Baking

Baking is an important part of my life. Whether it is preparing a decadent dessert for a special occasion or tossing a pan of brownies into the oven after a particularly stressful day, I often find myself in the kitchen surrounded by pans and various ingredients. My mom is an excellent baker and has shared her love of creating delicious baked treats with me. This week we worked together to bake vanilla sugar cookies to send to my brother, who goes to college in Delaware, for his birthday. Working together to cut and frost the cookies became a bonding experience where we shared stories about our days at work. Baking does not always consist only of the combining of ingredients together using precise measurements. It often incorporates some deeper connection to family and friends. The cake I am baking could be to celebrate someone’s birthday or anniversary. I could also be using a recipe passed down from my great-grandmother, such as her recipes for linzer torte or apple fritters.  Although I love to eat the baked goods I make, I believe that baking is so important to me because of the emotions I feel as I prepare and cook these treats. I feel a closeness to my family and heritage as well as a spirit of giving as I share these desserts with others.

Vocabulary

decadent (adjective)- very rich and luxurious

bonding (adjective)- developing a close friendship

precise (adjective)- exact

celebrate (verb)- to observe an important day with special ceremonies or events

anniversary (noun)- yearly acknowledgement of a date or event

recipe (noun)- set of instructions for making something

linzer torte (noun)-hazelnut pastry filled with raspberry jam

heritage (noun)- anything handed down through tradition

Vocabulary Exercise

Across

1. I need to buy raspberry jam to make the ________________.
2. Do you know the ____________ for making chocolate chip cookies?
3. The two friends went on vacation to have a _____________ experience.

Down

1. The rich chocolate cake tasted ____________.
2. My knowledge of Irish step dancing has been passed down through my ______________.
3. Her friends threw a party to ______________ Jane's birthday.
4. The couple celebrated their 50th ________________.
5. Your measurements must be ___________ when measuring the length of the room.

Grammar Point

An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a person or thing. Using descriptive adjectives gives a more exact picture of the person or thing being described.

Practice using descriptive adjectives:

Fill in the following sentences using a more descriptive adjective than the word in parentheses.

1.  She
was
such
a
(good)
________________________________
worker
that
she
had
many
job
 offers.

2. The
ice
cream
was
so
(good)
________________________
that
we
asked
for
more.

3. The
bride
looked (pretty) 

___________________

in
her
wedding
dress.

4. We
had
such
a
(nice)
___________________________
time
in
the
mountains.

5. Those
children
are
so
(bad)
_____________________________that
baby‐sitters
never
return.

(http://mps.mshs.schoolfusion.us/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/750500/File/AWA/practice/Word%20Choice%20-%20Practice.pdf)