Visit on FacebookLifeNet Gets Cookin’: Grilled Sirloin with Coffee and Peppercorn Crust
An unusual seasoning produces great flavor. Leftovers (if there are any) are great for tacos!
-2 cloves garlic
-¼ + kosher salt
-2 T strong coffee
-2 T balsamic vinegar
-Pepper to taste
For vinaigrette:
-Smash and peel garlic.
-Mix in salt and mash into a paste with a chef’s knife.
-Put in bowl and whisk in coffee and vinegar.
-Season with pepper to taste, set aside.
-2 T coffee beans (not flavored beans)
-2 t black peppercorns
-1 lb top sirloin steak (about 1 inch thick), trimmed
-1 t olive oil
-Prepare grill.
-Put coffee beans and peppercorns on a cutting board and coarsely crush with the bottom of a heavy fry pan.
-Rub oil over the surface of the meat and coat with crushed mixture, pressing it into the meat.
-Salt the steak to taste.
-Grill to taste, about 4-5 minutes per side for medium rare.
-Set on clean cutting board, cover with foil and let rest for 5 minutes.
-Slice across the grain.
-Fan meat on plates and drizzle with vinaigrette.
Health Care and the Economy (Part II)
Continuing our health care post from Tuesday, we’re talking about the economic crisis’ negative effect on medical care.
Europeans with universal coverage often pay a few out-of-pocket costs when it comes to medical care, but it is clear that they are much better off health insurance-wise than
we currently are. It is not common for people living in countries with universal health care to cut back on their routine medical care. The researchers from the study say that the cutbacks are most likely to happen to 3 groups: young people, people with low incomes and people greatly affected by the economic crisis. However, not all hope is lost, thanks to the new health care law. President Obama hopes to turn this trend around with his plan to provide coverage for more than 30 million uninsured Americans.
Okay, now we’re ready to hear your thoughts!
Embrace Life
This video couldn’t ring more true. Happy Wednesday and remember, embrace the ones you love by making sure you are covered with a good life insurance policy!
Health Care and the Economy (Part I)
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that countries with universal health care systems are faring much better in terms of economic cutbacks. And how! The National Bureau of Economic Research recently published a study
that revealed that Americans have cut back on their normal medical care, such as routine checkups, significantly more than those in countries such as Britain and Germany.
According to the researchers, this alarming discovery is due in part to the fact that about 15% of Americans are currently uninsured, as opposed to other countries that have nearly complete or complete universal health care coverage.
LIAM: If Only For Family
We make no effort to hide the fact that the number one reason for purchasing a life insurance policy is family. After all, nobody needs additional financial stress and pressure when dealing with the pain and grief of a loved one lost.
Take Ebony and Shanna Blanchard, for example. When their mother, Jackie, lost her husband at only 28 years old, his small amount of life insurance caused her to panic. This was the catalyst for Jackie to purchase enough life insurance coverage for h
er daughters if something were to happen to her. Life works in mysterious ways sometimes, and a couple of years later, Jackie was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. It was because of her life insurance policy that Jackie was able to afford a house and car for her daughters, as well as pay for their college tuition. Today, Ebony and Shanna still live in the home they shared with their mother.
This is why LIAM is so important. The personal stories we share are to remind you not to delay and be sure you have enough coverage, for your family’s sake as well as your peace of mind.
LifeNet Gets Cookin: Roasted Tomato Soup
Summer tomatoes and basil are beautiful things. Use these two bounteous ingredients while they are fresh, fresh, fresh. Choose either ripe red tomatoes or heirlooms to change the base in this wonderfully refreshing end of summer cold soup.
-8-10 ripe tomatoes (3 lbs) cored, halved and seeded
-1 ½ tsp olive oil
-2 red onions, chopped
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-3 C chicken stock
-3 T chopped fresh basil
-salt and pepper to taste
-basil leaves for garnish
* Preheat broiler.
* Spray a baking sheet with cooking oil spray.
* Place tomatoes on cookie sheet with cut side face down.
* Broil until skins are blistered, 5-10 minutes. Cool.
* Slip skins off tomato halves and chop coarsely.
* In a medium saucepan, heat oil.
* Add onions and sauté for about 5 minutes.
* Add garlic and sauté an additional 5 minutes until onions are very soft.
* Stir in tomatoes and heat for about 1 minute while continuing to stir.
* Blend to a puree using an immersion blender, blender or processor. (We use an immersion blender which keeps it a little chunkier). Return to saucepan.
* Add chicken broth and bring to a boil.
* Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.
* Remove from heat and stir in chopped basil.
* Season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill.
To serve, garnish with basil leaves, and serve in mugs or bowls.
Drink to your heart’s content! Fall is just around the corner!
Grants Granted to Health Insurance Regulators: Part II
y surrounding the insurance industry in numerous states. States such as Alaska, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota and Wyoming didn’t obtain grants and understandably so, since they didn’t request them. The administration of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger did not wish to seek prior approval authority, but California still received a grant. Many changes, many opinions! What’s yours?Okay, Go…Look At This Music Video!
One of THE most amazing music videos we’ve ever seen. Imagine how production went on that one! Enjoy.
Grants Granted to Health Insurance Regulators: Part I
To help increase oversight of rising health insurance premiums, Obama’s administration is forking over a cool $1 million in grants to state insurance regulators, and all but 5 states will be receiving them.
This is due in part to the fact that less than half of state insurance commissioners have “prior approval” authority, giving them the ability to review insurance records and put a halt to rate hikes in individual and small-group markets. In fact, some states do not even require insurers to report rate hikes to the public!
More on this Thursday.
Something for Everyone Cake (aka Wendy’s Cake)
We all need a good solid easy yummy cake in our repertoire, and that’s what this is. It’s easy and delicious and a fragrant light cake. Enjoy!
-Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-Grease and flour a 9” x12” pan.
-2 C sugar
-½ C softened butter (or margarine)
-2 large eggs
-Blend well.
-Add:
-1 medium banana, mashed
-1 t vanilla
-1 pint (2 cups) sour cream
-Mix well.
-Sift together in another bowl:
-3 C flour
-2 t baking powder
-2 t baking soda
-1 t salt
-Add to batter and blend thoroughly.
-Pour half of the batter into the baking pan.
-Mix together.
-1/3 C brown sugar
-2 t cinnamon
-6 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips
-1 c chopped nuts (we don’t like nuts in the cake, so we omit them and add a little more chocolate; could substitute dried cranberries or something similar)
-Sprinkle half of this mixture over the batter.
-Cover with the rest of the batter, then sprinkle the rest of the sugar and chip mix on the top of the batter.
-Bake for 45 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.