bright redplate. When someone
gets the special plate,
each family member
will say one good thing
about him or her while
we eat dinner.
—Eva
For our tradition, my family always
has a Sunday night dinner. I like it
because this is a time every week
when I get to be with my sister
and brother, who are gone a lot.
We always have a special home-
cooked meal.
—Madelyn
My family celebrates Eid. Girls wear
clothes called salwar kameez, and everyone eats a rice dish called biryani and a dessert called mitai. —Sania
the joys of cooking
What’s so great about
cooking? Let’s see . . .
Cooking is fun!
It gives you a zillion chances to
explore and experiment. Comb
through cookbooks and web-
sites for dishes that get you
excited. Discover the foods of
other countries and cultures.
Be creative with flavors and
food combinations. There’s no
end to the pleasures you’ll find.
Cooking brings
people together.
Sure, you can make
something just for your-
self. But cooking is a
great way to have fun
with friends and fam-
ily. Put on some music
and pull your pals into
the kitchen. Decorate
cupcakes. Create per-
sonal pizzas. Mash up
guacamole. Take your
place among the family’s
holiday cooks and show
what you can do.
Cooking keeps you
healthy and strong.
When you make your own
meals, you’re eating fresh
food that you know is good,
not mystery ingredients
from plastic packages. If
you’re the cook, you’re more
likely to know what’s really
on your plate—and to care.
Cooking puts you in charge.
When you know how to make your
own meals, you’re the boss. You can
design your own lunches. You can
cook just what you like for friends.
You don’t have to rely on someone
else. You’re the chef!
Cooking is delicious.
Making—and eating—scrumptious
homemade food is one of life’s
great pleasures. It just is.
Quiz
your
cooking sense
Which of these scenes describes you the best?
1. The French bread recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of sugar. You . . .
a. use a cereal spoon to add a heap of sugar to the mixing bowl.
b. add just enough sugar to fill up the cereal spoon, then dump the
sugar into the bowl.
c. find the measuring spoon marked “1 T,” fill it just to the rim, and
add the sugar to the bowl.
2. You’re supposed to “whisk” three eggs
together. You . . .
a. crack the eggs into a bowl and use a
cooking tool with wire loops to stir
them until they’re frothy.
b. crack the eggs into a bowl and blend them
briskly (rhymes with whiskly) with a wooden spoon.
c. put three eggs in a bowl and hope for the best.
3. You’re in charge of planning
tonight’s dinner. Your menu is . . .
a. rice, French fries, pizza, and
mashed potatoes, because every-
body loves those, right?
b. roast chicken, rice pilaf, and a big
green salad.
c. something easy—maybe chicken
nuggets and brownies?
4.
