Daily English Lesson 10 – Making Dinner (Beginner)

Welcome to Daily English Lesson 10 – Making Dinner. In today’s lesson, I’ll share a story about my own evening in the kitchen. Cooking is something many of us do daily, but it’s also a great way to learn useful English expressions.

👉 This lesson is also available at the beginner level. Click here to read it.

📖 Story Section – Making Dinner

I came home after a long day at work, already feeling my stomach rumbling (making noise from hunger). I didn’t want to just eat snacks again. Tonight, I wanted to cook something proper. When I opened the fridge, I saw some vegetables, a piece of chicken, and half a jar of pasta sauce. Not much, but enough for a meal.

I began chopping onions and garlic, their strong smell quickly filling the air. Cooking always reminds me of my childhood, when my mother prepared flavorful meals every evening. For me, the process is comforting and even rewarding—it turns an ordinary evening into something special.

I placed the chicken in the hot pan, and it started to sizzle (make a hissing sound while cooking). I sprinkled in some herbs like basil and oregano. I’m not a professional chef, but I like experimenting with flavors. Meanwhile, I put a pot of water on the stove to boil. When the bubbles began rising, I added pasta and leaned on the counter, scrolling through my phone.

The sound of bubbling water snapped me back. I drained the pasta carefully, feeling the sharp heat of the steam rising. I then mixed everything together, letting the sauce coat (cover with a thin layer) the pasta.

Finally, I sat down and took a bite. The food was savory, rich, and comforting. Maybe a little salty, but still good. Cooking after a busy day gave me not only dinner, but also a quiet sense of peace.

🗣️ Story Section with explanations

Our story begins with me saying, “Let me tell you a little story.”

I came home after a long day at work. My stomach was rumbling (making noise because I was hungry). I was tired, but I didn’t want to eat just snacks again. I thought, “Tonight, I will cook something real.”

I walked to the fridge (a machine that keeps food cold). I opened the door and looked inside. There were some vegetables, a piece of chicken, and half a jar of pasta sauce. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.

I took out the onions and garlic. I began to chop (cut into small pieces) them carefully. Soon, the smell of garlic and onion began filling the air (spreading through the room). The kitchen suddenly felt warmer, friendlier, and alive.

I smiled. Cooking reminded me of my childhood. My mother used to prepare delicious meals every evening. For me, cooking is not just work—it is something comforting (making you feel safe and relaxed). It is also rewarding (giving you a good feeling after effort).

I heated a pan (a flat container used for frying food) and placed the chicken inside. Soon, the chicken began to sizzle (make a hissing sound while cooking). The smell was wonderful. I added herbs (plants used for flavor in food) like basil and oregano. I am not a professional chef (a person trained to cook professionally), but I enjoy experimenting with flavors.

Meanwhile, I put water in a pot to boil (heat until bubbles form). I added pasta to the water. While waiting, I leaned against the counter and scrolled on my phone. A few minutes later, the bubbling water reminded me—“Oh, the pasta!” I quickly stood up.

I drained the pasta carefully. As I poured the hot water away, I felt the steam (hot vapor from boiling water) rise toward my face. It was almost too hot, and I pulled back.

Now it was time to mix everything together. I combined the pasta, chicken, and sauce. I stirred it so the sauce would coat (cover with a thin layer) the pasta evenly.

Finally, I sat down. I took the first bite slowly. The food was savory, rich, and inviting. Maybe I had added a little too much salt, but still—it was good.

I smiled to myself. For me, cooking after a long day isn’t just about eating. It is about creating peace and comfort in the middle of a busy life.

📚 Vocabulary & Explanation

Rumbling – making noise because of hunger.
Example: My stomach was rumbling during class.
Fridge – machine that keeps food cold.
Example: We keep eggs in the fridge.
Chop – cut into small pieces.
Example: I chopped the tomatoes for the salad.
Comforting – making you feel safe and relaxed.
Example: A hot drink on a cold night is comforting.
Rewarding – giving a good feeling after effort.
Example: Helping others is rewarding.
Sizzle – hissing sound of food cooking.
Example: The meat began to sizzle in the pan.
Herbs – plants used for flavor in food.
Example: Fresh herbs improve the taste of soup.
Chef – a professional cook.
Example: The chef created a beautiful dish.
Boil – heat liquid until bubbles form.
Example: Please boil water for the tea.
Steam – hot vapor from boiling water.
Example: Steam fogged the bathroom mirror.
Coat – cover with a thin layer.
Example: The apples were coated in sugar.
Savory – pleasantly salty or spicy in taste.
Example: I love savory snacks more than sweet ones.

📝 Recap

After a long day, I came home hungry and decided to cook instead of eating snacks. I looked in the fridge and found vegetables, chicken, and pasta sauce. I chopped onions and garlic, their smell quickly filling the air. Cooking reminded me of childhood meals, which always felt comforting and rewarding.

I fried the chicken in a pan, listening to it sizzle, and added herbs like basil and oregano. While the pasta was boiling, I nearly forgot about it until the bubbling water caught my attention. Carefully, I drained it, avoiding the hot steam.

Finally, I mixed everything together, letting the sauce coat the pasta. The result was a warm, savory meal. It wasn’t perfect, but it was mine. For me, making dinner was about more than food—it gave me peace after a long day.

📔 Glossary

Rumbling – hungry stomach noise
Fridge – machine for keeping food cold
Chop – cut into small pieces
Comforting – making you feel safe or relaxed
Rewarding – giving satisfaction or pleasure
Sizzle – hissing sound of food cooking
Herbs – plants for flavor in food
Chef – a professional cook
Boil – heat until bubbles form
Steam – hot vapor from boiling water
Coat – cover with a thin layer
Savory – salty or spicy in taste

📝 Practice Task

Write 6–8 sentences about a time you cooked or helped in the kitchen. Try to use at least 5 of today’s vocabulary words (for example: rumbling, comforting, steam, savory, rewarding).

Thanks for joining today’s lesson! Cooking isn’t just about food – it’s a chance to practice English too. Remember to use today’s vocabulary in your daily conversations. Come back tomorrow for another story and lesson.