Mochi (年糕) is a traditional food popular in Chinese and Japanese cooking, made from 【小题1】(special) treated rice. It is often presented in the form of a round cake, and is traditionally exchanged at the New Year.

Mochi is made by 【小题2】 (put) sticky rice into water overnight, cooking it and pounding it into a sticky paste. The paste is made into shapes ranging from simple to complex rounds, some of 【小题3】 are stuffed with sweet fillings. Mochi is often decorated with 【小题4】 (flower) or fruits, especially when it is exchanged as 【小题5】 gift at celebrations like birthdays and the New Year.

Traditionally, wooden mortars (臼) and pestles (杵) 【小题6】 (use) to pound mochi rice. Fresh mochi is usually cooked and served warm 【小题7】 a variety of sauces. Steaming and boiling are both popular preparations in Japan, along with cooking. Fresh mochi is soft but it hardens quickly. Prepacked mochi blocks, flattened and cut into square pieces or 【小题8】 (shape) into rounds, are available at grocery stores. Mochi can go bad easily, so it’s 【小题9】 (good) to cook soon than to keep it in your fridge.

Hard mochi pieces can be cooked, deep-fried, boiled, and more. Cooked mochi is very sticky, so be careful not 【小题10】 (choke) on it.

After coming to China, I experienced authentic Chinese food. In Beijing, the chef in a Sichuan restaurant offered us the 【小题1】 (please) of experiencing wonderful and different food besides friendship. In Xinjiang, their traditional foods are those 【小题2】 (cook) over an open fire. The kinds of food local people consume tell us a lot about themselves; therefore, we can say culture and cuisine go hand in hand, which are both worth 【小题3】 (experience).

Table manners vary from culture to culture. 【小题1】 is acceptable in one country may be considered extremely rude in another. Here we will tell you about the traditional table manners 【小题2】 the modern table manners in Korea. 【小题3】 (tradition), it was the woman’s job 【小题4】 (cook) food and set the table. The woman would sit 【小题5】 her husband to make sure that he had everything he needed for a pleasant meal. Only 【小题6】 the husband finished would the woman and her children eat. Nowadays, table manners have changed a lot. 【小题7】 of the family members eat together at the same time. It is common to see everyone help with the meal, 【小题8】 (include) the husband. One tradition, however, has not changed. It is the oldest person that starts the meal. 【小题9】 (stay)until the oldest person is finished is considered to be 【小题10】 basic tradition of Korean table manners.