The world of marinades and rubs can be pretty confusing to the novice cook. Some say that steak marinades are a must, while others recommend just salting your steak and tossing it on the grill. You'll hear that marinades tenderize meat and that they toughen it, that some are better than others, and that certain ingredients work magic on a cheap steak. Is there truth in any of it? Let's take a look at some of the basics behind marinating to help you find the best steak marinades for your situation.

First, just what is a marinade? In most cases, it's a flavorful liquid with a mildly to strongly acidic base that's used to get flavor into the meat. The liquid permeates your steak, infusing it with the taste of the marinade.

Although the name Bourbon was commonly used, it was not until May 4, 1964 that Congress granted Bourbon official recognition as a "distinctive product of the United States" and enacted laws regarding production and quality standards.  The regulations state that "Bourbon" be produced from a fermented mash made with a minimum 51% corn.  The original flavor and color of the spirit cannot be altered or filtered in any way before bottling.  This differs from other whiskies that are filtered through charcoal to mellow or smooth out the taste).  A key point of the federal regulations requires Bourbon be stored and aged in new, charred white oak barrels for a minimum of two years.  The distinctive flavors, aroma and character of Bourbon are a direct result of aging in these barrels.

You've sent out the invites, you've ordered the champagne, and now to the food! Party food needs to be that little bit special, delicious (of course) but fun and fabulous enough to get people talking too.

If you can make your food about sharing, then the party is already in the swing of things! Dishes with dips and skewers are ideal and encourage people to graze and congregate around the food. Tasting plates are a great idea too – lots of little portions of different things for people to try (a bit like tapas). And bowls dotted all over the house or venue can encourage people to move around and socialise while they eat.

More and more, the benefits of tea are coming to the forefront. Between the antioxidants that tea is known to have in great quantities and the relaxing qualities of many types of teas, it has a powerful impact on both the mind and the body. Tea is quickly becoming the healthy drink of choice by many and with good reason. There are few drinks out there that naturally provide as many benefits as just a couple of cups of tea can.

Study after study has validated that drinking a few cups of tea a day could have a lasting impact on many aspects of your body. Because of the high antioxidant content which tea naturally has, the tea drinker has an army of helpers to ward off things such as free radicals. Free radicals are often associated with diseases such as stroke, heart disease and cancer. In addition, tea totalers tend to have lower blood pressure than non-tea drinkers. And as a side benefit, tea has fluoride which of course will impact your teeth and even your breath. So although the benefits of tea are mostly substantial, it can even impact personal hygiene.