Listening exercise
Cooking video: Rolled Omelet
Epicurious: Technique videos
http://www.epicurious.com/e_eating/e02_videos/main.html

     For this exercise, you will watch a video that will teach you how to cook a Western-style rolled cheese omelet (also spelled omelette). A local copy of the video is available, so you should have no trouble playing the file with RealOne. The video is quite clear and relatively easy to understand, especially with help from the vocabulary below. Here is the link to the video for this recipe on the Epicurious site:
http://www.epicurious.com/e_eating/e02_videos/ram3/EPI_eggs_omelet.ram
     If you have trouble connecting to or playing the file, click here.
     If you prefer something more challenging (required for Oral II students), and have a good Web connection, see below.

Vocabulary:

omelet
to melt
butter
nonstick
skillet
high heat
fork
to beat
eggs
bowl
frothy
fresh herbs
salt
pepper
 to pour
mixture
to stir
wooden
spatula
to scramble
steadily
to include
to reduce
setting
to spread
evenly
to sprinkle
shredded
 cheese
to let stand
to set (the bottom)
to fold over on itself
to slide out
to loosen
to rest
curved
edge
to tilt
to flip
seam-side
to garnish
to give...a chance to...

Listening comprehension questions:
1. What two things are done to prevent the egg from sticking to the pan?
2. How long should you beat the eggs, and with what implement?
3. How do you season the omelet?
4. Give a few examples of kinds of 'fresh herbs' and name one place where you could buy fresh herbs in Taipei.
5. What kind of implement do you use to stir and lift the egg mixture when it is cooking in the skillet?
6. Why is this particular kind of implement called for?
7. How long should you continue to scramble the egg?
8. What must you be careful to do to prevent burning or waste of the egg mixture?
9. How is the omelet folded for serving?
10. How do you garnish the omelet before serving, and why should you let the omelet set awhile before serving?

     If you prefer a more advanced recipe and you have a good Web connection, then choose one of the following links and write a summary of how to make the dish taught in the video:

Intermediate:
     'Rainbow Peanut Noodles': A Chinese-inspired dish
Go to this page: http://www.optonline.net/Living/AllFoodIndex
scroll down, and click on this link: A Spoonful of Ginger; Rainbow Peanut Noodles: A colorful salad with spinach fettuccine, vegetables, tofu and a spicy peanut dressing. Health benefits: source of antioxidants which lower cholesterol and may suppress growth of cancer.

Advanced:
     If you'd like a longer recipe that combines Western and Chinese cooking methods and ingredients, and you have a good Internet connection, try one by Kylie Kwong, a fifth-generation Australian-born Chinese (she has a beautiful Australian accent!). See which recipes are being featured this week, then choose either dialup (slower connection) or broadband (ADSL connection):
http://abc.net.au/kyliekwong/

Independent:
     Or you may find a video recipe yourself at one of these sites.

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