Great marinade

Summertime isn't the only time steak is on the menu and an amazing steak marinade isn't limited to summertime cookouts. Here is a simple steak marinade guide from Bill and Cheryl Jamison, authors of The Big Book of Outdoor Cooking & Entertaining.

Start with an acid to add a bit of bite to the marinade. Then add an oil to balance the taste, carry the flavor, and contribute a subtle nuttiness. Flavor will be provided by the herbs and spices used.

What you'll need

• One part acid.Use lemon juice, white-wine vinegar, or balsamic vinegar.
• One part oil. Try olive, canola or grapeseed oil.
• Some flavor. Onions, shallots, ginger, garlic and herbs add tang. Use crushed red peppers for a spicier edge.

What's next

Once you've decided on your choices, whisk ingredients together in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Men's Health Magazine (July/August 2011) recommends seasoning the steak with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to "transfer seasoning to the meat." Then soak your steak for 2 to 12 hours. Remember, longer is better!

Making Great Iced Tea

Tea is, and always has been, a summertime delight. Once you taste this version by Matt and Ted Lee, authors of The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern, you won't look twice at the syrupy swill in the super market.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

6 regular-size bags of orange pekoe tea
1-lb ripe peaches (skin on), pitted and cut into wedges

HOW TO MAKE IT

1. In a saucepan or tea kettle, bring 2 cups cold water to a boil. Place the teabags in a pitcher and pour the boiling water over them. Let stand for at least 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a food processor, puree the peaches until smooth -- about 90 seconds.
3. With a wooden spoon, gently press the tea bags against the side of the pitcher to extract the liquids. Remove and discard.
4. Stir in 4 cups of cold water and peach puree; refrigerate 45 minutes or until well chilled.
5. Strain the tea into a pitcher using a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth.
6. Pour the tea into tall glasses filled 2/3 with ice cubes or combine 1/2 cup with an ounce of your favorite bourbon or whiskey to make a julep.

Energy-saving tips for your home

Energy-saving tips for your home often provide a modest cost-savings as a natural byproduct to conserving energy, but economic hardships needn't be your primary reason to be more aware of your carbon footprint.

Saving money while being energy efficient is easy! One example for saving energy and increasing your disposable income is to install dimmer switches throughout your home. For more helpful "green" tips, read "Eight Everyday Green Tips for Your Home" on Yahoo! Voices.

Alternative remedy to help prevent an asthma attack

Sipping a cup of black tea may help you relax your airways. Remedy Healthy Living magazine's Fall 2011 edition suggests brewing strong black tea (three bags for a cup of hot water) each morning and afternoon in addition to breathing exercises for relief from asthmatic symptoms. Tea contains the mild muscle relaxant aminophylline, which helps open up the airways.

Important note: While breathing exercises and drinking black tea can improve overall lung health, these tactics should be considered complimentary only and should not replace the need for medications prescribed by your doctor.

Play D for Good Health!

Last summer, Men's Health magazine (July/Aug 2011) cited a study in the journal Diabetes Care on the usefulness of vitamin D against diabetes. "Vitamin D may help cells recognize insulin," says study author Anoop Shankar, M.D., Ph.D.

Study results

If your vitamin D level is adequate, you might very well be less likely to experience high blood sugar. In the study, participants with lower blood levels of vitamin D were 47 percent more likely to have prediabetes than those with higher numbers.

For more information

Interested in more information? In an article I personally researched and published on Yahoo! Contributor Network, "What is vitamin D?",  I explain in great detail the benefits of vitamin D and how to determine if you are deficient. You would be wise to read it and play D against diabetes!

Sources:
"Play D against diabetes," Men's Health, July/August 2011 -- page 33.