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Vocabulary in Conversation

Nadia: Why do Americans celebrate Thanksgiving?

Sarah: As children, we learn that Thanksgiving is a holiday of _________________ and survival. We read stories of how the _________________ left England because of religious _________________ and came to the New World in search of a place where they could live peacefully and practice their religion. They arrived in a place called Plymouth Rock and established a settlement there. At first they had many problems. They weren't able _________________ the land here because everything was so new to them. They didn't know how to hunt the animals, and they didn't know which plants were _________________. We learn that the Wampanoag Indians taught them how to survive and feed themselves. Out of gratitude, the English colonists invited the Indians to a huge _________________ to thank them for their help.

Nadia: Do you think the stories are true?

Sarah: Well, I think there is probably some truth to them, but they have probably been a little simplified. I am sure the arrival at Plymouth Rock was far more complicated and confused than our _________________ suggest. In recent years, there has been some _________________ over certain holidays such as Thanksgiving and Columbus Day. It has been suggested that our memories of the past might have been cleaned up a little to make us feel better about our history.

Nadia: Well, at least it is a nice story. I like the idea of a holiday which _________________ the colonists and the Indians working together... even if it isn't totally based in fact.

Sarah: I do too. And it's also great to have a holiday where you take the time to get together with your family and make traditional foods like roast turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

Nadia: I have never had any of those _________________.

Sarah: Well then why don't you spend Thanksgiving with us. My grandmother makes the best pumpkin pie in the country.

Nadia: Sounds great!
 

Vocabulary
 

to blend	V. to mix together
to chill	V. to make something cold in a refrigerator or on ice
to cool	V. to let something hot sit (before more preparation or before eating)
dough	N. a mixture of flour, water and other ingredients
floured	Adj. covered with flour
ingredients	N. the things you put in a recipe
a pan	N. a metal dish
to preheat	V. to set the oven temperature in advance
to reduce	V. to lower, to turn down
a whisk	N. a kitchen tool for mixing ingredients

 

Vocabulary in a Recipe
 

Filling
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 16-ounce can solid pack pumpkin
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup whipping cream
3 large eggs, beaten to blend

For filling:
Using a _________________, mix the first 6 _________________ in a bowl until smooth. _________________ in pumpkin, whipping cream, sour cream and eggs.

For crust:
_________________ the oven to 350°F (175°C). Mix the first 3 ingredients. Stir in the cream until moist clumps form. Gather the _________________ into a ball and wrap in plastic. _________________ in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

Roll out the dough on a _________________ surface to a 13-inch (33cm) circle. Transfer the dough to 9-inch (23cm) pie _________________. Cut away the extra dough leaving 1 inch (2cm) hanging over the edge. Fold the overhang under. Put in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Bake about 20 minutes until light brown. _________________ oven temperature to 325°F (160°C).

Pour in filling. Bake about 55 minutes. _________________ on rack.