Nia

Paolo

Mingh

Krish

Nia, Paolo, Mingh, and Krish are best friends. Every Friday after school they go to each other's houses and cook a delicious meal together. 

Today, we will cook with Mingh's family! After school ends we will all go to Mingh's house to start cooking together. I wonder what delicious treat we will make today!

Mingh, Krish, Paolo and Nia are a part of different cultures. Culture is the customs, traditions, and way of life of a group of people. People from different cultures may look different, but it is important we respect and accept everyone the way we are.  

This is Mingh's family. She lives with her mom, grandma, and grandpa. People can have big families or little families. People can also have many different people in their families: grandparents, aunts and uncles, even pets! No matter who is in your family, it is important to spend time together and get along. 

Before we start cooking, Mingh's grandfather goes to the grocery store to buy the ingredients for the recipe. He buys flour, golden syrup, and lotus seeds. 

Mingh's family uses SNAP to buy groceries. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The government uses SNAP to help people afford groceries. 

Today, we are cooking with Mingh's grandmother. We are making mooncakes! Sometimes we cook with Mingh's grandfather or mother. Anyone can cook!

Mooncakes are a festive dessert. They have a flaky crust and can have many different kinds of filling. Mooncakes are traditionally only eaten in the fall during Mid-Autumn festival. 

Even though Nia, Paolo, and Krish have never celebrated Mid-Autumn festival before, they are very excited to celebrate with Mingh and her family!

Grandma helps Krish grind the lotus seeds into a paste that will go inside the mooncakes. Be careful to not smash any fingers! Krish always listens to instructions from adults so he does not get hurt in the kitchen. 

Grandma has been cooking for a lot longer than Krish, which means she has more experience. Experience helps Grandma keep everyone safe while we cook together. This is why you should always listen to grown-ups when cooking. This will keep everyone safe!

Nia and Grandma mix golden syrup, water, oil, and flour to make the dough. Be careful to have precise measurements! Together, Grandma and Nia knead the dough into a smooth ball. Kneading is a way to mix dough with your hands!