[jQuery] Using each() to check for content

[hubbs]

I have a listing of links that are titles for items in my database.
Each item might have a description in the database as well, so I was
wanting to print the description, then replace it with a * if there is
any text for the description.  The descriptions contain HTML such as
links, so inserting this into my anchor tag makes it invalid HTML,
which I understand.  But I remove it from the DOM and replace it with
a *.  Strange thing is, it does not seem like it is getting removed
correctly and replaced.

Any ideas why this might be happening?  (And yes, like I said, I
understand it is incorrect HTML, but since it gets replaced almost
instantly, I didn't think this would be a problem.)

I am using:
    $(document).ready(function() {
        $(".test").each(function() {
            if ($(this).html() == "") {
                //Do nothing
            } else {
                $(this).html("*");
            }
        });
    });

My links that need the content replaced:
<div class="itemHolder"><a>Item Name<span class="test"><p>Contents <a
href="#">Link</a></p></span></a></div>
<div class="itemHolder"><a>Item Name<span class="test"><p>Contents <a
href="#">Link</a></p></span></a></div>
<div class="itemHolder"><a>Item Name<span class="test"><p>Contents <a
href="#">Link</a></p></span></a></div>