英語(yǔ)播客 A Cup of English Part 5, The Kitchen

What an important place the kitchen is. Two weeks ago we covered some of the basic areas of the kitchen; do you remember them? Where do we store the cups and plates? The cabinets of course. And, what would we use if we wanted to make a milkshake? A blender. Good; I'm glad you remembered. Well, how about where all the action takes place? All the washing of vegetables, hands, and dishes, takes place in the kitchen sink. There is an interesting expression in English about this item. A humorous way of saying "everything" or "more than everything" we say "the kitchen sink". For example: I packed everything but the kitchen sink when we went on vacation." Obviously it means that the suitcase was packed with so many things, even unnecessary items.

Well, talking about the kitchen sink, there are many different materials one can be made out of: stainless steel, enamel, and plastic. The faucet or tap often has a spout that can turn the normal flow of water into a shower, or an aerated flow. This cuts down on wasting water, and often has a wider spread to touch more items than a narrow flow. The things we use in the sink are: sponges, scrubbing brushes, brillo pads (which are metal wool used for heavy duty cleaning of burnt on food), bottle washers, and wash cloths. We need all of these things to be well prepared for clean up.

Then there is the cooker, as we say in England. Here in the U.S, they generally call it the oven, even though that is just part of what it is. This is the most important appliance. On top, you have the range, with the heated rings. As you know, these can be either gas or electric. The oven is generally underneath. Sometimes, a separate grill or broiler (Am) is between the range and the oven, or the oven is multi-functional and will grill as well. A warming zone is often right under the oven. Here you can keep plates and larger dishes warm. The verbs that we use with the cooker are: boil, heat (up), simmer (which means to cook on low), fry, stirfry, stir, grill, bake, and roast. I'm sure there are more. I will let you know as I remember them.

Before we actually start cooking anything, we must do the all important preparation. For this we need a chopping board, mixing bowls, spatulas, wooden spoons, kitchen knives, a whisk, a cheese grater, a carrot peeler, and measuring cups and spoons. We can get the cook book out to follow a recipe if we don't remember what to do, or if we want to try something new. Now, do you fancy something sweet or savory? Do you have the necessary ingredients? How many people are you going to cook for? If you are lucky enough, you might have an oven that you can preset. That means that you put in a time for the oven to come on, so you put the food in it, go off and do something else, and when you are ready to come home and eat, voila, the food is ready. Oh, I'm in the mood to cook. I love to bake. I also love making roast dinners with loads of vegetables. Next time we visit the kitchen, we will make something together, but until then, I've got some washing up to do.

Grammar notes.

Useful expressions: lucky enough, to fancy, generally, to cut down on, everything but the kitchen sink.

Exs:

I was lucky enough to get the job even though the other candidates were more qualified.

I really fancy fish today. I think the supermarket gets a fresh load today.

That restaurant generally serves high quality food. Only once have I been disappointed.

I must cut down on sugar. I have dental problems, and have recently put on some weight.

Whenever my mother comes to visit, she brings everything but the kitchen sink in her suitcase.