英语博客:A Tour of Homes 7, in the refrigerator（在线收听）

Beginners.

Now that it is hot, I think a lot about the fridge. What is in there that will cool me down? Actually there are things lurking in the back of the fridge that have been there for a while. It's time for a cleaning. We seem to go through gallons of juice and milk in these hot, thirsty days of Summer. But what about cold food?As I look in the fridge I can see what you probably see in your own fridge: a vegetable drawer at the bottom, a fruit drawer next to it, then lots of shelves with bottles of milk, yoghurts, cheeses, butter, wrapped meats, jars of various sauces and jams, and those wonderful leftovers. Out of everyone in my house, I think I'm the only one who loves leftovers. Sometimes I will bung a few of them together, add some spices, and make a leftover stew. You can't beat it! The other fussy individuals in the house will have to eat fresh food instead of trying my imaginative creations. But, cold is the focus at the moment. Whether it is a salad, a cold soup, cold cut meats or a dessert, it is what we are all looking for. I recently bought seven boxes of jello from the supermarket to make a dessert especially for the kids. It is quite a show piece if it is done correctly. It actually doesn't have a name, but it is like a seven layer cake, except it is made entirely out of jello. Perhaps you can follow the recipe and instructions with me, and make one for yourself.

Grammar notes.

 Fridgey vocabulary: to lurk, vegetable drawer, leftovers, stew, cold cut meats.

Exs:

As I cleaned out the fridge, I found an old, moldy piece of cake lurking in a dark corner. I think it had been there for several years!

The vegetable drawer is stuffed with salad vegetables.

I still have some leftovers from the roast dinner: potatoes and meat.

There is nothing better than a beef and vegetable stew on a freezing winter day.

They had the most interesting cold cut meats: slices of salami, ham, roast beef, and bologna.

Advanced.

The seven layer jello dessert is a simple project, but it does take some time, as you will see. You will need:

7 packets of different flavored jello

1 large glass bowl

1 plastic or wooden mixing spoon

water according to the instructions

fruit and/or whipped cream (optional).

Making sure that the bowl is completely clean and free of dust, mix up the first packet of jello with boiled water (from a kettle or a saucepan). Make sure that the jello is completely dissolved. It speeds up the process if you add a few ice cubes to the mixture. Pour into the glass bowl and put immediately in the fridge. Go about your normal business. When the first layer of jello is just about set, repeat the steps for the second layer, making sure that it is cool enough to pour on the first layer without melting it. Put back in the fridge. Repeat these steps for the other five packets of jello. If desired, to make it more interesting and healthy, add fruit to some of the layers. When the final layer has been added, allow the dessert to cool until it is very firm. Take out and run hot water over the sides of the bowl in order to loosen it. Put a large plate over the bowl and quickly flip it upside down. Decorate with fruit and whipped cream on top.

This is a very popular dessert with children. Try to buy varying flavors that differ greatly in color. For example: raspberry (purple-red), then lime (green), then blueberry (blue), then lemon (yellow) etc etc.

If you try it, let me know how it turned out.

Grammar notes.

 Related vocabulary: free of dust, dissolve, to go about one's business, firm.

Exs:

My new cleaner is fabulous. My house is completely free of dust for the first time ever.

The washing powder didn't dissolve, so when I took the clothes out, they had clumps of soap all over them.

Look, I'm really busy right now. Please, just go about your business until I'm available.

The body builder's bicepts are really firm, but his stomach is still wobbly and soft like jello.