2 . My career as a chef started at the age of 25, but my ______ for cooking started at an early age, when I was about 5 years old — by watching my grandmother and my mom in the kitchen ______ daily meals for the family. I was also ______by going with my grandfather to markets to ______ the freshest ingredients. My grandfather taught me the art of picking and recognizing “the ______.”

From my youth, I have had this passion for food. Growing up in Morocco, I witnessed the most amazing hospitality and ______ through my grandparents. They opened their ______ to everybody, and fed and sheltered the poor, travelers, family and friends.

I remember as a young kid coming home from school to the ______ of fragrant (芳香的) fresh bread coming out of the oven. Those smells stimulated (刺激) my senses at a young age. The ______were fresh and seasonal — they were very simple dishes but delightfully ______.

Food is almost as ______ as it is necessary. Food makes people feel things. I really think that food tastes its best when there is a ______ behind it. It shapes cultures, religion, politics and health. Food brings people together, and goes straight to the ______.

In my kitchen, I try to duplicate (复制) smells and flavors that make me think about more than what I’m actually smelling or ______ — it makes me think of life, my family, and my history. I love to cook food that ______ people’s emotions and memories; my philosophy is to “keep food real and simple.”

The Birthday Cake

Josie was a girl who loved to bake. She always helped her uncle at his bakery. Mostly she carried ingredients from the refrigerator to the large work table. Sometimes Uncle Dave let Josie stir (搅拌) the cake batter (面糊) with a wooden spoon.

Josie wanted to learn to bake a cake on her own. She asked if Uncle Dave would show her how Her mother’s birthday was only two days away. If Josie made a cake all by herself, it would be a wonderful surprise.

On Saturday morning, Josie arrived at the bakery just as it was closing. The bakery always closed early on the weekend so Uncle Dave could walk his dogs. “Ready, Josie?” Uncle Dave asked “Ready!” Josie answered.

First, Uncle Dave had Josie get all the ingredients (原料) and line them up on the work table. Then he showed her how to measure flour and sugar so that she had the exact right amount. She added these ingredients to a large mixing bowl. Next, Uncle Dave tapped an egg on the side of the bowl to crack it. “Be careful not to get any bits of shell in the bowl,” he said.

Josie tapped her egg very gently on the bowl. It didn’t crack. She tried again, and this time the shell came apart. She pulled the egg apart over the bowl and watched the yellow egg yolk drop into the flour.

Now it was time to stir. “This is fun!” said Josie.

When the batter was ready, Uncle Dave helped Josie pour it into the cake pan. He gave Josie oven mitts (烤箱手套) and showed her how to put the pan in the oven without burning her hands.

While the cake baked, Josie and Uncle Dave wiped off the table and washed all the dishes.

On her mother’s birthday, Josie put the cake before her mom secretly.

A Different Kind of Perfect

Ellie loved the family gathering at Lola’s house on Fourth of July. She loved Lola’s chicken adobo — chicken in a delicious sauce (酱汁). It was perfect. But this year, Lola asked Ellie to make the adobo by herself because she must visit a sick friend.

“But I don’t know how!” Ellie said.

“That’s why you should be in charge. ” Lola smiled.

Lola pulled out the ingredients (原料): chicken, onion and lemon juice. She explained how to make the dish and then left.

Ellie got started immediately. When the dish was cooked, she tasted it and added a little more of this and a little more of that until it tasted right.

“Now it’s like soup! I need more chicken.” Ellie said to herself, “But I have no time to go to the store. What else can I use?”

The doorbell rang as relatives started to arrive. Ellie wanted to cry.

Ellie opened the fridge (冰箱).

7 . How to make a cooking video on TikTok

You may think sharing your cooking videos on TikTok isn’t a big deal.     1     We’ve asked some experts for tips on how to film, edit and post cooking videos on TikTok.

“Simplicity is key when creating food content on TikTok,” says MacKenzie Smith, creator of Grilled Cheese Social.     2     “My Baked Feta Pasta that went viral (走红) earlier this year is a good example of how simple food trends can take over the social landscape,” says Smith.

    3     Film something you do special or share a helpful tip some viewers may not know. Smith, who’s partnering the National Mango Board, says she’s been starting all her videos for the campaign with a demonstration of the best mango cutting technique.

If you have two smartphones or cameras, try setting them up on tripods (三脚架) at different angles, so you can edit with a diversity of different shots, both overhead and from another good point. Only have one device? No worries.     4    

Just like cooking, the rules of TikTok are meant to be broken. So if you want your viewers to keep coming back to your videos, never be afraid of trying creative ideas.     5     Make what you want to make. Who knows what will become a trend, and what was a waste of your time?

Do you ever wonder why the bakers can’t help but smile as they cook tasty treats in your home’s kitchen? From pre-heating the oven, mixing the dry and wet ingredients, and up until the satisfying “ding” is heard, the baker can feel the atmosphere lighten up and the mood lifted.

Baking can be a form of treatment and empowerment. At first glance, grasping how baking makes you calm down and acts as a source of joy can seem a bit far-fetched. But bakers can see and feel more while they’re baking. Its process is both a science and art. As they bake, they become more focused and hopeful that the effort they’ve poured paid off. This is the reason for their smiles. The beauty and satisfaction of baking can be further revealed when it is done.

Much like any hobby or a creative outlet, baking allows people to express their emotions and creativity. In every part of the world, cooking for someone is considered as a thoughtful gesture–whether you’re welcoming someone in a home, showing a kind gesture, or expressing your gratitude. The desire to share your food with others is an excellent way to build a connection, showing selflessness and love.

It even becomes more heartfelt if you’re serving the whole family. Nothing beats the happiness of seeing your loved ones enjoy the baked treats you’ve worked hard to prepare.

Since I was young, I always enjoyed cooking. Every night I would sit in the kitchen and watch my mother make dinner. I had a toy set of pots and pans, and would copy her actions at the table—pretending to pour in ingredients and mix them excitedly just as she did. On Sundays, my grandmother would make us a huge family dinner. A dish cooked from a charred chicken with flavored sauce enjoyed great popularity with us. Watching her in the kitchen was like watching an artist at work. She never needed a cookbook, never had to follow a recipe. Everything was second nature. I couldn't wait to learn to cook myself.

So it was no surprise when as an adult I decided to be a chef. I had worked in a number of kitchens over the years, but when I got the chance to be the head chef at a new restaurant, I could not have been more excited.

On the first night the restaurant opened, I proudly put my apron on and prepared for success. Soon, orders came in, and the kitchen was at full staff running in every direction. There were many waiters coming in and out, and cooks walking between stations. It was very exciting, but a bit stressful. There was so much to do and a lot of pressure to do it perfectly. It seemed like the crowd was not slowing down.

I was hurrying to gather ingredients from the shelves and fill the orders when there was a scream from the other side of the kitchen. Looking over, I saw one of the other cooks holding her hand in pain. She had burned her fingers on a pan. I ran over to help, and as we placed her hand under cold water, a puff of smoke started to rise out of the oven.

“Oh, no!” I screamed. I reached the oven just in time to open the door and see the charred remains of a roast. Placing my hand on my head, I thought the night couldn't get much worse. One of the waiters came into the kitchen, looking very worried. Wiping the sweat off his forehead, he said anxiously, “The guests are asking for the roast.”

I stared at the charred roast, anxious to find a solution.

Just then, one of the guests asked to speak to the chef.