ENGLISH LESSONS: In The Kitchen - - - Part 1

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?

TEACHER

Don`t worry, I have everything already.

--- Here is what we`ll need:

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.

- You see that bowl with spinach over 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.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~