English with Rachel


Well, I have to write to write a 150 word essay regarding your current approach to cooking, and Rachel has asked me what recipes and ingredients I am using and why.

Here is some vocabulary to help me:

Shall I do it? Well, I should...

Some more examples:

  • “A watched pot never boils”: This means that time seems to go slower when you are anxiously waiting for something to happen.
    I was so anxious for the mail to arrive that I kept checking the mailbox every five minutes. I had to remind myself that a watched pot never boils.
  • “Too many cooks spoil the broth”: This means that if too many people are involved in a task or project, they may spoil it with lack of coordination.
    We had too many managers and not enough workers on this project. It’s like they say, too many cooks spoil the broth.
  • “Out of the frying pan and into the fire”: This means going from a difficult situation to one that is even worse.
    After escaping the stress of her corporate job, she started her own business, only to find herself working even longer hours. It was like jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.
  • “The proof of the pudding is in the eating”: This means that you can only judge the quality of something after you have tried, used, or experienced it.
    I know you think that new car won’t be reliable because it’s an unknown brand, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
  • “Cook up a storm”: This means to do something with great enthusiasm and energy, often resulting in a lot of success or attention.
    My grandmother loves to cook up a storm for family gatherings. There’s always more food than we can eat!
  • “Bite off more than you can chew”: This means to take on a task that is way too big or beyond one’s ability.
    I bit off more than I could chew when I volunteered to manage three projects at the same time at work.
  • “Half-baked”: This means an idea or plan has not been thought through or planned very well.
    His plan to build a new deck by himself without any carpentry experience seemed half-baked.
  • “Stir the pot”: This means to cause unrest or dissent; to agitate a situation.
    She knew her colleagues were having a peaceful discussion about the project, but she just had to stir the pot by bringing up their past disagreements.
  • “Spill the beans”: This means to reveal a secret or confess to something.
    When my sister found out about the surprise party, she accidentally spilled the beans to our mom.
  • “Butter someone up”: This means to flatter or praise someone, usually to gain a favor.
    Before asking for a day off, Jim decided to butter his boss up by complimenting his tie.
  • “Cut the mustard”: This means to meet a required standard, or to succeed.
    Despite all the training, John just couldn’t cut the mustard as a salesperson.
  • “Egg on your face”: This means to be embarrassed or feel foolish because of something you have done.
    After bragging about his skills, he ended up with egg on his face when he lost the game.
  • “Full of beans”: This means to be lively, energetic, or enthusiastic.
    After a good night’s sleep, I woke up feeling full of beans.
  • “Gravy train”: This means a situation where one can make a lot of money for very little effort.
    With his new business deal, he’s definitely on the gravy train now.
  • “In a pickle”: This means to be in a difficult or troublesome situation.
    After losing his passport, he found himself in a pickle in a foreign country.
The writing: (to be corrected)

My favourite recipes (my favourite foods)

Well, I'm not much of a cook, but I like food, like everyone else, so I guess. So I've been told to write about my favourite recipes, or the kind of food I like the most.

To begin with, I have to say that I'm pretty "elementary", basic, when it comes to food tastes. I love simple food, with not too many ingredients and, preferably, that with is easy to cook. I also love fresh food, such as vegetables and fruits. I live in a perfect place for getting that kind of food, I think!

What I really like the most is the  Italian and Spanish cuisine, specially the kind of cuisine known as "home cooking": all kind of pasta, rice, salads, soups, roasted or slow-cooked vegetables, eggs in all their cooked varieties (omelettes, mainly), all kinds of cheeses and fish, such as tuna, salmon, sardines, etc., ...

And what about meat? Well, I like it, but I prefer to avoid it as much as possible.

And the perfect "accompaniment" to my food? Wine, of course...