Pea soup

This is just right for a cold winter’s day, and is both 1) …… and cheap. If you use dried peas, 2) …… them for at least twelve hours in cold water. Drain them and put them in a large 3) ……. with plenty of water. Bring them to the boil, and then let them simmer gently 4) ……. the peas are soft. I find it easier to use 5) ……. peas, which are already cooked. This 6) ……. time, and also guarantees that the peas will be soft, since it can take hours of boiling before they 7) …… . Two small 450 gram cans are usually 8) ……. . Strain the peas, but keep some of the liquid for the soup. 9) ……. about three tablespoons of olive oil in a clean saucepan, and gently heat a chopped 10) ……. , two or three cloves of garlic and some 11) …….. carrot. 12) …….. half the peas and turn them in the oil over a low heat. Meanwhile blend the remaining peas in a food 13) …….. until they make a smooth cream. Add about half a litre of water to the vegetables and bring to the boil. Mix in the creamed peas and cook slowly. Add salt and 14) ……... and a pinch of mixed herbs. You can also add a stock cube or other vegetables. Some 15) ……… add lemon juice at the end. Serve hot with plenty of bread.

1. A) expensive B) tasty C) worth D) cold

2. A) soak B) bury C) wash D) water

3. A) kettle B) mug C) sink D) saucepan

4. A) when B) until C) if D) enough

5. A) the B) to C) canned D) crude

6. A) makes B) takes C) saves D) gives

7. A) soften B) harden C) widen D) lengthen

8. A) much B) enough C) mine D) few

9. A) Grate B) Peel C) Beat D) Pour

10. A) onion B) up C) one D) water

11. A) melted B) beaten C) poached D) sliced

12. A) One B) Then C) Add D) Serve

13. A) just B) not C) dish D) mixer

14. A) paper B) puppy C) pepper D) poppy

15. A) cookers B) cooks C) cookery D) chiefs

Exercise 9

Choose the right answer.

1. She put a . . . . . of chocolate on the cake.

a) colour b) cover c) layer d) level

2. You can't make an omelette without ...… eggs. (proverb)

a) breaking b) crushing c) mixing d) smashing

3. A fat lady sat on my shopping bag in the bus and ...… my tomatoes.

a) broke b) crushed c) squashed d) squeezed

4. To make a good omelette, you must . . . . . the eggs very well.

a) bang b) beat c) knock d) thrash

5. I loved the cake. Would you mind letting me have the ……?

a) menu b) prescription c) receipt d) recipe

6. Would you put the water on, please, ready to ..... the potatoes.

a) bake b) boil c) braise d) brown

7. Add the essence ……. until the teaspoonful is beaten into the mixture.

a) drop by drop b) inch by inch c) leaf by leaf d) spot by spot

8. Mrs Baker rolled out the pastry and cut it into pretty ..... before baking it.

a) measures b) pictures c) shapes d) sizes

9. Don't ……… the bottle or you will spoil the wine.

a) agitate b) shake c) stir d) tremble

10. She left the milk in a jug and a thick layer of ..... formed on the surface.

a) butter b) cream c) fat d) skin

11. Frozen food should always be ...… before it is cooked.

a) defrosted b) dissolved c) melted d) softened

12. Can you give me a teaspoon to ……. my tea?

a) beat b) spin c) stir d) turn

13. Chocolate . . . . . if you keep it in your pocket.

a) flows b) melts c) ripens d) settles

14. When I peel onions, I can't stop my eyes from ……. .

a) dripping b) dropping c) leaking d) watering

Exercise 10

Fill in the missing words.