Muhammad peeked into the kitchen where his sister Hamidah was gathering pots and pans. 'Today, we're going to learn how to cook!' she exclaimed.
Their mother laid out ingredients on the counter. 'We'll start with something simple,' she said, 'a vegetable stir-fry.'
Hamidah read the recipe aloud while Muhammad carefully chopped the carrots and peppers, trying to make even slices.
Hamidah showed Muhammad how to season the vegetables. 'It's all about flavor balance,' she said, sprinkling spices skillfully.
They took turns stirring the vegetables in the sizzling pan. 'Keep them moving,' their mother instructed, 'to cook evenly.'
Hamidah let Muhammad add the soy sauce, and he watched in fascination as it caramelized, the aroma filling the kitchen.
Once done, they plated their creation, garnishing it with a sprinkle of sesame seeds and fresh cilantro.
Sitting at the table, their family praised their cooking. 'Delicious!' said their father, tasting the stir-fry.
Hamidah smiled at Muhammad. 'Cooking is fun, right?' she asked. 'Tomorrow, we can try making dessert!'
That night, they leafed through cookbooks, picking recipes. 'Chocolate cake!' declared Muhammad, excited for the new challenge.
As they cleaned up, Muhammad thanked Hamidah for teaching him. 'I'm glad we did this together,' he said with a smile.
They fell asleep dreaming of the many dishes they would cook and the sweet memories they would create in the kitchen.
Reflection Questions