In my Bonfire Night food post, I shared my favourite warming recipes for a cosy night by the fire, including smoky chilli, crispy jacket potatoes and loaded potato skins.
In this lesson we’ll learn cooking vocabulary, practise the imperative for giving instructions, and use sequencers to explain a recipe step by step.
Level: B1, with a B2 challenge at the end.
This lesson comes from my Simon in Germany blog post.
Read: Remember, Remember, the 5th of NovemberActivity
Think about your favourite winter dish. What’s in it? How do you make it? Who taught you to cook it? Say your answers out loud or write a few notes.
Cooking verbs
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| blitz | mix in a blender until smooth or very small | Blitz the soup until smooth. |
| fry | cook in hot oil | Fry the onion and garlic for a few minutes. |
| stir in | add something and mix it with a spoon | Stir in the smoked paprika. |
| simmer | cook gently, just below boiling | Simmer for 20 minutes. |
| season | add salt and pepper | Season and serve with rice. |
| prick | make small holes | Prick the potatoes with a fork. |
| scoop out | remove with a spoon | Scoop out the soft middle. |
| sprinkle | drop small amounts on top | Sprinkle with sea salt. |
| drizzle | pour a thin line of liquid over food | Drizzle with oil and balsamic vinegar. |
| top with | put something on top | Top with grated cheddar. |
How much?
| Amount | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a pinch of | what you can hold between your finger and thumb | a pinch of sugar |
| a splash of | a small amount of liquid | a splash of red wine |
| a swirl of | liquid moved in a circle on top of food | a swirl of cream |
| a dollop of | a large spoonful of something soft | a dollop of sour cream |
| a handful of | what you can hold in one hand | a handful of fresh basil |
| a tin of | a metal container of food | a tin of chopped tomatoes |
The imperative and sequencers
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb | give an instruction | Add the tomatoes. |
| don't + verb | say what not to do | Don't wrap the potatoes in foil. |
| verb + for + time | say how long | Simmer for 20 minutes. |
| verb + until + result | say when to stop | Bake until the cheese is bubbling. |
| first, then, next, after that | put the steps in order | First, fry the onion. Then add the garlic. |
| once + clause | say "as soon as this happens" | Once the onion is soft, stir in the paprika. |
| finally | introduce the last step | Finally, serve with rice. |
Simon says: Recipes use the imperative. It’s the simplest form in English: just the verb, with no subject. Add for to say how long and until to say when to stop.
Word play: chilly or chilli?
The title “Chilly Night, Hot Chilli” isn’t a spelling mistake! Chilly means cold, and chilli is the spicy dish. They sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. We call these homophones. Can you think of any others? For example, night and knight, or flour and flower.
Loaded potato skins: fill the gaps
Use these words: bake, fill, scoop out, serve, top
- First, ______ the potatoes at 200 °C for about an hour.
- Cut them in half and ______ most of the soft middle.
- Next, ______ the skins with leftover chilli.
- After that, ______ them with grated cheddar and bake until the cheese is bubbling.
- Finally, ______ with a dollop of sour cream.
Show answers
1. bake
2. scoop out
3. fill
4. top
5. serve
Quick-fix tomato soup: put the steps in order
A. Add the tomatoes, stock and basil, and simmer for 10 minutes.
B. Fry the onion and garlic in the oil for 2–3 minutes.
C. Blitz until smooth and finish with a swirl of cream.
D. Stir in the tomato purée.
Now say the recipe out loud with first, then, after that and finally.
Show answers
B, D, A, C
First, fry the onion and garlic in the oil for 2–3 minutes. Then stir in the tomato purée. After that, add the tomatoes, stock and basil, and simmer for 10 minutes. Finally, blitz until smooth and finish with a swirl of cream.
Find and fix the mistake
- You must to stir the soup.
- Not wrap the potatoes in foil.
- Adding the tomatoes and simmer.
- Simmer during 20 minutes.
- Bake until the cheese bubbling.
Show answers
1. Stir the soup.
2. Don't wrap the potatoes in foil.
3. Add the tomatoes and simmer.
4. Simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Bake until the cheese is bubbling.
Language learning can be really challenging. I know, because I’m a language learner myself. I hope the information and activities were helpful. Try the following:
Write instructions for your favourite warming dish in five or six steps. Use the imperative, at least three sequencers and two small amounts from the lesson.
B2 challenge: add tips and reasons. For example: “Don’t wrap the potatoes in foil, otherwise the skin won’t go crispy.”
B2 extra: What is a pun?
A pun is a joke that plays with words that sound the same, or with a word that has two meanings. “Chilly Night, Hot Chili” is a pun. You’ll see puns everywhere in newspaper headlines, adverts and shop names.
Here are a few food puns: Lettuce celebrate! (let us), You’re one in a melon (one in a million), Olive you (I love you).
Try it: Write your own pun title for a winter dish or a celebration. Share it on Instagram and tag @learnenglishwithsimon.
This lesson comes from my Simon in Germany blog post.
Read: Remember, Remember, the 5th of NovemberImage credit: Photo by JESHOOTS-com on Pixabay
JESHOOTS-com https://pixabay.com/users/jeshoots-com-264599/
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