If you’ve ever encountered a cooking term that you didn’t understand in a new recipe, you know how confusing it can be. From julienne to mince, there’s a whole slew of complicated terminology that seems foreign to the amateur chef. Here are a few simple definitions that will help you with your next adventure in the kitchen.

1. Braise. Braising involves browning meat or vegetables in a bit of hot fat before cooking them slowly in a shallow pool of liquid. This is a great technique to soften less tender cuts of meat or veggies.
2. Devil. To devil something, such as an egg, you simply coat it with a hot seasoning like hot sauce or mustard.
3. Dredge. Dredging means to coat something like meat or vegetables with flour, breadcrumbs, or cornmeal.
4. Flambe. This term is usually found in more gourmet recipes. It involves sprinkling a food with a liqueur and lighting it on fire before serving.

Glossary of Basic Cooking Terms [Les Petites Gourmettes]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [UMN]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes & Gardens]
Culinary Terms [About.com]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Rebecca Siegel

Affectionately referred to as a "hole in the wall," the Hubcap Grill in downtown Houston is a bar and grill that wins hearts through the all-American combo of juicy burgers and crispy fries.

Don’t let the plastic patio furniture or tiny dining area fool you; Hubcap is an elitist when it comes to grilling a patty. Ordering it rare or well-done is serious business, whether you ask for the Guacamole Swiss Burger or the Triple Meat Cheeseburger. If beef isn’t your thing, try the Muffaletta Grilled Chicken Sandwich for a taste of what’s good in life, and be sure to wash it down with a bottle of icy cold root beer.

Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, Hubcap Grill's downtown Houston location is cash-only, so come prepared to slap down a few bills to get what you deserve: a thick, delicious burger and fries served with a smile from one of the best grills in the city.

Hubcap Grill
1111 Prairie Street
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 223-5885
www.hubcapgrill.com
www.yelp.com/biz/hubcap-grill-houston

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/stu_spivack

It seems like every time you’re faced with a big deadline for work or school, your brain instantly goes into procrastination mode. Suddenly the house needs to be cleaned, that new television show looks a whole lot more interesting than it did before, and even just staring at the wall seems more appealing than doing your work. If this sounds all too familiar, these three tips will help you to stop procrastinating for good.

1. Break things up. A huge project may seem daunting, but once you break it down into smaller steps, it'll seem much easier to manage. Create an outline of the project with each part broken down into its own step, and the tackle each step one at a time. Crossing off those items will feel so good that you’ll look forward to moving on to the next one.
2. Get a change of scenery. If you work from home, the amount of distractions in your living space can start to feel overwhelming. Set up a home office area that’s completely separate from your bedroom, living room, or other recreational areas, or even take your work to a coffee shop when you feel the dreaded procrastination bug coming on.
3. Hold yourself accountable. Whether this means telling a friend or colleague about your goals or marking them down on a calendar, many people work more efficiently if they’re held accountable for their actions. Over time, this may even translate into better work habits altogether.

11 Practical Ways to Stop Procrastination [Lifehack]
How to Stop Procrastination in 4 Simple Steps Even if You’re Lazy [Digital Bloggers]
15 Ways to Stop Procrastinating Right Now [Business Insider]
8 Ways to Not Procrastinate [Relevant Magazine]

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