American Cooking
美式烹饪
I. Text If you think American cooking means opening a food package and throwing the contents into the microwave, think again.
如果您以为美式烹饪就是打开包装将里面的东西放进微波炉加热，那您得改变想法了。
On the one hand, it's true that Americans thrive on cold cereal for breakfast, sandwishes for lunch and instant dinners.
一方面，早餐喝冷麦片，午餐吃三明治，晚餐用速食食品的美国人体格健壮，这倒是真的。
From busy home-makers to professionals,
无论是忙碌的家庭主妇还是专业人士，
many Americans enjoy the convenience of prepackaged meals that can be ready to serve in 10 minutes or less.
许多美国人喜欢享受事先包装好的便餐所带来的方便，这些速食品不到10分钟就可上桌。
On the other hand, many Americans recognize the value of cooking skills.
从另一个角度来看，许多美国人都认同厨艺的价值。
Parents—especially mothers—see the importance of training their children—
家长们——特别是妈妈——意识到培养子女——尤其是女儿——
especially daughters in the culinary arts.
烹饪手艺的重要性。
Most Americans will admit that there's nothing better than a good home-cooked meal.
大多数美国人都承认自家做的饭菜是最好的美餐。
But with cooking, as with any other skill, a good performance doesn't come by accident.
而谈到烹饪，一如其他的技巧，好手艺并不是靠运气得来的。
Probably every cook has his or her own cooking style.
大概每一位厨师都有自己的烹饪风格。
But there are some basic techniques and principles that people follow.
但仍有大多数人共同遵循的一些基本技巧和原则。
For example, baking is the primary method of preparing food in America.
例如，烘培是美式烹饪的一种主要方法。
The dinner menu often has casseroles, roast meats and other baked goods.
正餐菜单上通常有“焗烤菜”，烤肉及其他的烘培食物。
For that reason, Americans would find it next to impossible to live without an oven.
因此，美国人会觉得没有烤箱几乎无法生活。
Americans cooks give special attention to the balance of foods, too.
美国厨师也特别留意食物的均衡。
In planning a big meal they try to include a meat, a few vegetables, some bread or pasta and often a dessert.
在计划一顿大餐时，他们要准备一份肉、几样蔬菜、一些面包或面食，而且通常有甜点。
They also like to make sure the meal is colorful.
他们还喜欢使餐点色彩亮丽。
Having several different colors of food on the plate usually makes for a healthy meal.
若盘中的食物有不同色彩，这往往会是健康的一餐。
II. Dialog Chinese Food
中国菜
The restaurant across the street hired a new Chinese chef, so I ordered some Chinese food there for this evening.
街对面的餐馆新聘用了一个中国厨师，所以我今晚在那儿订了中餐。
Good. I love Chinese food. What did you order?
太好了。我喜欢吃中餐。你都订了什么？
Something hot and spicy. They look very inviting on the menu.
我订了一些辣菜。菜单上的照片真馋人，
You are going to love them.
你一定会喜欢的。
Maybe we can find a place to learn some Chinese cooking.
也许我们应该找个地方学做点中国烹饪。
I hear there's a place in Chinatown where you can take some courses. Are you interested?
我听说唐人街有个地方开这种课，你有兴趣吗？
I’m not sure. I don't enjoy cooking that much.
我可说不好。我不是那么喜欢下厨。
As long as we can order it from a restaurant, we don't have to learn to do it by ourselves.
只要我们能在餐馆里吃到中餐，我们就没必要自己学着做。
You are right.
你说得对。
But just want to know how they prepare food and make it taste so different.
不过我还是想知道他们是如何把食物调配成与众不同的口味的。
Chinese Food
中国菜
The restaurant across the street hired a new Chinese chef, so I ordered some Chinese food there for this evening.
街对面的餐馆新聘用了一个中国厨师，所以我今晚在那儿订了中餐。
Good. I love Chinese food. What did you order?
太好了。我喜欢吃中餐。你都订了什么？
Something hot and spicy. They look very inviting on the menu.
我订了一些辣菜。菜单上的照片真馋人，
You are going to love them.
你一定会喜欢的。
Maybe we can find a place to learn some Chinese cooking.
也许我们应该找个地方学做点中国烹饪。
I hear there’s a place in Chinatown where you can take some courses.
我听说唐人街有个地方开这种课，
Are you interested?
你有兴趣吗？
I’m not sure. I don't enjoy cooking that much.
我可说不好。我不是那么喜欢下厨。
As long as we can order it from a restaurant, we don't have to learn to do it by ourselves.
只要我们能在餐馆里吃到中餐，我们就没必要自己学着做。
You are right.
你说得对。
But just want to know how they prepare food and make it taste so different.
不过我还是想知道他们是如何把食物调配成与众不同的口味的。