<<First Name>>,

Over the last several weeks, we have had a number of rain storms across California bringing us the much needed rain we desire all year long.  Mother Nature typically delivers it to us all at once though.  With several inches of rain in the low lands and several feet of snow in the elevations, we received quite a few phone calls about leaks coming into people’s homes; through the roof or windows. 
The rain blew so hard (where I live) that it literally was blowing sideways.  We had a small leak ourselves. When the rain hits our house sideways, the water accumulates on top of an exterior door frame, drips in from the top, eventually pooling on our tile floor.  The simple fix would be, on a dry day, using a bit of caulk to fill in the gap.  This will prevent the water from dripping inside our home.
We were fortunate enough it did not cause any damage and it was our only leak.  For some of our clients, unfortunately, they had water come in through their ceilings.  Roofs are tough to detect whether they are in good shape or not.  Usually, you find out you have a hole in your roof only when water is dripping from your ceiling during a storm.  And at that point it is too late!  Then, the question is, will insurance cover it?
The answer is yes and no.  If a tree fell on your roof or if the wind blew shingles off, then yes, your roof should be covered by insurance.  As for the damage caused by the water intruding into your home, it also should be covered (either way) by insurance.  Either way, meaning, even if the roof is not covered, the water damage portion inside your home should be.
Now that some of the storms have passed and we start drying out, it may be good to have a licensed & insured roof inspector or contractor look at your roof.  They can assess if you have any loose tiles/shingles, check your top caps, look for gaps and provide an estimate for repairs, if needed.  Or, they may provide you piece of mind by saying you are in good shape.
With more storms on the horizon, please make sure your gutters and roof are clear of leaves/debris, as this could cause water to back up into your roof, creating a leak.  Please hire a licensed/bonded and insured person to climb on your roof, so you do not end up with an even bigger problem on your hands.

My wife, Elizabeth, is a Mom, an amazing wife and an incredible chef. She trained at the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. She shares a helpful tip below.

With getting back towards a Keto type diet, this month we have a recipe from we have courtesy of Sabrins, Dinner then Dessert

Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Chicken with butter, garlic and lemon coating tender chicken breasts in a creamy sauce.

Prep Time:  10 min
Cook Time:  5 hours

Ingredients:

• 5 chicken breasts boneless and skinless
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter divided
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 lemons juiced and zested
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 cup half and half
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon chicken base optional, but delicious!

Instructions:

1. In a large cast iron skillet add 1 tablespoon of butter to melt on medium high heat.
2. Add the kosher salt, black pepper and Italian seasoning to the chicken and add it to the pan.
3. Cook on each side for 4-6 minutes.
4. Add the chicken to your slow cooker.
5. Cover with lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic and the rest of the butter in pieces (Don’t cook whole or part of the lemons in the slow cooker).
6. Cook on low for 4 hours or on high for 2 hours.
7. In a large measuring cup add the half and half, cornstarch and chicken base and whisk well.
8. Add the liquid, mix, and cook an additional hour on high.

Enjoy!