When you’re about to make a new dish, it helps to know exactly how to interpret each term in the recipe. More than just abbreviations like "tsp." or "oz.," recipes often include phrases like "blanch," "caramelize," and "pickle," making it a little more challenging to know if you're making it correctly. Here are four kitchen terms that you should keep in your arsenal in order to follow a recipe.

1. Blanch (or blanche). This is a term that refers to the process of boiling vegetables or nuts to remove their skins and seal in their flavor. It's often done before canning or freezing.
2. Caramelize. When sugar is heated to higher than 300 degrees, it turns brown and takes on a unique taste—that is, it caramelizes.
3. Pickle. This is a type of fermentation that occurs when vegetables or meats are preserved in brine.
4. Reduce. When a recipe calls for liquid to be reduced, it means to bring it to a rapid boil causing evaporation. This allows it the liquid or sauce to thicken, increasing its volume and flavor.

The Basic Kitchen: Glossary of Cooking Terms [Le Petites Gourmettes]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes and Gardens]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Cookery]
Culinary Terms: Food Dictionary and Glossary of Cooking Terms [Culinary Arts at About.com]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Remy Sharp

From dry, static-filled hair to rough, cracking hands, the chill of winter sure takes its toll on your body. Here are a few soothing tips to help you care for sensitive skin and hair this winter season.

1. Avoid the hot shower. Although a steaming hot shower can feel great after a long day of work, hot water actually strips your skin of its natural moisture and causes it to become even drier in the winter.
2. Trade in your lotions for replenishing oils. Moisturizers and lotions are both good ways to add moisture back to dry skin, but nothing works better than rich grapeseed or argan oils. Apply these nourishing oils immediately after a bath or shower to help them absorb better.
3. Care for your feet at home. By using a pumice stone on your feet once a week and applying a rich cream every night, you can prevent rough, calloused winter feet before they happen.
4. Moisturize the scalp to prevent dandruff. One of the most obvious (and embarrassing) signs of stressed out winter skin is dandruff on the scalp. Prevent it by switching to an anti-dandruff shampoo, using only lukewarm water in the shower, and moisturizing the scalp with a vitamin-rich oil.
5. Minimize shampooing. If your hair feels dry and brittle during the winter, try shampooing only every other day.

19 Tips for Healthier Skin and Hair This Winter [Greatist]
10 winter skin and hair care tips you can’t do without! [The Health Site]
Winter-Proofing Your Skin, Hair, and Eyes [Real Simple]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/zappowbang

You work hard and save as much as you can, and of course you deserve to indulge every now and then. Here are a few thrifty tips to help you avoid overspending on necessities and, in turn, maximize your savings for things that are more worthwhile.

1. Map out your meals. It can become a bad habit to order takeout or grab lunch instead of brown bagging it. Map out your entire household’s meals at the beginning of each week, allowing for the occasional lunch out or dinner in, in order to maximize your grocery trips and make a restaurant visit all the more worthwhile.
2. Stay aware of your utilities. Utilities like your cell phone or electricity are essential, but that doesn’t mean that you should pay for them blindly. Instead of using an automatic withdrawal system for each month’s bill, analyze how much you’re spending on each utility and barter with the service for a better deal if you feel that you’re being billed unfairly.
3. Buy off-brand or discounted. Sure, things like your favorite yogurt or those new designer shoes require a bit of brand loyalty, but there are a number of areas in your home or pantry where you can be thrifty without much notice. Opt for store brand groceries where you can, use generic household cleaners, and buy clothing when discounted.

Beware These 9 Common Overspending Triggers [Daily Worth]
Our House: Common Overspending Traps to Avoid [Well Heeled Blog]
Overspending On Sale Items – How To Avoid The Traps [Miss January]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/401k2013