School’s out for the summer, and you’re probably on your way to a great vacation. Before grabbing that sunscreen or glass of wine (or both!), tackle some maintenance projects around the house! We’ve got an easy checklist just in time with all sorts of fun facts about July 4th.

June is Turkey Lovers Month, so today’s recipe is for Grilled Turkey Breast with Chive Butter. That’s right, turkey isn’t just for the oven!

Did you know that the largest and heaviest cheese ever produced weighed 57,518 pounds, and was 32 feet long? June 4th was National Cheese Day, and we hope you enjoy this month’s cheesy fun facts.

We hope you and your loved ones enjoy summer when it officially kicks in.

1. Stop the mold! June kicks off a row of the hottest months of the year, and all that moisture and heat offer the perfect climate for mold to thrive. Many homeowners attempt to save on their energy bills by setting their thermostats at a high and unsafe temperature. But the cost savings can quickly be outdone if you experience a mold problem.

2. Give pests the boot. Weed out thick vegetation and pick ripe vegetables and fruit as soon as they are ready. Trim bushes or shrubs that come in contact with your home’s exterior. Stop mosquitoes dead in their tracks before they hatch by getting rid of all sources of standing water on your property.

3. Inspect your A/C. The last thing you need is a broken air conditioner in the summer heat. To prolong the life of your unit, adjust your programmable thermostat by only 2 or 3 degrees at a time. If anything seems off, call in a professional HVAC company.

4. Keep your fridge frosty and cold. To keep your fridge and freezer operating smoothly, take some time to wash the condenser coils. These help the unit stay cool by removing heat from the compressor. Also, remove dirt, pet hair, and any food lodged there. Also, check the door because if your door gasket leaks, your refrigerator will try to cool the entire kitchen.

5. Prime your pool. To keep your pool safe for swimming, test your pool’s pH levels frequently. Run the pump daily, using one hour for every 10 degrees of heat in the water as a rule of thumb.

6. Tune-up your sprinklers. When temperatures go up, so does your water bill. Tune-up your yard’s irrigation system to save water, reduce standing water, and prevent damage to your landscaping.

• 4 turkey breast steaks (about 1 ½ pounds)
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage or 2 teaspoons dried
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 4 tablespoons finely chopped chives

1. Preheat a charcoal grill until hot. The coals should be placed close to the grill because the meat will only be seared.
   
   
2. Place each turkey steak between sheets of clear plastic wrap. Pound lightly and evenly with a flat mallet or meat pounder to make slices about 1/4-inch thick.
   
   
3. Brush both sides with olive oil and sprinkle both sides with salt, pepper, and sage.
   
   
4. Heat the butter until melted. Add the lemon juice, cumin, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, and chives. Blend well. Keep warm.
   
   
5. Place the turkey on the grill and cook on both sides for about 2 minutes to a side or until done. Do not overcook. Transfer to a serving dish. Pour the chive butter over them and serve.

• Some scientists believe that regularly eating Roquefort blue cheese helps people live longer.
  
  
• Every pound of cheese requires 10 pounds of milk!
  
  
• A Wisconsin law used to require restaurants to serve cheese with every meal.
  
  
• A 2005 study found that eating cheese 30 minutes before bed helps you sleep better.
  
  
• There are about 2,000 varieties of cheese.
  
  
• Queen Victoria was given a giant wheel of cheddar cheese that weighed over 1,000 pounds as a wedding gift.