How to have FUN while learning another LANGUAGE
We started by selecting a bunch of NEW WORDS to be added to our growing vocabulary:
BUTTER - POTATOES
SPINACH - DOUGH - DILL
SPOONS - KNIVES - FORKS
POTS - PANS - TRAYS - LIDS
DISHES - BOWLS - GLASSES - MUGS - CUPS
OVEN - STOVE - BURNER - FREEZER - REFRIGERATOR
DRAWERS - COUNTER TOP - CUPBOARDS - SPICE RACK - SINK - FAUCET
SLICE - DICE - CUT - BAKE - BOIL - DRAIN - MIX - FOLD - BRUSH - STIR - COOK - STICK
Then we printed these words in BIG RED LETTERS and taped them all over the kitchen.
Next, rehearsed our dialog and got the items needed for our RECIPE out and ready for the lesson (see below).
TEACHER
Hi Vanessa, it`s good to see you!
STUDENT
Hi, Silvia, good seeing you, too!
So, what`s going on?
TEACHER
I was thinking we could have some FUN in the kitchen
today. What do you think?
STUDENT
Sounds good. What did you have in mind?
TEACHER
I wanted to teach you a new recipe. It is called Spanakopita Bites.
STUDENT
Hum! I`ve never heard of it…
TEACHER
It is Greek. Usually I make Spanakopita in a large
baking pan.
However, this time I want to make it in small
portions, appetizer style, so we are going to bake it like little cup cakes.
STUDENT
OK.
What are the ingredients we will need to have?
What are the ingredients we will need to have?
TEACHER
Don`t worry, I have everything already.
--- Here is what we`ll need:
RECIPE
RECIPE- 1 stick of butter
- 1 egg
- 1 package of frozen spinach
- 1 box of frozen Fillo dough
- 1 cup of mashed potatoes + 1 tbsp of yogurt + 1 tbsp of mayonnaise
- Some Feta cheese crumbs
- A small onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- Salt, pepper, dill and Parmesan cheese
STUDENT
What is Filo dough, Silvia?
TEACHER
Filo dough is a paper thin, bread-like dough. You
can also use it for making wonderful deserts. You can find it in the supermarket freezer. Click here to see Fillo
STUDENT
How do you make your mashed potatoes?
TEACHER
Good
question!
I don’t add salt to it. After cooking the potatoes
in boiling water, I drain them and mash them while they are still very hot. I
only add one or two tablespoons of mayonnaise and 1 or 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt,
depending on how much I am making.
Sometimes I also add a teaspoon of dill.
STUDENT
That is interesting, I can’t wait to taste it.
TEACHER
I made the mashed potatoes ahead of time.
We will start by shaping up the dough into little
buckets.
- First we pick up 2 sheets of Filo very carefully
and place them on the cutting board.
- Then we brush them with soft butter.
- Next, we fold the sheets and butter them again.
- Fold them once again and shape them into the
form.
STUDENT
So far, so good.
TEACHER
Can
you turn the oven up to 350, please?
We need to preheat it for five minutes.
Thank you, Vanessa.
STUDENT
What else can I do to help you, Silvia?
TEACHER
You can peel and chop up the onion, please.
STUDENT
Which knife should I use?
TEACHER
Use the blue handle one to slice, and the red fat
one for dicing. Also chop up the garlic in very tiny chunks.
STUDENT
What else?
TEACHER
Grab that large frying pan and turn on the burner.
Add some Coconut Oil onto it, please.
STUDENT
Got it! What else can I do?
TEACHER
When the oil gets hot, stir in the garlic. Once
that gets slightly golden, add the onions and salt. Let it cook until the onions
are translucent.
STUDENT
I am done with this part. Where do we go from
here?
TEACHER
Please get the Filo dough cups out of the oven. You can put them there.
We are going to drop the onions into it.
Next, we will add the crumbled Feta cheese, and we
will crack the one egg into it, mixing everything lightly.
STUDENT
What should I use to mix everything up?
TEACHER
Use a wooden spoon you can get from inside that
drawer, please.
STUDENT
What comes next?
TEACHER
We are going to spoon the mashed potato mix into
the cups, and top them with the spinach mix.
STUDENT
WOW, It looks very yummy!
TEACHER
Wait until we bake them! Finally, I will sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top.
STUDENT
How long do we bake them for?
TEACHER
We need to cook them well because of the egg, but
also because of the cheese. I’d say 20 minutes. Afterwards it can be served.
STUDENT
I am interested in any variation we can make.
TEACHER
That is very smart!
- You can use hearts of palm instead of spinach.
- You can top the spinach with pulled chicken
breast and or cream cheese.
- You can add a layer of sauteed mushrooms.
- Another idea is using shrimp, lightly fried in coconut
oil with garlic and lime juice.
STUDENT
Thank you Silvia.
Do you think you could share
this recipe with me?
TEACHER
Of
course! I will have it printed for you.
Next time we will do a desert dish - how about that?
For now, we are going to share a meal together.
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