Happy Thanksgiving

We hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving with the ones you love!

Preparing Your Car for the Winter

It's getting colder and we've already had two snows so far this fall. A few things to remember to check or keep in your car during the winter.

Make sure that:
1. Your tires are in good shape. Enough tread and no dry rot.
2. Your tires are inflated to the proper pressure.
3. You have windshield wiper fluid that is made for cold temperatures
4. Your windshield wiper blades are in good condition.
5. Your heat and defroster work.

In your car keep a:
1. Sleeping bag and/or emergency blankets.
2. Pair of warm socks, an extra pair of gloves, hats and snow pants.
3.Bag of sand
4. Flashing light or road flares
5. Box of granola bars or other shelf stable food
6. Heavy duty jumper cables (they work better and faster than thin ones).
7. Pair of snow boots (whether they are on your feet or in your trunk).

Keep your gas tank full. Go out there and have a good fall/winter knowing that you're prepared in case you get stuck in a snow storm.

Scheduling Items on Your Policy

Certain categories of possessions have a limited amount of coverage on your policy if you do not schedule them. For example on our policies there is a $1,500 limit on jewelry. If you would like to extend that coverage, you would need to get your jewelry appraised and bring us the appraisal. With that information we would be able to cover the loss for the amount of the appraisal as long as you have enough personal property coverage.

This allows you to have specific items fully covered in case of perils or theft. Other commonly scheduled items include: watches, precious and semi-precious stones, gems, and furs and guns.

Mom's Pot Roast Recipe

Winter is starting to creep in and we've already had one snow storm this year. Which means it's pot roast season again! I thought I would share my Mom's delicious recipe for pot roast. It's prefect for those cold days.

Ingredients
3 to 5 pound chuck roast

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1/3 cup sherry

2 onions, cut into quarters

2 tsp basil

1 bay leaf

water or beef broth

olive oil

Directions

1) In 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil over high heat, sear roast on both sides until browned, about 1 minute per side.

2) Place the roast in a casserole dish with a cover that fits tightly, add garlic, sherry, basil and bay leaf. Add water or beef broth or a combination of the two until the roast is just covered.

3) Cover and cook at 325 degrees for about 4 hours. The roast is ready when it's fall apart tender.

Remove the roast from the dish and strain the liquid. Use as gravy or au jus sauce.

Building a House? Builder's Risk

Insurance for a house that is being built is called Builder's Risk Insurance. Coverage gradually increases as the home is being built.

What does it protect?
The structure being built, materials, fixtures, equipment being used to build the building

Why do I need this?
The same reason you want insurance on your home and car. You want to reduce your risk.

Why can't I just get a homeowner policy?
Homeowner policies do not cover building projects; they cover fully built homes.

Jess's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies

As a change of pace today we thought we might share Jess's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe. She adapted it from the Nestle Toll House recipe and it is a favorite around the office.

Ingredients:
     2 1/4c all-purpose flour
       1tsp baking soda
       1tsp salt
       1c (2 sticks) butter
       3/4c packed brown sugar
       3/4c raw cane sugar
       1tsp vanilla extract
        2 large eggs
        2c (12oz pkg) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375° F
• Combine flour, baking soda and salt in a small bowl
• Melt butter
• Beat butter, brown sugar, raw cane sugar and vanilla extract in a large mixing bowl until creamy
• Add eggs on at a time mixing after each addition
• Gradually beat in flour mixture
• Mix in chocolate chips
• Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto an ungreased baking sheet.
• Cook at 375° F for 8-11 minutes
• Remove from oven and place on cooling rack
• Enjoy

Traveling? Protect Your Home

There are a few easy things you can do to protect your home while you are travelling.

Stop your mail: Contact your local post office and ask them to hold your mail as of a certain date. You can restart it as soon as you get home. This stops mail from piling up in your mailbox alerting unsavory characters of your absence.

Use timers: You can buy timers that will turn on your electronics at a certain time and turn them off later. A lamp can be set to turn on around sunset and a TV can be set to turn on during the day or at might. People are less likely to notice your absence if electronics and lights are turning on and off in the house than if it is dark and motionless inside.

Ask a neighbor: Before you leave you can ask a trusted neighbor to watch out for your house and make sure nothing suspicious is going on while you're away. If you're not that close with your neighbors, you can always ask a friend to drive by and check on it.

Put the can away: Making sure not to leave you trash can at the curb while you're gone is a good practice. The trash may need to go, but leaving a trash can at the end of your driveway for a week is a dead giveaway that you aren't home. If you really need your trash disposed of you can take it to the dump before your trip or ask a neighbor to put it out and take it in.

Alarm: Having an alarm system in your home is a great asset and can give you piece of mind while on your trip.

Insurance: Last, but definitely not least. Make sure your home has insurance coverage. Many policies cover theft and vandalism.