Pre-Intermediate Listening Practice

Chris: Jennifer, I'm so glad you're home. I have to make this chicken pie for dinner and I don't know what I'm doing.

Jennifer: Sorry, Chris. I don't have time. I have a huge assignment to do for college and it has to be done for tomorrow.

Chris: You're kidding. I'm counting on you! What's your assignment about, I can help you.

Jennifer: Do you know anything about castles in Scotland?

Chris: Er, yeah, look I can help you with that if you just show me what to do for this pie.

Jennifer: Yeah, that's a fair deal. Now, have you bought all the ingredients you need?

Chris: I didn't have to. My mom bought everything from the store this morning. Look, it's all over there on the table. Chicken, pastry, mushrooms, onions and carrots. And then there's flour, butter and so on, which we already have. So it's all there and ready. I just need you to tell me what to do. It won't take more than a few minutes.

Jennifer: Right, I will put the pastry in the baking dish while you prepare the filling. Is the chicken cooked already?

Chris: Yes, my mom cooked it last night and put it in the fridge.

Jennifer: Right, first put some butter in a saucepan and melt it. Then add some flour.

Chris: Hey Jennifer, you have give me more details. What do you mean by "some butter"? How much?

Jennifer: OK, sorry. Put about 5 large spoonfuls of butter and the same amount of flour. Mix it all together over the heat.

Chris: That sounds easy enough. Then what?

Jennifer: Add a little salt and pepper and about two cups of chicken broth. You do have chicken broth, don't you?

Chris: Yes, we do. It's right here.

Jennifer: Add the chicken next. Chop it into small pieces and after you add it, you can start to prepare the vegetables.

Chris: There are onions, mushrooms and carrots.

Jennifer: I will dice the carrots after I have put the pastry in the baking dish. You can slice the mushrooms and chop the onions into very small pieces.

Chris: Then what do we do?

Jennifer: When all the vegetables are prepared, we add them to the mix in the saucepan, let it all cook slowly for about five minutes.

Chris: How can it only take five minutes to prepare chicken pie?

Jennifer: No, then you have to put everything inside the pastry, cover it with another piece of pastry and put it in the oven and bake it for about 40 minutes.

Chris: Great, and when it's cooking, I can help you with your assignment. Let's get started.