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ESL Podcast 975 – Making Food from Scratch

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1

GLOSSARY

from scratch – starting with basic ingredients, not using any prepackaged or
pre-prepared foods
* Why would you make pancakes from scratch when it’s so much easier to make
them from this mix?

to pull out all the stops – to do something in a big, elaborate way; to do
something fully and take it to an extreme; to do something in the best way one
can
* When they redecorated their living room, they pulled out all the stops, with new
furniture, flooring, paint, windows, curtains, and light fixtures.

pantry – a small room next to a kitchen used to store food that does not have to
be refrigerated (kept cold)
* The pantry has a lot of jams and jellies from the berries we picked last summer.

canned food – food that is already prepared and sold in sealed tin cans that
preserve it for many years
* It’s a good idea to have canned food in case of an earthquake or a similar
emergency, but make sure you have a can opener, too.

jar – a glass bottle with a round opening and a lid that screws onto it
* Could you pick up a jar of peanut butter at the store?

premixed – with the ingredients already measure and stirred together
* The flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder are already premixed, so you just
have to add an egg and some milk and then pour everything into a baking pan.

up to – ready and prepared to do something; having the energy, skills,
knowledge, and commitment needed to do something
* Are you sure you’re up to watching the neighbors’ three-year-old sons? They
are a lot of work.

ingredient – a food used in combination with other foods to cook or bake
something else to eat
* This ice cream has just four ingredients: cream, milk, sugar, and vanilla.

fresh – recently picked or recently prepared; not stored for a long period of time
* Fresh beef has a reddish color. It shouldn’t be brown like that.

English as a Second Language Podcast

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ESL Podcast 975 – Making Food from Scratch

These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2014). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.

2

recipe – instructions for cooking or baking something
* The recipe calls for two tablespoons of lemon juice, but I don’t have any. Do
you think I can use lime juice instead?

closely – with a lot of attention to detail; carefully
* Listen closely, because he’s only going to explain it once.

herbs and spices – small parts of plants, often dried, that have a lot of flavor in
small quantities.
* Oregano, basil, and rosemary are common herbs and spices in Italian cooking.

to multitask – to do multiple things at the same time
* The receptionist will need to answer phone calls, greet customers, distribute the
mail, and do data entry, so we’ll need to hire someone who can multitask well.

a juggling act – a complex performance that requires handling many things at
the same time, paying attention to everything at once
* Hannah’s life is a juggling act. She’s a full-time employee, a community
volunteer, a part-time student, and a mother!

to pull this off – to be able to do something that is difficult or challenging
* We have to find a new place to live in just four days. Do you really think we’ll be
able to pull this off?

challenge – an invitation or dare to do something that will be difficult, especially
when it represents an opportunity to compete against other people or to show
that one is better at doing something than others are
* Running a marathon will be a huge challenge, but Henrique is determined and
training very hard for it.

backup plan – a plan B; an alternative; what one will do if one’s first plan does
not work
* Kevin hopes his band will become an international success, but he’s getting a
degree in engineering as a backup plan.

raw food movement – interest or effort to promote the eating of foods that are
not cooked
* People involved in the raw food movement argue that our bodies can get more
nutrients out of uncooked foods, but some doctors disagree.

English as a Second Language Podcast

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ESL Podcast 975 – Making Food from Scratch

These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2014). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.

3

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. What does Ann mean when she says, “I’m making everything from scratch”?
a) She’s making everything from basic ingredients.
b) She’s trying new recipes that she’s never followed before.
c) She’s cooking things that people aren’t allergic to.

2. What would you expect to see in a recipe?
a) An list of items in the pantry.
b) A menu for a dinner party.
c) A list of ingredients.

______________


WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

from scratch
The phrase “from scratch,” in this podcast, means starting with basic ingredients,
not using any prepackaged or pre-prepared foods: “Sheila made the pie filling
from scratch, but she bought the crust at the store.” The phrase “from scratch”
can also mean doing something from the beginning: “Yuko’s grandfather started
this company from scratch.” The phrase “scratch paper” refers to a small piece of
inexpensive paper, possibly with other writing on one side, used to write down
notes: “Do you have a piece of scratch paper so I can write down your phone
number?” Finally, a “scratch” can be a small cut on the skin: “His legs were
covered in scratches from the blackberry bushes he walked through on his hike.”

fresh
In this podcast, the word “fresh” means recently picked or recently prepared, not
stored for a long period of time: “If the fish fresh, or has it been frozen?” Or,
“Fresh tomatoes from the garden taste so much better than tomatoes that were
picked a few days ago.” The phrase “fresh air” refers to clean-smelling air in the
outdoors: “Let’s go for a walk and get some fresh air.” The phrase “fresh water”
refers to water that is not salt water: “This fresh water looks clean, but we should
still use a filter if we plan to drink it just to be safe.” Finally, the phrase “a fresh
start” describes beginning something again in a new way after the first way was
unsuccessful: “They spent some time apart, but now they’re ready to live
together again as a fresh start for their marriage.”

English as a Second Language Podcast

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ESL Podcast 975 – Making Food from Scratch

These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2014). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.

4

CULTURE NOTE

Recent Food Movements

The United States has “witnessed” (seen) many food movements recently.
Certain groups of people change the way they eat, usually for health or for
“ethical” (dealing with what is right and wrong) reasons, such as the “humane”
(fair and just) treatment of animals.

People who are involved in the raw food movement believe that humans should
not eat any foods that have been cooked. All their foods are “raw” (not cooked),
so they are mostly fruits and vegetables, and they are served “at room
temperature” (without being heated or cooled).

The “slow food movement” offers an “alternative” (another option that is different)
to fast food. It emphasizes the importance of food for good health, and the
importance of slow meals for building relationships. The movement encourages
people to plan their meals carefully, take time to cook, follow local “culinary”
(related to cooking) traditions, and know where their food comes from.

The “local food market” encourages people to eat food that is grown and
produced within a short distance of where they live. Most “advocates” (people
who believe something is good and want others to agree) of the slow food
movement focus on how local food is better for the environment, because it does
not have to be transported very far. People also emphasize the economic
benefits of supporting local farmers and keeping money within the local
community.

Finally, the “organic food movement,” which is probably the most “mainstream”
(adopted or supported by many people, not just a small group) movement,
focuses on eating only “organic food” that has been grown without the use of
chemicals. The people who advocate for organic food believe that it is healthier
for our bodies and better for the planet.

______________

Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – a; 2 – c

English as a Second Language Podcast

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ESL Podcast 975 – Making Food from Scratch

These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2014). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.

5

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 975 – Making Food
from Scratch.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 975. I’m your host, Dr.
Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in
beautiful Los Angeles, California.

Visit our website at ESLPod.com. Become a member of ESL Podcast and
download the Learning Guide for this episode. You can also like us on Facebook.
Why not? Go to facebook.com/eslpod.

On this episode, we’re going to listen to a dialogue about cooking food without
using any canned food or other ingredients that you would buy that have been
already prepared for you. Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Ann: I’m so excited to have the entire family coming for a visit. For our first family
dinner next Friday, I’m making everything from scratch. I’m pulling out all the
stops.

Walt: But have you ever made anything from scratch?

Ann: Sure I have, plenty of times.

Walt: If you say so, but our pantry is full of canned foods and jars, and nearly
everything we’ve cooked in the past year has been premixed. Are you sure
you’re up to cooking a dinner for 12 from scratch?

Ann: How hard could it be? I just need to make sure that the ingredients I buy are
fresh, follow the recipes closely, add plenty of fresh herbs and spices, and
multitask.

Walt: You mean do a juggling act. It’ll take a lot of work and organization to pull
this off.

Ann: I’m up to the challenge. And I have a backup plan.

Walt: And that is?

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ESL Podcast 975 – Making Food from Scratch

These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2014). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.

6

Ann: Have you ever heard of the raw food movement?

[end of dialogue]

Ann begins our dialogue by saying to Walt, “I’m so excited to have the entire
family coming for a visit. For our first family dinner next Friday, I’m making
everything from scratch.” Ann is excited because her entire family is coming to
visit her, and she wants to cook something for them for dinner. She wants to
make it “from scratch.” That expression, “from scratch,” means you start with
basic ingredients and make everything yourself. You don’t use anything in a can
or anything that has been prepared that you bought in the store.

So, if you’re going to make vegetable soup, you make your own “stock,” which is
the liquid for a soup, you prepare the vegetables, and so forth. Ann says, “I’m
pulling out all the stops.” “To pull out all the stops” means to do something in the
best way that you can, to do something fully – to do something that would require
a lot of work, but would be the most you could possibly do. This term actually
comes from organ playing. When you play an organ very loudly, you pull out all
of the stops. The stops are parts of the organ that you can pull out in order to
make the organ louder. Well, Ann is pulling out all the stops to make a big family
dinner.

Walt says, “But have you ever made anything from scratch?” Walt doesn’t think
Ann has ever prepared a meal from scratch. Ann, however, says, “Sure I have,
plenty of times” – lots of times. Walt says, “If you say so.” That expression, “If you
say so,” is used when you really don’t believe what the other person is telling
you, but you don’t want to argue with them. Walt says, “Our pantry is full of
canned foods and jars.” A “pantry” (pantry) is a small room, usually next to the
kitchen, that is used to store food that does not have to be kept cold – that does
not have to be refrigerated. A “pantry” usually has “dry goods,” like sugar and
flour and salt – things you don’t have to put in a refrigerator.

A pantry would probably also have “canned food.” “Canned food” is food that
comes in a metal container – usually made of metal, of tin. Canned foods are
very popular in the United States for all sorts of things, including soups and
vegetables and other kinds of food. Canned foods are very convenient because
you can buy them and then put them in your pantry and use them many weeks,
or even months, later. A “jar” (jar) is a glass bottle that has a top on it, which we
call a “lid” (lid). “Jars” are also used for storing things – for putting things into,
including food.

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ESL Podcast 975 – Making Food from Scratch

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Walt says, “Nearly everything we’ve cooked in the past year” – in the last 12
months – “has been premixed.” “To mix” (mix) is to combine different things
together, to put things together. “Premixed” would be food, in this case, that has
already been prepared and put together so you don’t have to do it yourself. Walt
says, “Are you sure you’re up to cooking a dinner for 12 from scratch?” “To be up
to” something here means to be ready for something, to be prepared to do
something, to have the energy and the knowledge to do something.

Usually we use the word “challenge” after this expression. “Are you up to the
challenge?” “Challenge” is a difficult thing to do. “Up to” can also be used to
mean simply doing something. If someone says, “What are you up to tonight?” he
means “What are you doing tonight? What are your plans? What activities are
you doing tonight?” “Up to” can also be used when someone is perhaps doing
something wrong, even illegal. “I think my neighbor is up to something” – I think
that there is something strange going on, maybe even criminal. I think that’s true.
I really do wonder what my neighbor is up to sometimes. I don’t know. Strange
smells. You know what I’m saying?

Ann says that she is up to cooking a dinner from scratch. She says, “How hard
could it be?” That question, “How hard could it be?” is used to indicate that you
don’t think it is very difficult. You don’t think it will be difficult to do this. “How hard
could it be to find a beautiful woman in Los Angeles and ask her out on a date?”
Well, it’s actually quite easy to find a woman. Getting her to go on the date –
that’s a little more difficult.

Ann says, “I just need to make sure that the ingredients I buy are fresh.” “Fresh”
(fresh) is an adjective used to describe food that has only recently been prepared
or has only recently been taken from where it would normally be found. For
example, a fish that is “fresh” is one that has been brought from the lake or the
river or the ocean very recently. It’s not a fish that was caught four months ago
and now they’re bringing it to the store. That would not be a fresh fish. If you
want fresh fish, you often have to go to the river or the lake or the ocean to buy it,
if you want it really fresh, right out of the water.

We can use this adjective also to describe foods that are prepared – for example,
“fresh bread.” “Fresh bread” would be bread that was baked or cooked very
recently – maybe this morning or an hour ago. “Ingredients” are the things you
use to make food. So, “fresh ingredients” would be things that you use to prepare
your food that are fresh. Ann says she also needs to “follow the recipes closely.”
A “recipe” (recipe) is a list of instructions for cooking or preparing something.

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ESL Podcast 975 – Making Food from Scratch

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8

“To follow something closely” means to do it very carefully, to do everything that
it says. “Following a recipe closely” would mean doing everything the recipe
says, in the order it says to do it. Ann also wants to make sure that she uses
“plenty” – or a lot – “of fresh herbs and spices.” “Herbs and spices” are small
parts of plants, often dried, that have a lot of flavor in them. We use herbs and
spices to give more flavor to the food.

Ann also says she needs to “multitask” (multitask). “To multitask” is to do many
things at the same time. Walt says, “You mean do a juggling act?” “To juggle”
(juggle) is to throw a lot of things up into the air and keep them all in the air to
prevent them from falling, from dropping to the floor. However, here when Walt
says a “juggling act,” he’s referring to something that is very complex, something
that will require doing a lot of things at the same time. The idea here is that this
would be very difficult to do because juggling can be difficult to do.

Walt says, “It’ll take a lot of work and organization to pull this off.” “To pull
something off” is a two-word phrasal verb meaning to be able to do something
that is very difficult or that is very challenging. Ann says, however, that she is “up
to the challenge.” She is able to do this difficult thing. “And,” she says, “I have a
backup plan.” A “backup (backup) plan” is an alternative if what you’re doing now
doesn’t work. It’s what we might also call “plan B.” When people say, “I need a
plan B,” they mean they need a backup plan. They need a plan to follow if what
they are planning on doing goes wrong. That would be their “plan A,” their
original or first plan.

Walt asks what Ann’s backup plan is. Ann tells him, “Have you ever heard of the
raw food movement?” “Raw” (raw) is the opposite of cooked. If you buy some
tomatoes at the supermarket and you bring them home, they’re raw. They
haven’t been cooked yet. In the last few years, it has become popular for some
restaurants, and people in their homes, to not cook food – to eat the food raw by
preparing it in special ways.

There are, according to some people, health benefits from this. I don’t know if
that’s true. I do know that Ann is just making a joke here. She’s saying that her
backup plan is not to cook the food at all and to serve it, or to give it to her
guests, raw.

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.

[start of dialogue]

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ESL Podcast 975 – Making Food from Scratch

These materials are copyrighted by the Center for Educational Development (2014). Posting of
these materials on another website or distributing them in any way is prohibited.

9

Ann: I’m so excited to have the entire family coming for a visit. For our first family
dinner next Friday, I’m making everything from scratch. I’m pulling out all the
stops.

Walt: But have you ever made anything from scratch?

Ann: Sure I have, plenty of times.

Walt: If you say so, but our pantry is full of canned foods and jars, and nearly
everything we’ve cooked in the past year has been premixed. Are you sure
you’re up to cooking a dinner for 12 from scratch?

Ann: How hard could it be? I just need to make sure that the ingredients I buy are
fresh, follow the recipes closely, add plenty of fresh herbs and spices, and
multitask.

Walt: You mean do a juggling act. It’ll take a lot of work and organization to pull
this off.

Ann: I’m up to the challenge. And I have a backup plan.

Walt: And that is?

Ann: Have you ever heard of the raw food movement?

[end of dialogue]

Our scriptwriter pulls out all the stops on every script she writes. We thank the
wonderful Dr. Lucy Tse for her work. We also thank you for listening.

From Los Angeles, California, I’m Jeff McQuillan. Come back and listen to us
again right here on ESL Podcast.

English as a Second Language Podcast was written and produced by Dr. Lucy
Tse, hosted by Dr. Jeff McQuillan. Copyright 2014 by the Center for Educational
Development.