In Great Britain the hustle and bustle of the season begins well before Christmas and there is barely anytime for a break until the Twelfth night. There is preparation going on of foods, the sending of Christmas cards, the decorating of houses and churches, and the readying of gifts keep everyone busy even the youngest family members.
On Christmas Eve youngsters hang up their stockings on the ends of the beds or by the chimney so that when Father Christmas comes he can leave them something.
On Christmas morning the family traditionally opens their presents and prepares for a big feast which typically is served just after midday. The table gleams with the best china and glassware, and at every place on the table there is a cracker. The meal begins with a toast, followed by the popping of the crackers. After the meal they sit down in front of the Television for the traditional Christmas speech of the British Monarch.
In the afternoon they exchange visits with neighbors other family members.
Some churches in Great Britain have a Christingle service on the fourth Sunday of Advent. This is a carol service of Scandinavian origin at which every child received an orange and candle wrapped in a red ribbon. The candle represents Jesus and the ribbon stands for the blood of Christ and the love of God embracing the world.
In Britain, children write their letters to Father Christmas and then throw them into the fireplace so they will float up the chimney and fly to the North Pole. If the lists catch fire first, they have to rewrite them.
At Christmas dinner, a plum pudding is served with little treasures hidden inside that bring their finders good luck. Britain was the first country to hang up mistletoe.
Christmas Fudge
Ingredients:
6 cups sugar 1 1/2 cups butter 1 large can evaporated milk 2 packages chocolate chips 1 jar marshmallow cream 1 cup nuts
Cook in heavy pan until boiling, boil 10 minutes, stirring all the time. Take off burner and add chips, marshmallow cream and nuts, make sure you mix well, pour into 9 x 13 buttered pan. It will make 6 pounds.
Preparation for Christmas in the Congo begins when some group is designated to prepare the annual Christmas pageant.
Christmas day begins with groups of carolers walking to and fro through the village, along the roadway, by the houses of the missionaries, singing the lovely carols known the world around. Often people may be awakened by a group of carolers beginning to converge on the house of worship. They return home to make final preparation as to the clothes one must wear and also as to his offering for the Christmas service.
The most important part of their Christmas worship service is the love offering, this is the gift in honor of Jesus. Then at about 8 or 9 o'clock everyone makes their way to the celebration of the birthday of Jesus.
Everyone who attends the service goes forward to lay down their gift upon the raised platform near the Communion table. Not one person will attend the service without giving a gift.
Now people have Christmas dinners after the service, preparing tables out in front of their home and inviting many of their intimate friends to share.
Christmas in South Africa is a summer holiday. In December, the southern summer brings glorious days of sunshine that carry an irresistible invitation to the beaches, the rivers, and the shaded mountain slopes. Then the South African holiday season reaches its height. Schools are closed, and camping is the order of the day. In South Africa there is no snow, but it has many flowers, many beautiful varieties of cultivated and wild flowers being in their full pride.
In the cities and towns carolers make their rounds on Christmas Eve. Church services are held on Christmas morning. Christmas Eve celebrations in larger centers include "Carols by Candlelight" and special screen and floor shows.
Homes are decorated with pine branches, and all have the decorated Christmas fir in a corner, with presents for the children around. At bedtime on Christmas Eve, children may also hang up their stockings for presents from Father Christmas.
Many South Africans have a Christmas dinner in the open-air lunch. For many more, it is the traditional dinner of either turkey, roast beef, mince pies, or suckling pig, yellow rice with raisins, vegetables, and plum pudding, crackers, paper hats, and all. In the afternoon, families go out into the country and usually there are games or bathing in the warm sunshine, and then home in the cool of the evening. Boxing Day is also a proclaimed public holiday usually spent in the open air. It falls on December 26 and is a day of real relaxation.
In Ghana, on Africa's west coast, most churches herald the coming of Christmas by decorating the church and homes beginning with the first week in Advent, four weeks before Christmas. This season happens to coincide with the cocoa harvest, so it is a time of wealth. Everyone returns home from wherever they might be such as farms or mines.
On the eve of Christmas, children march up and down the streets singing Christmas Carols and shouting "Christ is coming, Christ is coming! He is near!" in their language. In the evening, people flock to churches which have been decorated with Christmas evergreens or palm trees massed with candles. Hymns are sung and Nativity plays are presented.
On Christmas Day, children and older people, representing the angels in the fields outside Bethlehem, go from house to house singing. Another church service is held where they dress in their native attire or Western costumes. Later on there is a feast of rice and yam paste called fufu with stew or okra soup, porridge and meats. Families eat together or with close neighbors, and presents are given.
On the west coast of Africa, in Liberia, most homes have an oil palm for a Christmas tree, which is decorated with bells. On Christmas morning, people are woken up by carols. Presents such as cotton cloth, soap, sweets, pencils, and books are exchanged. Also in the morning a church service is held in which the Christmas scene is enacted and hymns and carols are sung. Dinner is eaten outdoors with everyone sitting in a circle to share the meal of rice, beef and biscuits. Games are played in the afternoon, and at night fireworks light up the sky.
1. Melt butter over low heat. 2. Stir in sugar, spices, chopped almonds and well beaten eggs. Add flour and baking powder. 3. Roll dough out thinly and cut into shapes. Place half an almond in the centre of each biscuit, and brush the top of each biscuit with the white of an egg. 4. Bake at 180 degrees celcius until brown.
From: /www.santas.net/
This photo was taken in Puerto de Vega, a small village on the Asturias coast. I like this place because I was working here for two years in a bank. I took this photo last year, in the summer, when my wife and me went to Puerto de Vega for lunch. That is a sea port place. Many people are sailors or they are related with the fishing, so in the foreground of the photo we can see the boats on the wharf. The restaurants of Puerto de Vega get ready different kinds of fish, but we like the delicious seafood paella. It is their specialty. For my work I had to meet many people in Puerto de Vega, so after lunch we went for a walk around the village and we talked with some sailors who came back from the sea. When the weather is good we like to come here. I think that we have been to Puerto de Vega six or seven times this year. I have taken a lot of photos of the village. They are kept in my computer.
Christmas in Brazil Brazilians are a mix of different ethnic people, and as a former Portuguese colony, they have many Christmas customs which originate from this heritage. One tradition is to create a nativity scene or Presépio. The word originates from the Hebrew word "presepium" which means the bed of straw upon which Jesus first slept in Bethlehem. The Presépio is common in northeastern Brazil. Nowadays presépios are set up in December and displayed in churches, homes, and stores. Papai Noel or Father Noel is the gift-bringer in Brazil. According to legend, he lives in Greenland. When he arrives in Brazil, he usually wears silk clothing due to the summer heat. A huge Christmas dinner includes turkey, ham, colored rice, and wonderful vegetables and fruit dishes. Devout Catholics often attend Midnight Mass or Missa do Galo. The mass has this name because the rooster announces the coming day and the Missa do Galo finishes at 1 AM on Christmas morning! On December 25th, Catholics go to church, but the masses are mostly late afternoon, because people enjoy sleeping late after the dinner called Ceia de Natal or going to the beach. Decorations include fresh flowers picked from the garden. Fireworks go off in the skies over the cites and huge Christmas "trees" of electric lights can be seen against the night skies in major cities such as Brasilia, San Paolo, and Rio de Janeiro. In Brazil there is folk dancing and singing and the festivities go on until January 6th, which the Brazilians refer to as Three Kings Day. January 6th is supposed to be the day when three wise men visited Jesus to bring him gifts.
Christmas Apple Pie
Serve with vanilla ice cream and hard sauce Ingredients: a. Graham cracker crust (you can make your own or use a pre-made one) 1 large egg white (slightly beaten) b. 5 Cups fresh peeled apples 1/2 cup powdered sugar 1/4 cup brown sugar 3 Tablespoons whole wheat flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (we generally add a bit more) c. 3/4 cups whole wheat flour 1/4 cup powdered sugar 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 stick melted butter (a bit over 1/3 cup) Directions: 1. Brush egg white on crust, bake until light brown -- about 6 minutes (if store bought) 2. Combine b mix well, spoon into crust 3. Mix c put on as the top of the pie in thin sheets 4. Bake at 375 farenheit for about 50 minutes 5. Cool for about 4 hours. From:www.santas.net
NB2 - Homework: Two photocopies about tenses and the weather - Speaking: some students had their speaking exam. - Grammar: Future with the present continuous and going to. You were given the explanations with examples on the blacboard and while the speaking exam was carried out ,the rest of the class did some exercises in grammar ,units 25 and 26. - Speaking : Holiday plans to use thes future tenses - Homework: Finish the grammar exercises.
This is a photo of my last Summer holidays. I went to Málaga with my girlfriend, my cousin and his wife, and my best friend. This photo was taken in the wall of the beach the last day when we visited Benalmádena, and my cousin took us the photo.
At the bottom you can see the sea, there are a lot ofsunshades and a lot of hammocks. On the right you can see palm-trees which are the most typical trees in the south of the country.
In the background you can see the blue sky, because it was a sunny day, although when my cousin took us the photo it was sunset..
In the middle of the photo you can see my girlfriend and me against the wall of the beach.
She is wearing an orange undershirt, a black belt, and a jacket, she is looking at my cousin.
And I was wearing an orange shirt, a black belt, and a pair of white jeans, I am looking at my cousin taking the photo too.
I would like to come back because I like Benalmádena a lot, although I guess that there are fantastic places in the world, and I prefer to visit all cities before going on holiday to the same place.
JUAN SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ NI2E
This photo was taken last summer when I was on holiday with my friends in Málaga and one day we decided to spend the day in Puerto Banús. We liked it a lot and we had a good time there so next year if there aren’t any problems, we’ll go back again together!
In the foreground, there are four women, my friends and me. They are Ainoa, Elena and Patricia. I’m wearing a kind of black top called ‘word of honour’, a pair of printed trousers and sandals. I’m wearing sunglasses too and I’m with a cigarette. The second woman is wearing a black shirt, a pair of shorts, sandals and she’s carrying a camera in her right hand. She’s also wearing earrings and her sunglasses are hunging from her neckline. The third woman is wearing blue shirt, a pair of jeans with a belt and black high-heeled sandals.
Behind us, there is an illustrative board of tourist information.
On the right, I can see a lamppost and a man who is walking in the street. He is wearing blue T-shirt, a pair of Bermuda shorts and sunglasses. He’s carrying a rucksack. On the left there is a full trash can.
In the background, I can see Puerto Banús Beach and some deckchairs, sunshades and one palmtree on the right. The day was very sunny and I can see itin the shadows and the kind of clothes that we were wearing!!
Christmas in Norway Norwegian children always remember a little gnome Nisse at Christmastime. He guards all the farm animals, and he plays tricks on the children if they forget to place a bowl of special porridge for him. Norway has its gift-bearing little gnome or elf. Known as Julebukk or "Christmas buck," he appears as a goat-like creature. Julebukk harkens back to Viking times when pagans worshipped Thor and his goat. During pagan celebrations a person dressed in a goatskin, carrying a goat head, would burst in upon the party and during the course of evening would "die" and return to life. During the early Christian era, the goat began to take the form of the devil, and would appear during times of wild merry-making and jubilation. By the end of the Middle Ages, the game was forbidden by the Church and the state. In more recent times the goat has emerged in the tamer form of Julebukk. A favorite holiday cookie is called a sand kager is made by mixing 2 cups of butter and sugar, 4 cups of flour, and 1 cup of chopped almonds. This pressed into a tin, baked until golden brown, and cut into squares. In the dark afternoons, in the Viking tradition, children go from house to house asking for goodies. Norwegians eat lye-treated codfish, and wash it down with boiled potatoes, rice porridge, gingerbread, and punch. Mari Langholm Norwegians are very close to the North Pole, and they strongly hope for the magic of snow for the holydays! Christmas in Norway begins with the Saint Lucia ceremony on the 13 December. At the crack of dawn, the youngest daughter from each family puts on a white robe with a sash, a crown with evergreens and tall-lighted candles, accompanied by the other children, the boys dressed as star boys in long white shirts and pointed hats. They wake their parents, and serve them coffee and Lucia buns, lussekatter. The custom goes back to a Christian virgin, Lucia, martyred for her beliefs at Syracuse in the fourth century. The Saint Lucia ceremony is fairly recent, but it represents the traditional thanksgiving for the return of the sun. The Christmas tree, juletre, spruce or pine tree usually, are often decorated with candles, apples, red harts, cornets, straw ornaments, balls of glass and tinsels, all depending on what you like. The homes have a scent of resin, hyacinths, red tulips, spices and tangerines. Some children, especially in the country still believe in and remember a little gnome or elf, fjøsnissen at Christmas time. He is told to guard all the farm animals, and he plays tricks if the children forget to place a bowl of special rice porridge, risengrynsgrøt, in the barn or outside for him. This is old superstition. Norwegians also love to eat this porridge on the 23 December, lillejulaften, and then it holds a magic almond inside. The one who finds it gets a prize. Some eat the rice porridge for lunch on the 24th. Perhaps in the evening they have some gløgg, it is a spicy drink (you can add some red wine if you like), with raisins and chopped almonds. Julaften, on the 24 December, a lot of people go to church service before they gather at home around the table for a nice Christmas Eve dinner. The dinner can consist of a rib with a good crackling, ribbe, (served with "cabbage à la norvégienne", surkaal, potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, sprouts, prunes and brown sauce), salted and dried ribs of mutton, pinnekjoett, (served with potatoes, carrots and mashed swedes), or lye-treated codfish, lutefisk (served with potatoes, bacon and pea stew). For dessert: rice blended with whipped cream served with a red sauce, riskrem, caramel pudding, cherry mousse, or whipped cream blended with multer (orange, wonderful berries found on the mountain - looks like rasberries). In the evening Santa Claus, julenissen, arrives with gifts. Often it is snowing. In the days between Christmas and New Years Eve, romjulen, the children sometimes go from house to house in the afternoon asking for sweets, this tradition is called "Christmas buck", julebukk. The tradition harkens back to the Viking times when pagans worshipped Thor and his goat, but just a few children keep up the tradition today. On Christmas Day a lot of people have a big brunch at noon or dinner in the afternoon for friends and family. It is done the Italian way and can last for several wonderful hours! Traditional cakes and cookies made at Christmas can be julekake (with raisins), kryddekake, delfiakake, rosettbakels, fattigmann, smultringer, goro, silkekaker, pepperkaker, kokosmakroner. Different nuts, fruits, figs, dates and sweets also belong to the celebration. God Jul! (Merry Christmas!)
Gingerbread Men Ingredients: 3 and 1/4 cups flour 1.2 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp ground cinnamon 2 tsp ground cloves 1 cup salted butter, softened 3/4 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed 1 large egg 1/2 cup unsulfered molasses 2/3 cup confectioners sugar 1 - 2 tsp milk Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 325' 2. Whisk together flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, ginger, and cloves 3. Cream butter and sugar. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add egg and molasses and beat on medium speed until smooth. 4. Scrape down bowl and add flour mixture, blend on low speed until just combined -- do not over mix! 5. Separate dough into 2 balls and flatten into disks. Wrap each disk tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate 1 hour. 6. On floured surface with floured rolling pin, roll dough out to 1/4" thickness. With floured cookie cutters cut into shapes. Gather scraps and re-roll dough until all is used. Place on ungreased baking sheets about 1/2" apart. 7. Bake 9-11 minutes -- do not brown. Transfer to cool, flat surface and cool. Preparing Icing: 1. Whisk sugar and milk until smooth but still liquid. 2. Add extra milk if seems dry. 3. Spoon icing into a pastry bag with small piping tip, or other icing dispenser. 4. Decorate as desired. From:www.santas.net
One of my favourite photos is of Brian May, the guitarist of Queen.
I think that the photo was taken in England in his first concert when he was a beginner.
He was in the setting with his friend Freddie, Roger and John rehearsing to the concert, he played all of their greatest hits including Bohemian Rhapsody and the leader of the group, Freddie Mercury, listened to him carefully.
I was not born when he played in England but I have all of his hits in a CD. They are my favourite group of music and they are one of the best groups of music in the world. They have many trophies in their showcases, but this changed suddenly when Freddie died.
I keep this photo in my computer. On a bad day in my life, I look at him and I listen to his music. Consequently they make me smile again.
SERGIO PÉREZ. 2NB
Last summer, I went to Portugal with my parents,I flew by plane and I stayed in Lisbon,in a hotel with swimming pool and a lot of gardens. I visited a lot of places. I saw the centre of Lisbon and other places I saw museums, sculptures, parks,squares... I learned many things because Lisbon is a city which takes care of its culture and its history and legends are very interesting. I stayed there for ten days, there I ate the traditional food of Lisbon and only drank water because I don’t like anything else. I was lucky because the weather was good ,every day was sunny. I went shopping just to buy too many things I love, I bought clothes and souvenirs. For my friends and family I bought postcards of the places I had been. We drove back to see Galicia ,which is very beautiful, and also to see family and friends I have there. I hope this year is similar to or better than last year. This photo is “Boca do inferno”, Cliff is a very famous and it is in Cascais near Estoril where there is a famous casino. There are many people who lose all their money and decide to commit suicide by jumping off this cliff. IRENE ARROYO GARCIA NB2 NB2 - Grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation and writing test. -Some of the students had their speaking tests with the interaction and the speech. - Those who finished first did and exercise about the weather and another one abouttenses.
NI2 - Grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation test - St.B.p. 32,33 Cheching and apologizing . Listening with question tags, pronunciation of question tags and different ways of apologizing, depending on how sorry you are. - Homework: Grammar, unit 52 about question tags, wk, p. 23 .
Christmas in Alaska Most Alaskan Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25th, just as people do in the continent of the US. Santa Claus may arrive for a pre-Christmas visit, but, food, gift giving, and decorations are like what you might see in Texas or Wisconsin. The songs sang at each home include Aleut words Gristuusaaq suu'uq, or Christ is born. Everyone joins in the closing words, Mnogaya leta, or god grant you many years. At the end of the carols the host provides carolers with maple-frosted doughnuts, cookies, candy, piruk, or fish pie, and sometimes smoked salmon. In Alaska children wander from house to house carrying a colored star on a long pole, and singing carols.
North Pole Cupcake Cones Ice cream cones that are flat on the bottom A baking sheet Any cupcake or cake mix A bowl A mixing spoon Icing Shredded Coconut Chopped walnuts and raisns
1. Place six ice cream cones on a baking sheet. 2. Make the cake mix according to instructions and pour the batter in each cone. Leave an inch/ 2 1/2 cms of space at the top. 3. Set oven at 375 farenheit/ 190 celcius. 4. Place cupcake cones in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. 5. Let them cool for half an hour, then ice and decorate them with coconut, chopped nuts, and raisins. Cover lid and let rice simmer slowly and gently for an hour, or until all the milk is absorbed and swollen up.
From:/www.santas.net
This is a picture that I like much. It was taken in 2000, when I was 7 years old. I remember perfectly that day. We were in Murcia, it was a sunny, hot day, and we had eaten that day at the beach. After lunch we were very bored, so we played on the shore with the sand. A friend of my parents helped us to make the crocodile sand. We took many pictures because we liked it. The girl on the left is my sister, who has a year and a half younger than me. I am the one in the middle, and the girl who is on the right is a friend whose parents spent their holidays in the same place as us. I liked those summers because we enjoyed it a lot.
SARA GARCIA MARTINEZ, NB2
This photo was taken last summer when I was in Cambridge for a month. An Italian girl took the photo while we were eating in the garden of our residence (Homerton College). All the people are sitting in the grass and we are in a circle. We are eating some sandwiches and some fruit, and we have coke and water to drink. It is sunny day, because although there are some clouds in the sky, it is easy to see that it’s a beautiful day. In the background, it’s possible to make out the building where there are some bedrooms and a canteen. In the photo, there are people of different countries. The boy on the left who is wearing sun glasses is from Cyprus; the three boys who are next to him and the girl whit a white t-shirt are from Spain (Valladolid, Madrid, Valencia and Zaragoza exactly); the boy with the blue t-shirt and the boy who has blond hair are from Italy; the girls who are on the right, are from Spain too, and finally, the one with black jacket is my best friend who is sitting next to me. I think that this photograph is so nice because it reminds me of all the good moments that I spent with all of them. My friend and I arrived alone but from the first moment we were very happy with our new friends. It was a great summer that I will never forget. ROSA MARIA PALICIO ARBESÚ 2º NI
PAZ GARCIA has sent this song. Thank you very much,with your help this blog sounds more varied and interesting.
Christmas in Australia is often very hot. Whereas the northern hemisphere is in the middle of winter, Australians are baking in summer heat. It is not unusual to have Christmas Day well into the mid 30 degrees Celsius, or near 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
A traditional meal includes a turkey dinner, with ham, and pork. A flaming Christmas plum pudding is added for dessert. In the Australian gold rushes, Christmas puddings often contained a gold nugget. Today a small favor is baked inside. Whoever finds this knows s/he will enjoy good luck. Another treat is Mince Pies.
Some Australians and particularly tourists often have their Christmas dinner at midday on a local beach, Bondi Beach in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs attracts thousands of people on Christmas Day. Other families enjoy their day by having a picnic. If they are at home, the day is punctuated by swimming in a pool, playing Cricket out the backyard, and other outdoor activities.
The warm weather allows Australians to enjoy a tradition which commenced in 1937. Carols by Candlelight is held every year on Christmas Eve, where tens of thousands of people gather in the city of Melbourne to sing their favorite Christmas songs. The evening is lit by as many candles singing under a clean cut night sky. The sky with its Southern Cross stars is like a mirror. Sydney and the other capital cities also enjoy Carols in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Australians surround themselves with Christmas Bush, a native plant which has little red flowered leaves.
Christmas shopping is often done in shorts and t-shirts. At many beaches Santa Claus arrives on a surfboard, or even on a surf lifesaving boat.
Australia's worst Christmas was in 1974, when Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin in the Northern Territory. More than 60 people were killed.
Billy Can Pudding from Australia
In the Australian bush in the 19th century people had to improvise. The Billy Can is a tin, with handles, usually used to carry water.
1 1/2 cups of raisins 1/2 cup of sultanas and raisins 1 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon of mixed spice and cinnamon 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate soda
Combine all ingredients. Mix well with 500 mls of boiling tea. Empty into a greased and floured billy can. Cover, amd let it stand overnight. Steam for 3 1/2 hours.
From:www.santas.net
NB2
- Very few students came but we carried on with the class plan .
- Speaking: Oral exam for 3,4 students with interaction and picture description.
- Reading: Test with two exercises:one true-false and another of multiple choice.
- Listening: Test with three exercises: matching columns, multiple choice and fill in the blanks.
While he speaking test was in progress, those who had already done it did an exercise about questions.
NI2
- Reading test: A multiple choice reading a bit difficult , but I´m afraid you have to get used to doing these sort of exercises.
- Listening test: A multiple choice listening about people talking a bit fast.
- Grammar: A photocopy about connectorsand some exercises.
PABLO GONZALEZ RUBIO . Look ,Pablo this is one of my favourite songs. Well done!
This is where I will be in July with some good friends : The Red Sea , not very far and beautiful.I can´t wait to get there .
For our last class we had a mock exam and afrer checking the mistakes I gave you the marks, which aren´t definite, only for you to know your progress . You´ll have to sit the CERTIFICACION EXAM to pass to the next course. All the information os in the EOI web page.
TIPS AND INFORMATION FOR THE EXAMS
- Come to the EOI with time in advance , don´t wait to the very last minute. - Take your IDENTITY CARD, otherwise you´ll have to rush home to get it. - Do as you´re told in the exam , follow the teacher´s instructions . - Write with a pen in black or blue ink. Never use a pencil . - Read the questions VERY CAREFULLY . Don´t rush , you must know what you´re doing . - The written part will take place : Basic Level : 1st June, Intermediate level: 4th June . At 16,00 Reading comprehension: two exercises and 45 minutes - Writing: two exercises with 75-100 words for the Basic Level and 180-200 for the Intermediate Level.Timing: 90 minutes. - Listening: two exercises with 20 questions . Timing: 35 minutes for both Basic and Intermediate level. - Speaking : You must check the list in the EOI board when you come for the written part. . Basic Level:10th June, Intermediate Level: 11 and 15 June.
- Marks: 23th June and 22nd September.
GOOD LUCK ,YOU ALL DESERVE TO PASS
Quick Yogurt Cake
This is a quick and easy cake to make. You could make your own strawberry yogurt if you add some strawberry jam to some plain yogurt. Ingredients 150 Gram Strawberry yogurt 175 Gram Self raising flour 150 Gram Sugar 25 Gram Butter, melted 2 Eggs, beaten 65 Gram Mixed peel, chopped 15 Gram Flaked almonds Method Makes 14 slices
Mix together the yogurt, flour, sugar, butter and eggs until smooth. Stir in 50g mixed peel and pour into a 900g greased and lined loaf tin.
Sprinkle remaining peel and almonds over the top of the loaf and bake at 180 °C Gas 4 for 45 minutes. Cool in the tin for 15 minutes before turning out. Serve cut into slices.
THIS BLOG IS GOING TO HAVE A REST , SO SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS!!!!
Albert ,I sincerely thank you for your contribution with the songs . This blog wouldn´t be the same without your music.
As you´re running short of time for the party ,here you have another easy recipe.
Lemon Cake
A rich lemon cake topped with sugar.
A rich lemon cake topped with sugar . A similar cake is found in neighbouring Cumbria. The first Englishmen to enjoy oranges and lemons were the Crusaders, who wintered with Richard Coeur de Lion in Jaffa in 1191-2. Ingredients Serves: 4
110 Gram Butter, softened 50 Gram Lard 150 Gram Caster sugar 2 Eggs, beaten 225 Gram Self raising flour 1 Lemon, zest and juice 50 Gram Candied lemon peel, finely chopped 1 Tablespoon Milk Icing sugar, sifted Method Preheat the oven to 180 °C , Gas 4. Grease and line an 18 cm cake tin.
Cream the butter, lard and sugar together in a bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, a little at a time with a little flour and mix thoroughly. Fold in the rest of the flour. Add the lemon zest and juice, the candied peel and milk and mix thoroughly. The mixture should be of a dropping, yet firm, consistency.
Turn into the tin and smooth the top. Bake for 1-1 1/2 hours, until a thin skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. If the top appears to be browning too quickly, cover with a piece of kitchen foil. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then turn out on to a wire rack. Serve dredged with a little icing sugar.
Clotted cream gives this cake a lovely richness. Ingredients 225 Gram Butter, softened 175 Gram Caster sugar 3 Medium Eggs, beaten 275 Gram Plain flour 1 Heaped tsp Baking powder 1 1/2 Oranges, zest and juice 110 Gram Clotted cream 3 Tablespoon Marmalade, stirred until sof 225 Gram Icing sugar Method Makes 12 slices
Pre-heat oven to 180 °C / Gas 4. Grease 2 sandwich tins 20 x 4 cm . Cream the butter and sugar until pale and slowly beat in the eggs. Sift the flour gradually into the mixture. Add the baking powder, orange zest and half the juice.
Divide between the two tins and bake for 30 minutes (check after 25 minutes). Cool on a wire rack.
Mix the clotted cream with the marmalade and sandwich the sponges together. Make the icing by gradually adding the remaining orange juice to the icing sugar until smooth. Drizzle over the top.
Here you have another cooking recipe for the EOI party
Christmas Log
This is a rich chocolate Swiss roll, traditionally served at teatime on Christmas Day. Ingredients Serves: 10
4 Eggs 100 Gram Caster sugar plus extra to dredge 90 Gram Plain flour 1 Tablespoon Cocoa powder 150 ml Double cream 4 Tablespoon Rum 1 Tablespoon Coffee essence 175 Gram Butter 75 Gram Icing sugar 175 Gram Plain chocolate, melted Icing sugar and meringue mushrooms Method Grease and line a 33 x 22 cm Swiss roll tin. Place eggs and sugar in a large bowl and use an electric mixer to whisk until thick and creamy. Sieve flour and cocoa together and fold in.
Transfer to tin and bake at 200 °C 7 Gas 6 for 12-15 minutes, until risen and golden. Sprinkle caster sugar over a sheet of greaseproof paper placed on a damp tea towel. Turn cake on top, trim edges and roll up. Cool.
Whisk the cream, rum and coffee together until stiff, unroll the cake and spread with the filling. Re-roll. Beat butter, icing sugar and chocolate together. Use to coat log.
Sprinkle with icing sugar and decorate with meringue mushrooms. Chill for an hour before serving.
This is an easy recipe for the EOI Party. Please,try and do your best taking part . You can do a recipe with your classmate , so it´ll be more fun and if it tastes nice, you´ll be likely to get a prize. Bear in mind that these activities are basically for the students and without you it won´t have much sense. Let me remind you of the game "What´s love love for you?". You just have to write your definition of love on a card your teacher will give you ,vote them and ,if you´re lucky, get a prize. Ask your teacher for these two activities. I miss you a lot . You´re great students!!
Chocolate and Orange Cake
This chocolate cake is quick and easy to make. Chocolate and orange are natural partners. Ingredients Serves: 6-8
100 Gram Butter 100 Gram Sugar 1 Egg, beaten 175 Gram Self raising flour 2 Tablespoon Cocoa powder 1 Teaspoon Bicarbonate of soda 175 ml Milk 300 ml Whipping cream 2 Teaspoon Orange liqueur 1 Orange, grated zest and segments Method Pre-heat oven to 180 °C / Gas 4.
Lightly grease two 15 cm cake tins. Melt the butter and sugar in a saucepan over a low heat. Leave to cool for 2 minutes. Add the egg and beat well. Fold in the flour and cocoa powder. Mix the bicarbonate of soda and the milk, add slowly to the mixture.
Pour into the prepared cake tins and bake for 25 minutes, until cooked and risen. Leave in the tins for 2 minutes, then turn out and leave to cool on a wire rack.
Whip the cream stiffly. Fold in the liqueur and most of the orange zest. Use to sandwich the cakes together, reserving a little for the top. Decorate with the remaining cream mixture, orange zest and the segments.
A party is going to be held at the EOI. I encourage everybody to take active part it since it´s going to be fun: a fancy dress party, a cooking competition and karaoke ,what else can we ask to have a great time? I´ll be posting easy cooking recipes, mainly desserts, to make things easier for you, you can also find them in the Internet.
FIESTA DE CARNAVAL Y GASTRONÓMICA
Fecha: viernes 19 de febrero. Presentación de platos a partir de las 5.30 Lugar: La escuela.
1. El alumno puede escoger una de las recetas que le proporcione el profesor o buscar su receta en Internet, libros etc. siempre típicos del país extranjero. Tal vez haya platos típicos para los carnavales. 2. Los alumnos y también los profesores que quieran podemos disfrazarnos, así que también haremos concurso de disfraces. El premio al mejor disfraz es el mismo que para los agraciados en el sorteo. Habrá un jurado para elegir el mejor disfraz. 3. A partir de las 5.30: Entrega de platos. Por cada plato que entregue el alumno se le dará un premio* y un número de rifa para participar en el sorteo de 7 vales de 30 euros para gastar en la Librería Campoamor de la zona. 4. 8.15: Sorteo y entrega de vales a los agraciados, al ganador del mejor disfraz y a los tres ganadores (uno por departamento) del concurso de San Valentín. 5. Habrá KARAOKE.
DETALLES IMPORTANTES
1. Los alumnos pueden invitar a familiares o amigos a participar. 2. Los platos se presentarán con el nombre del plato y el país de origen, escrito en cartulina con palillo, encima del plato.
GRACIAS POR VUESTRA COLABORACIÓN!
CANARY PUDDING
Ingredients Serves: 4
75 Gram Self-raising flour 75 Gram Fresh breadcrumbs 75 Gram softened butter 50 Gram sugar 1 Lemon, zest only (piel) 1 Egg 2 Tablespoon Madeira or sweet sherry 4 Tablespoon Milk Method Grease a 1.1 litre pudding basin if making a steamed pudding, or a deep pie dish if baking the pudding.
Mix together the flour, breadcrumbs, butter and sugar. Add the lemon zest. Make a well in the centre and add the egg, Madeira or sherry and enough milk to give a soft dropping consistency. Pour into the prepared dish.
If steaming the pudding, cover with foil and secure with string. Steam for 1 1/2 - 2 hours. If baking, cook, uncovered, at 180 °C Gas 4 for about 1 hour, until well risen. Serve hot with custard.
Add 2 tablespoons of apricot jam or golden syrup to the pudding basin for an even sunnier-looking pudding.
Is there really cause for serious concern? Yes. Global warming is a complex phenomenon, and its full-scale impacts are hard to predict in advance. But each year scientists learn more about how global warming is affecting the planet, and many agree that certain consequences are likely to occur if current trends continue. Among these: ·Melting glaciers, early snowmelt and severe droughts will cause more dramatic water shortages. · Rising sea levels will lead to coastal flooding. · Warmer sea surface temperatures will fuel more intense hurricanes
·Forests, farms and cities will face troublesome new pests and more mosquito-borne diseases. · Disruption of habitats such as coral reefs and alpine meadows could drive many plant and animal species to extinction. Could global warming trigger a sudden catastrophe? Recently, researchers have investigated the possibility of abrupt climate change, in which gradual global warming triggers a sudden shift in the earth's climate, causing parts of the world to dramatically heat up or cool down in a few years. What country is the largest source of global warming pollution? The United States. Though Americans make up just 4 percent of the world's population, they produce 25 percent of the carbon dioxide pollution from fossil-fuel burning , by far the largest share of any country. In fact, the United States emits more carbon dioxide than China, India and Japan, combined.
How can we cut global warming pollution? It's simple: By reducing pollution from vehicles and power plants. Right away, we should put existing technologies for building cleaner cars and more modern electricity generators into use. We can increase our renewable energy sources such as wind, sun and geothermal. And we can manufacture more efficient appliances and conserve energy. (To be continued) Adapted from Green Yahoo
NB2A/C
--Homework: Grammar, units 46 and 47 about questions with prepositions and question words.
--Grammar: Prepositions of place:at,in, on.Units 106 and 107.We saw the rules and the exercises were left for homework because many of them had already been seen in class.
--Reading: St.book ,p.22.One October Evening.The paragraphs were read out and ordered in the right sequence.Then, some questions about the reading you had to answer with your classmate.
--Listening: to check the order, the questions and pronunciation of regular past tenses.
--Grammar: An exercise about linking words. so, because, but, although.Grammar bank on p.128 with the rules of these linking words and some exercises.
--Vocabulary: St.books. p.23. Expressions from the reading:take sb to a concert,run across the road,knock on the door...
--Speaking: you read the story again and this time you had to re-tellit using the vocabulary from the previous exercise ,linking words and correct pronunciation.
--Listening: The end of the story. First six extracts from the conversation with missing words and then you had to predict what was going to happen next.
--Homework: Grammar, units 107 and 108.
NI2E
--Homework:St. b. p.25 Eternal Youth. The vocabulary and multiple choice activity. In the reading I put s special emphasis on the register of scientific articles and publications, which has to be formal with more Latin words, no contractions and less common expressions.
--Speaking: How woud you feel if you stayed younger for ever?.what problems can you imagine?
--Grammar: future continuous and future perfect. Grammar bank on p.132 with the rules and a couple of exercises. Grammar,unit 24. Here we saw some more rules and the activities were left for homework.
--Speaking: practice with these two tenses .In Twenty Years´Time ...Scientists will be cloning people, by next year ... I will have finished my studies.
--Writing: St.b. p.27. Spelling in an e-mail. Writing bank, p.157 about the most common spelling rules, if there are any.
--Homework: grammar, unit 24 ; workbook, p.17 and 19
OUR NEXT CLASS, ON THURSDAY, IS GOING TO BE IN THE LAB, DOWNSTAIRS,GROUND FLOOR.
The reason why I´m posting cooking recipes in English is that a Christmas party is going to be held on Thursday,18th of December. These are easy desserts you can try at home and bring to the party, if you like them. I´ll keep you informed as soon as I have some news.
COOKING: Apple and Hazelnut Crunch
Serves: 4 Ingredients:
450 g apples, stewed and sweetened to taste 150 g hazelnut yogurt, apple slices dipped in lemon Method: Mix the stewed apple and yogurt together.Spoon into 4 glasses or individual dishes. Crush fruit and nut bars and divide between dishes. Decorate with apple slices.
Though very much plant-like in appearance, sponges are one of the most primitive animals in the sea. They belong to a group called porifera. Most of us are familiar with the dried yellowish varieties found in bathrooms . But in the ocean, live sponges can be found in an infinite variety of colors and shapes. Most of them are relatively small, but some varieties can grow a lot. Sponges differ from all other marine invertebrates in that they have no tissues or organs. The tissue of sponges encloses a network of chambers and canals that connect to the open pores on their surface. Sponges feed by drawing a current of water in through their pores, filtering out the nutrients, and then throwing it out through an opening. Many sponges on the reef resemble some of the corals in shape and color, but they are not. Sponges are all different and beautiful. NB2A/C
-- Homework: grammar, unit 14 (simple past and past continuous),103,106 (prepositions :at, in, on). --Speaking: St.books.p.20 Fifty Years of Pop . About your tast in music and the sort of music you like listening to in certain circumstances. --Grammar: Wh- questions working as subject and object . e.g. Who saw you? and who did you see?.We focussed on the auxiliary verb did. The quiz was done. and the basic rules and exercises on p.128. From here we went to the grammar to see more questions in units 46 and 47 with prepositions at the end: what are you looking for? , with like: what was the weather like? , what ,which.... We did only one exercise and the others were left for homework. --Speaking: Pair work .A: p.109 and B: p.113.A music quiz. First you had to write down the questions , and once checked ,you asked your classmate. I must admit I didn´t know many answers. --Reading: Who Wrote Imagine? p.21. You read out, mistakes were checked and did a true-false exercise , then another activity were you had to order the sequence of events. this one a bit more difficult. --Song: Imagine by John Lennon. We dealt with the vocabulary and after that we did a fill in the blanks exercise. --Homework: Grammar, units 46 and 47.
NI2E --Homework:The handout about conditional sentences: types 1 and 2 were checked. --Speaking: Do you Want to Live for ever? st.b,p.24, about the ageing process and the different attitudes toward this issue. --Listening: Longer than others , so to avoid getting lost , you should pick key words and phrases. A doctor is inteviewed and lists the factors to remain young for years. A note taking activity good to share your information with that of your partner.A second exercise to complete with the exact words said. It was played four times, the last one with the script. --VocabularY: word building to make abstract nouns from adjectives,e.g.free-freedom,insecure-insecurity. --Speaking: we had to decide the possible age for each expression and here our first disagreements began. Your idea of age has nothing to do with mine, basically because I´m a lot older than you and the subjective factor plays an important role. What´s for you middle aged or old?.Then you had to talk about your best/worst age, the advantages/disadvantages of your present age and some other aspects related to the main topic. --Homework: Reading, student´s book ,p.25. Eternal Youth. The vocabulary execise and the multiple choice .
Some jokes Transplants The patient demanded, "Doc, I just must have a liver transplant, a kidney transplant, a cornea transplant, a lung transplant, and a heart transplant." "WHAT?" yelled the doctor. "Tell me, exactly why you think you need all these transplants." "Well," explained the patient, "my boss told me that I needed to get reorganized." Plumber A plumber attended to a leaking faucet at the neurosurgeon's house. After a two-minute job, he demanded $150. The neurosurgeon exclaimed, "I don't even charge that amount and I am a brain surgeon." The plumber replied, "I agree. You are right! I too, didn't either, when I was a surgeon. That's why I switched to plumbing."
COOKING : APPLE AND CHEESE PUDDING Serves: 4. Ingredients: 450 g apples, sliced ,25 g butter ,few drops vanilla essence, 150 ml of milk,100 g curd cheese ,2 eggs ,25 g sugar . Method : Cook the apples gently in butter and vanilla essence until slightly soft, place in a buttered ovenproof dish.Beat together the milk, cheese, eggs and sugar. Pour over the apples. Bake at 190ºC . Gas 5 for 25 minutes. Serve hot.If you cannot get curd cheese, try this recipe with another soft cheese instead.
