cash does appear to have come in. >> we believe that we will have the money today. it appears to be in the banking system. we certainly have pledges from the people who -- who stood behind him on previous occasions. >> reporter: assange now has various high-profile backers, including michael moore who announced on his website that he would post some of that bail. now, if assange does get bail today and we'll know very shortly, he will be spending the holiday season at the home of a friend in the countryside beyond london and he'll have to be back

in court on the 11th of january. betty? >> elizabeth palmer in london, thank you. a monthly report on home foreclosures out this morning shows was analysts call a short-term lull in the crisis. in november, mortgage lenders took back almost 67,500 homes that, is the fewest since may of 2009 and down 28% from october. but, they're likely to rise earlily next year after banks finish dealing with paperwork errors that forced a temporary freeze. baseball fans are mourning hole of fame pitcher bob feller. feller played 18 seasons for cleveland leading the indians to a world championship in 1948. a hard-throwing right-hander, he won 266 games, despite a career interrupted by world war ii service. bob feller died of leukemia last night in cleveland. he was 92. dave price joins us with a look at the weather this morning. good morning, dave. >> morning to you betty. 7:15 right now. a lot going on so let's get

right to the maps and see what is happening. we heard earlier about this mess this morning, you are waking up to really sloppy conditions and all of this beginning to push to the east. let's take a look north of atlanta, that's where you see that freezing line and that's where just to the north and east you're talking about precip that's going to be icy on the roads, at least until late morning/early afternoon. thenning, all that warm air is going to begin to roll on through. you can take a can loochlt there's the rain in the blue, the freezing precip in the pink or the red, if you will, and there is the -- there is the just the regular precip in the green. again, freezing stuff, sleet, and then the rain rolling on through. we'll continue to watch it. but that's what you are dealing with this morning. louisville and knoxville reporting freezing conditions, also, this morning. you're going to get some snow, as far as denver and heading all the way to flagstaff. some rain for the southwest, everybody. in the northwest, you are talking about finally drying out and a little bit of coastal rain

>> sloppy stuff. snow, freezing rain, rain, going to be a tough morning in sections of the east. folks? >> thanks very much, dave. >> you bet. >> still ahead this morning, a tv meteorologist claims she was assaulted in new york's central park. now, police say she made it all up. we're going to tell you more. >> also in a few months, these cribs are going to be illegal. we're going to tell you what you need to do to keep your child safe. >> and the best christmas deals are not over yet. we'll explain why you may be

better off waiting a few more days before you buy. >> keep holding out. >> this is "the early show" on cbs. the flight to honolulu has been delayed 28 days. your table will be ready in 28 days. ah, we got you a booth! just relax, the doctor will be with you in 28 days. you'd never wait that long. huh? so why wait 28 days for new releases? blockbuster has hot new titles, like a-team and inception, 28 days before netflix and redbox. rent them in store, by mail, stream on demand and on the go. blockbuster. less waiting. more watching. - oh, we miss you, honey. - i'll be home soon. until then... tommy? - behind every open heart is a story. - it's beautiful. - tell yours with my open heart collection at kay jewelers. keep your heart open, and love will always find its way in.

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central park sort of sacred ground in new york city and the last number of years an unbelievably safe place. >> you walk here to work. >> i walk through at 4:30 in the morning. a local weathercaster said she had been assaulted there not once but twice. police now say she's made up this stories and we'll have more on that in a bit. >> also, they've been blamed for dozens of infant deaths, drop-side cribs. the government is now saying they are outlawed. we're going to tell you what you need to know to keep your child safe. >> good idea. we'll be right back. >> announcer: this portion of "the early show" sponsored by the new windowsphone. see? it even has bing right here so... the second my flight gets cancelled, i can quickly find the nearest...

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we'll visit with them thousand that is balmy, supposed to be up to 30 degrees. >> nice and cool. >> welcome back, everybody. a new ban this morning for a popular crib. the consumer product safety commission decided to outlaw the traditional drop-side crib n. recent years more than 30 small children have died after they got stuck inside the front of those cribs. millions of have been recalled. many homes still have them. we'll tell you everything you need to know to keep your child safe wimplts christmas around the corner you can't walk down the street without seeing the signs, promotions, every single store window has them. however, some of them have a dirty little secret, many of

those products that seem to really be on sale, well, they might not be cheaper than they usually are. >> what? >> coming up, where to find the best deals but truly cheap once. >> very good. first here in new york a prominent tv weather forecaster told police she escaped from attempted rape is now accused of making it up. heidi jones was arrested over the weekend, taken off the air by her station, wabc-tv, pending the authorities's ves dwags. betty nguyen is here to tell us more. >> good morning. it began as a horrific tale once had friends and colleagues of heidi jones feeling sorry for her. now, the truth is, it was all just a lie. >> between five and eight a.m. especially north of the city you want your umbrella. >> reporter: the forecast turned grim for the tv meteorologist last week when new york city detectives picked her up for filing a false report of attempted rape in september while jogging in central park. according to police, jones waited a month to report the

incident and described her attacker as a stocky, hispanic man who tackled her from behind. when authorities canvassed the area and began to ask questions, the story didn't add up. after questioning jones a second time police say there were inconsistencies in her story and when confronted, jones confessed. >> she stated that she had some personal problems and that, in fact, the information she had given to the police initially was incorrect. >> reporter: jones, who also fills in for abc's "good morning america" has been suspended pending an investigation. her attorney says she plans to enter a not guilty plea and issued the following statement. miss jones has had a distinguished keer as a broadcast journalist and urges all concerned to refrain from jumping to conclusions about the unproven charges against her being discussed in the press. police say jones fabricated the story after experiencing personal relationship problems. she was charged with a misdemeanor and could face up to a year in prison if she's found

guilty. jones is scheduled to appear in court january 15th. harry. thanks. let's bring in psychologist jennifer hartstein and "early show" contributor and cbs news legal analyst jack ford. good morning to you both. >> harry. >> good morning. >> jennifer, starting with you, what would prompt somebody to do something like this? >> it's a really interesting question that we're all kind of trying to figure out. she did admit there were some personal setbacks going on in her life, that she was potentially reaching out for some sympathy, that's one reason. clearly, something, much deeper than that is happening. did she have -- is this like a link to lots more trauma, a problem of lying that we can reach back into her past and, also find? we don't know. is it a psychotic break? i don't know. all of these questions really something really messed up with her reality testing and she doesn't have the skills to ask for the help she needs, which leads to the very big problematic behaviors. >> here's a person in public, right? >> uh-huh. >> then goes to the police would, have, you know, cognitive

ability to know there are consequences of that kind of an action. and then when the police do what they do, she knows they're going to do and they find out -- >> right. >> -- there's almost, do you put yourself in a situation where you are going to be found out? >> you know, there is a question of is there a thrill to that, too? you know, and there's that question. there's the acid case with bethany soros ages ago really reaching out and getting all of this attention. is it additional attention-seeking behavior, all interesting questions. to me it is really a skills deficit, asking for sympathy and going really big and broad having a break from reality to think about what the consequences are going to be when she does this behavior. >> going way too big with it. >> way too big. >> answers are probably a much smaller venue. >> exactly. >> from the standpoint of the law if you go to the police and you say this happened to me not once but twice and it turns out not to be true, the law doesn't look at that as an act of

whimsy. >> a lot of people are surprised harry, that's actually a crime. we are all familiar with the notion of perjury, swear to tell the truth in a courtroom or in a deposition in a grand jury and lie. that's an easy one, historically a crime but we've seen over the years most jurisdictions also say now, look, if you are being questioned about an investigation, an official law enforcement asking you questions and you lie about it, as long as it is something material, something porcht, not a detail but if you lie about it, the law says that also is a crime. the idea simply you are sending out law enforcement people chasing after something with limited resources and time and energy and there will be consequences. here, the allegation is that by making this whole thing up, she triggers an investigation and that's why she's looking at what she's looking at. >> in real life, is there a likelihood of jail time or prison time. >> i don't think jail time. it's a misdemeanor carrying a maximum of a year plus some fines. by all accounts she's a good and accident person. as jennifer says, why this

happens, if it happens, we don't know yesterday if she's guilty of it but why -- i would think if i'm her lawyer i would argue and i think a judge would be sympathetic, problems here, probation, let her deal with whatever the problems are, no need to jail a person like this. up next, we're going to tell you about the new band on drop-side cribs and what you need to do now to protect your kids.

this is "the early show" on cbs.

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a year ago susan koeppen

first broke the story of the largest crib recall in u.s. history. more than two million cribs with a drop-down front side a. new government announcements will officially ban all drop-side cribs in the united states. cbs news correspondent elaine quijano is here with the story. good morning. >> reporter: good morning to you, harry. drop-side cribs have always made it easier to lift babies in and out of a crib. the problem, they can also be deadly. after more than 30 fatalities and millions of recalls, a federal ban will take drop-side cribs off the market for good. in a unanimous vote the consumer product safety commission ruled it will soon be illegal to manufacture, sell, or re-sell cribs with sides that drop down. in six months all retailers have to sell only the new cribs. >> reporter: the problem with drop-side cribs, sliding side rails can malfunction due to hardware poorly made and create a space big enough for an infant

to become trapped and suffocate that. happened to this 10-month-old in 1997. his mother, mishel, found him. >> to see the horrific sight of him strangled was just horrifying to me. >> reporter: tyler was sleeping in a crib with a doctor-down side when his head got stuck in a gap between the siderail and the headboard. >> i just immediately fell to my knees and just started screaming. >> reporter: over the past ten years, at least 32 children have died in drop-side cribs and they may be the cause of an additional 14 deaths. hundreds more have been injured. today, the consumer product safety commission has done the right thing. >> reporter: for mishel witte's wednesday's long-awaited federal ban was some measure of justice. >> i'd like to just sincerely thank the people in this room and women standing next to me made it possible nobody will

ever have to endure the loss. thank you. >> reporter: make sure your crib hasn't been recalled, check it carefully and stop using it if it has been or loose and missing parts. >> show people what happens with this malfunction. >> what can happen with the drop-side cribs. as you can see the hardware is plastic both at the top and bottom. >> right. >> that can break. what that then creates is this gap here where a baby can then get drapd in that gap and suf catty. what ends up happening, parents have tried to fix these in the past and that hadn't hasn't worked and children have died, as well. adding to the fact a lot of these are past down and makes them more prone to breaking with a lot more wear and tear on them. >> thank you so much. do appreciate it. for more information on these cribs and the recall go to our website earlyshow.cbsnews.com. up next, we take the mystery out of holiday sales and show you how to tell if a sale item is

really on sale. this is "the early show" on cbs. thank you for calling usa prime credit. my name is peggy. you have problem? peggy? ok, i've been waiting for fifteen minutes for someone to pick up. you're tenacious like bull. i like. please hold. no, no, no...pe- (phones ringing) so pretty. want better customer service? switch to discover ranked #1 in customer loyalty. it pays to discover.

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right now in just about every store you see big signs saying "sale" but how do you tell if a product marked as "sale" is really the very best deal? great to have you you with us. >> thanks for having me on. >> the age-old question, am i getting the best deal here. are people getting the best deal right now nimplts a word, no. >> okay. that's straightforward. >> the holiday season started with a bang. prices have leveled off a bit and i also think ul see see prices come back down a bit starting the 22nd, 23rd and week after christmas. to give you an example, the best deals from black friday are approximately 21% higher today than three weeks ago. >> actually higher priced right

now. in terms of those discounts, discounts versus ultimately what you pay, sometimes the retailers are going to try and trick you. >> that's absolutely right. there's never been more discounts but the question is are you getting the best deal a. lot of stores are selling things for high prices and offering big coupons and discounts. you might think you are getting a good deal but probably not the best. >> 50% off is not really 50% off if it is 20% higher to start. talk about the deals you say are the best he deals. >> tlaert. great deals every day. not quite as many as three weeks ago but a few examples of what there are today, finish line has college sweatshirts for two for $40 shipped which is a fantastic deal. you can buy restaurant.com gift certificates for 70% off. that's another great deal. there's an eight-hour food saver kit for $24, which is fantastic. >> huge savings. >> express is doing a large 40% off sale and a $15 off a $30 order coupon. those are all big -- these are

great deals going on right now. the details are all at brads deals. >> in addition, you also have big tips for people. let's start with coupons. >> coupons are a no-brainer. we have about. >> they are but we don't use them all the time. >> everyone forgets. that's the big thing simply to remember to use them about 5,000 active online coupons we have today at brads deals and takes less than 90 seconds to grab one, print it out or take it to the store or get the coupon code. the savings is about 24% in less than 90 skdz, something we should all try and remember. >> credit cards. >> the big thing with credit carts many will double the warranty on any item you buy with that card all for free, no effort in our part. you and i probably have credit cards in our pockets that do that and it is probably worth knowing which do. you should never buy the warranty the store is selling you and take a look at your credit card if free. >> and where you don't have to

pay sales tax. >> when you shop online, the sales tax is, in many cases, is not -- is not charged to 80 or 90% of the states. >> we go online for sales tax, to not pay it. >> it is usually sales tax-free. a huge savings. >> thank you so much. we'll be right back. this is "the early show" on cbs.

a lot of people did it last weekend but this weekend is also going to be a very serious time, going out and buying a christmas tree, all right. >> you can get a good discount right now. maybe? >> maybe. we'll tell you the things to look for, when we come back on "the early show." hey, guys. printer's out of ink.

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a lot of holiday revelers with us on the plaza this morning. >> we love it. >> we'll get to meet them in minutes. welcome back to "the early show" i'm hair rye smith along with rebecca jarvis. while it is a little chilly outside i notice you don't have any gloves on. >> yes. >> do you mind just putting your hand out just like. >> that well, if i must, if i must. >> someone here just got engaged. >> ohhhh! [ cheering ] >> and i thought the most amazing thing we chatted about this this morning. >> yes. >> you kept telling me, you're the lucky girl. >> i am the lucky girl, matthew pierce hanson is out there, he's a wonderful man.

he proposed to me in chicago where we first met and i really am a lucky girl, harry, he's incredible. >> he is going to be a very lucky guy. >> well, i'm glad you think so. that means a lot to me harry. >> coming up a new government warning about dietary supplements some containing illegal ingredients that can have dangerous sideeffects. we'll tell you which ones you need to watch out . >> for also if you haven't noticed christmas is just a little over one week away and if you still need a tree, you may need some help in that department. in the last-minute rush, it's actually very easy to pay too much. >> right. >> so, we have some very good advice so that you can find the right tree at a very fair price no matter ma ter what kind of tree you want, harry. >> important advice and last-minute. >> yes. >> let's check the news this morning. [ cheering ] cheering for christmas tree shopping. >> yea. >> all right. betty nguyen is at the news desk. good morning, betty. >> lots to cheer about. congratulations, rebecca. >> thank you, betty. >> good morning to you at home.

the wintry mixed moved from the midwest to the south this morning. still snowing in bloomington, indiana this morning. here's a live look at that you see the ice ketting the trees. the rough weather is make travel difficult both on the ground and in the air. cbs news correspondent don teague is in raleigh, north carolina with the latest. good morning, don. >> reporter: good morning, betty. yeah, across the mid-atlantic and southeast we've been getting a mixture of snow, ice, the worst is freezing rain really causing travel troubles. hardest hit last night atlanta during the evening commute had more than 1,000 traffic accidents reported. there were were people that took three and four hours just to get home from work in the atlanta area yesterday as the ice started moving in there. there were, also, fatal accidents in places like alabama and mississippi, as this ice has just been crawling across the southeastern part of the country. it's now in north carolina. it began here this morning as snow several hours ago. it's been freezing rain for

about the last hour or so. the good news here, at least, they expect the temperatures to warm up above freezing shortly and hopefully by this afternoon whatever's on the ground will have melted away. but, it's caused hundreds of schools to close and here at north carolina state university, they've had to postpone finals for several hours as they're trying to deal with this big mess. betty? >> cbs's don teague in raleigh, thank you. >> we are learning new details of the white house review of the afghan war due out this morning t. finds the taliban have lost much of their power in afghanistan over the past 12 months but that the gains against the taliban remain fellow jill and reversible. the al qaeda leadership in pakistan is at its weakest since the 9/11 attacks and the u.s. remains the principal target for the organization. u.s. forces will begin to withdraw in july but some american forces will remain in afghanistan until 2014. in london this morning wikileaks tounder julian assange is learning when he will be

released on bail or remain on jail pend strag digs to sweden. swedish police want to question him about sex crimes allegations against him. also today, the "new york times" reports the u.s. may charge assange with conspiracy involving the leak of hundreds of thousands of secret documents. the danon company agreed to a huge settlement over charges it made improper health claims. the settlement totals $21 million to be paid to 39 states that joined an ftc investigation of danon relt claims which said its yogurt relieved irregular y irregularity. the man who opened fire fire on a florida school board planned his attack for some time according to police. he shot alt school board members several times tuesday and missed. he was eventually wounded by a security guard then shot himself to death. duke complained about his wife losing her job as a teacher.

she says she hoped to bring him some good news. >> trying to fill out applications and trying to get -- and some interviews so that i could actually say, honey, guess, what i got a job, you know, everything's going to be okay. but, evidently, i didn't get that chance. i love my husband. he's really a gentle giant. >> mike jones, the security guard who shot duke is being hailed a hero. police say duke had at least 25 more rounds of ammunition in his pockets. back outside now, dave price has another check of the weather. awfully cold on the plaza, dave. >> 23 degrees outside right now, betty. imagine, imagine if you are out just wearing tights to sell a product. that's chilly! but powerman can power through it. nice going, powerman. >> thank you, dave. >> we have friends from walmart doing nice things as we head into the holiday season trying to eradicate hunger.

for more information, there's that website right there. meantime, let's see what we can do about getting you good weather as we head through the latter portion of the workweek. there we go, plenty of snow still out there, freezing precipitation. cold weather. let's take a look at the radar right now. the blue, to clarify, that's kind of snow, that purplish color is the mixed precip, that freezing rain, that sleet and the green behind it is rain, it's pushing eastward but keep in mind you get north of atlanta you are talking about freezing temperatures, dangerous road conditions, cancellations piling up. meanwhile, go to the southwest, the other end of the drun he, where we see more snow and rain, phoenix will see showers, maybe a quarter inch of rain. as you head to santa fe, flagstaff, aspen and denver you will see accumulating snow, much more so in higher elevations and cold sdar filters down into today and tomorrow through that area. that's a quick look at our national maps.

sgloerns this weather report sponsored by daisy brand sour cream. a dollop of daisy is the natural way to make good food taste better. >> seven minutes after the hour right now. that's a look at the weather as we begin this hour. rebecca, let's send it inside you to. >> thank you, dave. up next cracking down on illegal dietary supplements. we'll tell you which are considered dangerous and how to know for sure. this is "the early show" on cbs. ♪ daisy, do a dollop

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in this morning's health watch, illegal dietary supplements, the fda is warning manufacturers to stop spibing their products with steroids, prescription drugs or other prohibited substances. dr. jennifer ashton has important information to help you protect yourself. great to have you with us. >> good morning, rebecca. >> tell us, what is this and how widespread is it? >> it is widespread and potentially dangerous and the problem here when you are talking about dietary supplement, even if they are quote/unquote natural products is that the fda does not have to police their safety before they come to market. so, they are only responsible for ascertaining their safety after they are on the shelf. what you are talking about here three very popular categories of supplements that are available both on the internet and in some cases in retail stores for weight loss, for sexual enhancement and body building. so, three very popular categories with potentially very dangerous sidefengts.

>> let's talk weight loss. what do you see there? >> talking about the weight loss category, the concern some contain a substance very similar to a medication called sabutramine in a drig called meridia just pulled from the market the concern is not only liver problems but stroke and potentially hard problems and heart attacks. talking about weight loss, "natural" does not always mean safe. >> you've talked about body building products here numerous times on the program, what do you need to look for there? >> the concern with the body building products rebecca, they sometimes promote on the packaging it is a legal alternative to anabolic steroids which we know have very dangerous sideeffects, liver problems and can really have serious hormonal consequences. the other issue talking about a anabolic steroids, sometimes the package will give a warning saying you may test positive on drug testing. you have to realize if it works to build muscle and can give you a positive drug test there, are substances in there that can

work as anabolic steroids do, potentially very dangerous. >> very dangerous. also sexual enhancement drugs you mentioned could have issues with illegal and dangerous substances. >> exactly. in the sexual enhancements category the fda is issuing a warning for people to stop taking categories of these supplements because the concern here they contain a drug similar to the prescription medication in "viagra" which can affect blood pressure. the four they warn people to stop taking, vigor, 25 one name. duro extend capsules for men, magic power coffee and man-up now available again on the internet and in he stores. if people are taking them, they should stop immediately. >> sounds like a red flag to note people would need a prescription to get this stuff anyway that, would be a red flag to look for. >> exactly. >> how do you know you are safe? >> you should discuss any of these products you are taking, even if you think they are quote/unquote natural with your doctor. there are very good books you can get one called the pdr for

herbal products you can he read and research the proikts. you cannot assume things are natural or safe. we have to remember cocaine comes from a natural plant and rovbl is not safe. >> important to keep in mind. thank you for keeping us safe. >> you bet. >> now up next, still looking for the perfect christmas tree, well, we've got you covered to find the very best last-minute deals. this is "the early show" on cbs. >> announcer: cbs healthwatch sponsored by restasis, talk to your doctor about restasis cyclosporine opthalmic emulsion 0.05%. most people like to hear

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you don't really get into the christmas spirit without a christmas tree. as "early show" contributor taryn winter brill tells us finding the ideal tree can be a big project or just something you do in your spare time. >> reporter: christmas trees aren't just beautiful traditions, they're serious business. each year 13 million are cut and sold, making this a billion dollar industry. and with nine days left until christmas, there's still time to find the right tree to brighten up your holiday. every year, this family finds the holiday spirit together at this new jersey farm. what does it mean to you as a family to have this tradition, to go out in the cold and get the tree. >> it's important, i guess, you know. brings us -- we get up here today. didn't get everybody this year but nicer than having the tree delivered or picked out for you.

it makes the tree important, you know. >> reporter: a bonding experience. >> yeah. >> the ambience and getting it back on top of the car that's part of it, too getting it packed. >> like the christmas holiday spirit. my favorite time of the year, so -- >> reporter: back at the house it's a perfect fit. >> high-five. nicely done. merry christmas. >> teamwork. >> yes, absolutely. >> reporter: when time is in short supply popular retailers like the home depot offer a quick and economic alternative. do you come here every year. >> yes, we do. >> yes, over year. >> reporter: why do you come here? >> it's convenient. the prices are good. >> and we live close. >> we live close. >> we live close and like the selection. >> reporter: reason enough. how long did it actually take you to pick the tree out? [ inaudible ] >> it only actually took me

about five minutes. >> reporter: if you just can't find the time to stop and shop, the interthet could save your christmas. >> in general, the online tree shopping experience? how do you feel about it? >> very easy. point and click and just like everything else and it shows up the next day. didn't have to haggle with prices or go out in the cold. >> reporter: in between shifts at the hospital, phil ten nabt ordered history online and this showed up on his doorstep. what i find most interesting this huge tree fit in this tiny box. >> it does. and it was easy to put up, kind of stayed in the box, put the stand on it and didn't make a mess in the apartment. >> reporter: i think he's proud of you, dad. you done good, as they say. but, no matter how find your special tree, it's the memories you create around it that really count. >> well, if you still have not bought your tree don't worry jason cochran from walletpop.com has the facts on getting the right tree at the right price.

did i get that right, the walletpop.com? >> walletpop.com. >> very good. christmas tree prices this year are. >> actually about what they were last year, good news, right. about eight to ten dollars per foot. so about six feet, 48 to '60, most places. in the city it can be a bit more. >> in the city on the sidewalks, you can get hosed -- >> 20 bucks here. >> -- you can get hosed if you don't know what you are doing. things you have to remember if you are buying a he tree from the lot you have to remember, that saw. >> they are drying out by the time you get them and the sap is cat riced, it can't drink. you have to make sure to stay fresh and that great smell. you cut off about a half of the trunk you get it home. they do it there, too. you can do it twice. maybe a quarter gallon of water every single day this thing will drink. >> we've had ours up almost two

weeks and it drinks like crazy. you can't water it enough. you can still do this, plenty of time, to go to a christmas tree farm, how do you find the right farm. >> there is a christmas tree farm network, actually with a website. >> who is that. >> christmas dash tree dot com. i recommend further out from the city tend to be less expensive than the ones where people come from the city. you might find a good deal there. near the city is about the hot cocoa and the fun with the family and kids like we just saw. >> that is a cool experience, you wander around and find the right one. in some farms they give you the saw yourself and you can go out and cut it down. >> make sure it is straight otherwise you have to cut it again, it will be crooked. >> it takes practice if you haven't done it before. we saw in taryn's piece you can actually get them delivered. >> sure, yeah. it's convenient. >> how does that work? >> not necessarily the cheapest option in most cases. major retailers, smaller ones, i think target, costco, home

depot, a lot of deliver for you and had their cut-off earlier this week for this year so now the smaller guys you might find online but you will will pay probably two or three more -- times more than if you picked it up yourself sbloo speaking of which, trend every year is more and more people are buying artificial treels. are you paying for artificial trees. >> i think they start for something my height i'm about six, about $1 a50. again home depot sells both real and artificial trees. you want it nice, fuller, lights in it, prices go up significantly. but pays for itself in a year or two. >> very much so. on the other hand you don't have the fragrance. >> there are ways around it but they are chemical. >> the other thing the big trend for people to buy trees that are living, living plants. >> i love this idea, actually. say your first christmas together as a family or anniversary or anytime at all you get a potted tree and it stays alive during the season and the season is over, you plant it in the krard.

you keep it, you remember that memory and it's also better for the environment. you don't have to recycle it or throw it away. >> good >@

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all right. good crowd out here on the plaza and people are in the holiday spirit. >> oh, yeah. >> to say the least of the welcome back to "the early show." paul rudd has been in a lot of high-profile comedies in the last couple of years. his new film is no exception, a romantic comedy called "how do you know" we'll ask what it was like to work with reese witherspoon and jack nick cal son and in this movie actually kisses them both. >> very interesting. >> how is that for a tease? >> he knows how to deliver the laughs. also, former project runway finalist laura bennett is here

to help you make amazing leather goods, i'm telling you, at a tiny fraction of the cost. >> if you still haven't planned your christmas dinner, chef eric ripert has a truly mouth-watering menu, royced pork loin, sliced butteris not squash, spiced hot chocolate and kin mon benets for dessert does. it get any better. >> i doubt it. >> maybe it does. dave price is here. that's better, right? hey, dave. >> stop it. congratulations! >> isn't that great. >> oh, thank you. thank you, dave, i really appreciate that. >> wow, thighs rock there. >> that'll keep you warm. >> thank you dave. >> a lot to talk about weather-wise, right? huh? is it cold enough for you? >> yes, it is. >> i agree with you there. let's go to the maps and see if it will get colder where you are. it looks like we have oop a mess brewing heading to the carolinas today. it is going to be short-lived.

things will will improve. it will warm up a bit, everything kind of movers east and we'll see warmer air move east. but in the meantime, some of those roads really icy. greenville, raleigh, again all the way back to louisville and knoxville. there, you are going to see some slippery roads this morning. do take extra time and you could have school delays and cancellations, the whole nine yards. something to watch out for as you start your day. let's see what else is happening across the country. southwest you will see precipitation, as well in the form of snow in higher elevations places like phoenix, though, a little on the soggy side. wintry mix in higher elevations around flagstaff and sante fe heading to the mountains of the rockies you'll see significant snow. it is going to be just beautiful. but, you got to watch it driving today into tomorrow. meanwhile, around the rest of the country, what else do we have? well, we're going to dry out as we head to the pacific northwest the a will little bit of rain on the coast. you see that low and coldfront, that will begin to move eastward.

as it does, that may be the birth of the next storm system, which is going to roll across the country as we head into the hole will day week. we'll watch that. that's a quick look at our national maps. [ cheering ] >> that's your latest weather forecast. harry, inside to you. >> paul rudd is a familiar face in many of hollywood's biggest comedy hits the last decade, one of the funniest leading men

around this time a troubled businessman trying to get close to reese weather ther spoon in the romantic comedy "how do you know". >> what sort of trouble are you in, george? >> simply put, currently unem ploeed my girlfriend recently broke up with me, i'll soon out of money and i'm the target of a federal investigation. >> wow. you're a real chick magnet, aren't you? i'm sorry. >> well, we'll see. >> i think the lines end up working pretty well. paul rudd is here. good morning. >> good morning. >> so, just to get this straight because i've seen the film and i'm going through the background on all of this. you have to kiss jack nicholson in the movie and end up kissing reese witherspoon in the movie. who is the better kisser. >> boy, that's really -- that's apples and oranges. >> pressure is on. >> that's tough. really tough. >> yeah. >> they are both great!

>> reese, i guess won. i think i kissed jack nicholson maybe a thousand times. and, you know, they're -- they're both of them tender, caring, and -- >> passionate. >> passionate. there's passion. but not too much. and -- >> it is acting, after all. >> well, you got the whole crew around and it's always, you know, an awkward thing. but, you know, it was -- i felt great after kissing both of them. >> for the record, we needed that. >> i got you. >> i want to move on. james brooks is the guy who did this movie and has done all these classic romantic comedies over the years. you had to audition for him? >> yeah. i went to meet him here in new york, i went to his apartment. >> right. >> had a fever, though. i had about a 101-degree temperature. i shouldn't have gone out of the

house, really. >> right. >> i auditioned and it was horrible. >> it was horrible. >> i was able to talk him into letting me do it again a couple weeks later. >> you sold him the second time around. >> apparently so. >> he said you are to this movie what jack nicholson was to the classic -- >> "shining." >> -- "as good as it gets". >> he didn't do the "shining". >> the first scene i do like this talking out of my pinkie. >> red-rum. >> red-rum. >> that's high praise. >> do you know he said that? >> i didn't know he said that. i was sort of making a joke. actually, i'm kind of overwhelmed. >> flabbergasted. >> he's the maestro. >> he is. >> you are the full crumb around which all other levers go up and down. can you explain what your job is in this movie. >> i'm trying to make reese

witherspoon fall in love with me. >> there you go. >> but that's -- then i also have an actual job. boy, i'm wearing a lot of hats in this thing, now they think about it. >> big-time stuff. yeah. well, you know, you rise to this amazing level of popularity and stardom and then, you have a lot of responsibility. [ laughter ] >> nobody ever put it that way before? >> no. i'm getting nervous. >> you better find another line of work. >> yeah. >> you know, what can i ask you one more question? >> of course. >> do you know "how do you know? ". >> no >> because that's the whole point of the movie. >> no, i know. you'd think by this point i should -- i'd have an answer to that question. do you know? >> i kind of pretty much do. >> tell me, please. >> i'll just tell you what it is, when you realize one day that all of the other ones that you think aren't, that's how you know. >> that is a great answer. actually, i mean, i do feel like i know in my own life in the sense that i would rather be around the person in this case

my wife than not. >> yeah. >> so, that's another. >> it's not particularly romantic. >> that sounded horrible. i better come up with -- can i steal yours? here's one. i inner thought i could be more myself in front of somebody than -- that's getting better. >> ohh, much better. much better. it would have sound sod much better about a minute ago. >> yeah. you can edit that. >> we'll switch it -- we'll fix it in post. >> appreciate it. >> thanks, dude. appreciate it it opens nationwide tomorrow. rebecca. >> thank you, harry. if christmas shopping gives you sticker shock especially when you see something you really want but can't afford, we have the solution. designer laura bennett, a finalist on "project runway" and mother of six is here to show you how to make something really special at homeless than $30 and you promised it will be easy enough anyone can do it. >> this is so simple you are going to be shocked. >> what is this? >> this is, i'll show you how to make a little eyeglass case. the reason i chose this project

because it is so virs tell, once you get down this method of construction you'll be able to make anything for anybody. >> start with the tools we are working with here today. >> the tools that i'm going to work with, i use this cutting board but you can use a piece of cardboard. a box cutter, a snap-played cutter, a straight edge. a little screwdriver to install the hardware and binder clips to clamp your project while the glue is drying. >> mostly things you might already have around the house. >> absolutely. >> the other elements we're working with? >> the materials you need are a piece of leather. this is about a square foot of leather. it would cost you about $5.00. i used some little harded ware comes in a packet, everything you need just like for two or three dollars, depending on the style you choose. some double-stick tape and glue that drys clear. >> these are all things you could go to the craft store and they would show you around and where to find things? >> i buy most of these things online. >> okay. >> so, i think on "the early

show" website are all my favorite websites where you can get all of these things. >> we love this. >> let's get started. >> so easy. >> what do i need to do? >> the first thing you are going to do is cut out your piece of leather. and so, what you need is for the body is a piece of leather 8 inches by 10 3/4 and for the flap, a little piece, 8 inches by 3.5. i like to trace them. >> you've measured out pieces of paper first and mutt them down on the leather? >> yeah. i tend to make more than one so i do a pattern but you can measure it directly on the back of the leather. then you why a straj edge and snap-blade cutter but also can use scissors and just sort of cut out your pieces. it's easy, see. >> you do make it look easy. >> leather cuts very easily and you can totally use scissors. >> and you end up with something like this. >> you end up with, this the body and this goes on the flap. the first thing you need to do i have this really wide

double-stick take from 3m. just going to cover -- cover this. then we'll cover it -- you know, you would cover it completely, but we don't need to. you put that on there and peel. i'll let you do this part. you peel this off like a peel-and-stick. >> got it. >> and stick it onto there. >> both down sides onto each other you have the rough part. >> exactly. exactly. so, that's going to give you your flap piece. >> right. >> then the next thing you need to do we'll glue the sides here, put a line of glue. leather is actually really easy to glue because it is porous. >> you are not actually going to have to put too much glue. >> you don't need to, you can use any household glue anything that dries clear you want to doimplts you fold it back. >> while it dries, sometimes i like to put a little scrap of leather. here's a scrap for you. i just like to clamp it with thighs binder clips but it actually drys quite quickly.

>> how long are we leaving it like this for? >> oh, gosh, i'm sure five minutes or soinchts really? only five minutes. >> white glue tends to dry really fast. and it's easy, you can work with it after that. so now, you'll have your piece all glued. >> yes. >> like this. the next thing to do inwill stall the hardware, which is the fun part. >> okay. >> so, what you do is first you get, this is like a two-part piece. way like -- what i've already cut a little hole here but this is what you can do, you press it into the leather then you can see that little mark. >> the imprint. >> yeah, you trace it out. of course you will will do this in the center, actually. like press it on there, trace it out and cut out that little section with your knife. >> gotcha. >> i'll let do you this to show you how easy it is. >> there's the hardware. >> the hardware goes on this and this one goes on the back. then they have these little screws. >> this is where this comes in handy. >> yeah. and you just screw that in.

how easy. >> well, it is easy if you have your hands free and not thinking about it on television, probably, a lot easier. actually, this really isn't hard i'm telling you once you get the screwdriver going, it works out. >> the next thing do you is fold this down and mark the spot where -- >> you are going to cut out. >> where this goes. >> you don't even need to cut out. just two little quick slots. >> okay. >> see? just like that. this piece goes in. of course, this is closed on the side. >> sure. >> these little tabs fold back. the last thing i like to do and i will let you do that scrap of little has a little stick. >> oh, i see. >> -- on the back. >> you put more double-sided tape on this one. >> that prevents whatever's in your case, keep it from scratching. >> oh, a really nice thought. >> so, it's that easy. there you go. >> and you have your finish the

product. >> very nice. >> looks amazing. >> we have all these, these get a little more embellished. >> depending on your skill level or what you are comfortable with. this one i sewed on the sewing machine and used the same color thread. even if you make a mistake it barely the show. >> laura bennett thank you so much. >> how about that? >> we appreciate it. >> for more tips go to our website earlyshow.cbsnews.com. >> announcer: this portion of "the early show" sponsored by big lots! for all your holiday shopping needs think extreme value. think big lots! >> chef eric is here with great ideas for christmas dinner, the brains behind the world-renown french restaurant in new york and also author of avec eric and host of the pbs show of the same name.

>> this is not a walk in the park. it's rough. >> thank you so much. cheers. >> real pleasure. >> chin-chin that. was a real adventure. >> it really was. >> it's okay. you just bite to it and the garlic will come out. >> great show, great cookbooks and restaurant, the great eric ripert. >> how are you. >> good morning, chef. >> good morning. >> we'll make christmas dinner. pork tenderloin. >> actually, a loin, not a tenderloin. >> oh, okay. >> i'm going to show you how we tie it in a timely manner. you know, you have choice, you can do a knot every quarter inch or can go very soft like going to do now. >> i'm not sure i've ever reeled to do this. >> you put the string like that. >> like tying a package. >> yes, it's very important to tie it because you are going to, first of all keep the shape of the pork loin and, also, you are going to keep all the juice inside. if it wasn't tied like that, you

will lose all the juice and the pork will become dry. today, pork doesn't have to be, also, cooked well done like it used to be long time ago, afraid of -- >> sick notices. >> today you can have it medium, medium rare if you like it. >> wow. and probably easy. >> easy, right? >> yeah. >> you save a lot of time. if you make 20 knots, it takes about 20 minutes. and we are going to saute the pork with also some mushrooms. so, you are going to cook the mushroo mushrooms. >> all right. >> they're yours. oil here for inside the pan. i'm going to take care of the pork. and we -- here's the pork. i'm going to season the pork and you are going to season the mushrooms, like that. >> okay. >> this is for you. and -- oh, wow, you're good.

you have some shallots and garlic. i have some sage and thyme that goes in the pan and garlic, as well, in the skin, like this. and we get a nice coating of the pork. you see the pork already has a nice color. >> look at that. >> very important to have a nice color to sear the meat. >> exactly right. this pan was very hot. >> that pan was very hot. yours was, too. >> maybe a little too hot. >> no, no it is perfect. you want to carmalize your mushrooms. the pork is going into an oven staying 20 minutes maybe at 400 degrees. >> that's all? >> that's ul a. when it is cooked, of course, the pork comes back. >> oh, look at this. >> and, i'm going to remove the pork. excellent. doing a good job. >> the best we can. >> we are going to make the jus

the sauce, a bit of white wine like that. a little bit of chicken stock. >> right. >> and we're going to let it boil a little bit. >> butter? >> a tiny bit, not much. you know. and -- >> oh, the smell. you added that white wine. >> a bit of butter on your mushroom maybe harry, i'll give you the butter. >> i'll slice the pork. >> i'm going to switch places with you. >> okay. we can do that. >> also, when you are slicing the pork, because of the way i tied it, it's very easy to remove the string, you see, it comes out by itself. >> oh, look at that. >> so, it's very easy. now, i'm ready to slice. going to remove the fat like that. >> oh. look how good that looks. >> and we are going to have a beautiful pork with mushroom. you see the color is kind of -- >> a little bit pink. >> a little bit, not too much. and -- okay one more slice. >> what we serving this with?

>> with some brussel sprouts and chestnuts. we have also fingerling potatoes, roasted. sweet po taye he toes and i'm going to pour the jus on top of the pork. it's hot. >> yeah, careful. >> like that. just a little bit of the jus on top. you see? here. ohh. the mushrooms are perfect. and now -- >> can i put them on top? >> yes, absolutely. >> it looks beautiful. >> we have to sew that to the camera. we can cook together christmas dinner, huh? then for dessert with the bignet, hot kok lat infused with spices. >> this one is yours. >> i know where i'm going for christmas dinner. >> and this one is for me. >> all right. >> i don't know if you like mash mellows on top or without.

>> i'll take mine without. >> me, too. but the benet will be -- cheers. >> joi noelle. >> you can have find these recipes on our website earlyshow.cbsnews.com. we'll be right back. you are watching "the early show" on cbs.

the only thing we didn't get to, chef, the bignets. look how gorgeous. >> they are tiny. i like the fact they are small because you were have one, two, three -- >> or 20! >> are they hard to >> no, not hard to make. you have to just have a little bit of knowledge in pastry or follow the sdrekss of the recipe, very simple. >> right. >> then you fry them at home and you can keep them all day, they don't change. >> no. >> coat them with sugar and goes

really well with chocolate, too. >> very g. hope you have a great christmas. an amazing meal, really, really fun. >>

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