Izzie and her grandmother walked into cooking class together.
"This will be fun, Isabel!" Grandma said.
"Ugh," Izzie thought. "She called me Isabel again!"
Izzie wanted to tell Grandma that she didn't like being called Isabel. But she didn't want to hurt Grandma's feelings.
The boys were washing their hands.
"Hi, Bobby and Jason!" Izzie said. "This is my grandma."
"Hi," the boys said together.
"Our friend Nina isn't here today," Jason said. "Her family is visiting Korea."
"I take a senior cooking class with Chef," Grandma said. "I missed a class, so I'm doing a make-up with you."
"Cool!" Bobby said.
Chef greeted everyone. "Today we're making Rainbow Stir-Fry."
Grandma looked at the recipe on the screen. "Why is it called 'rainbow' stir-fry?"
"Chef says we should eat the rainbow,'" Izzie said. "That means eating lots of colorful fruits and vegetables. They're full of nutrients."
Grandma pinched Izzie's cheeks. "My little granddaughter is so smart!"
"Yikes!" Izzie whispered to the boys. "This is so embarrassing."
"My grandfather treats me like a baby too," Jason whispered. "Last Hanukkah he gave me a huge stuffed animal."
"Grandparents want us to stay little forever," Bobby whispered.
Everyone got busy chopping vegetables. Grandma cut up red cabbage. Jason chopped broccoli, and Bobby cut the bell pepper. Izzie chopped carrots.
Chef heated oil in a wok. "For stir-fries, we don't add all the vegetables at once. We start with those that take longest to cook." He looked at the class. "What should I cook first?"
"Broccoli?" Bobby asked.
"Nope," Chef said.
"I think carrots take longer," Izzie said.
"Yes! Carrots first, then broccoli," Chef said.
"Bell pepper next," Bobby said.
"Then cabbage," Jason said.
Chef nodded. "Bobby, please open that can of baby corn. It cooks quickly, so we'll add it last." He turned to Izzie. "Please get the chicken from the refrigerator. Your grandmother can cut it into thin strips."
Grandma chuckled. "When Isabel was little, she called the refrigerator a foodrater. Isn't that cute?"
"Not again!" Izzie thought as she got the chicken. "Another embarrassing comment!"
While Grandma sliced the chicken, the kids began making the sauce. Izzie chopped ginger. Jason chopped garlic, and Bobby squeezed the lemon. They added those ingredients to vegetable oil, soy sauce, and honey.
"I'm surprised we're making a healthy dish," Grandma said. "I thought we'd make something that kids like. Like hot dogs."
"I love eating healthy foods and trying new things!" Izzie burst out.
Grandma looked surprised. "Really?"
"Yes!" Izzie said.
"This class is the same as my adult classes," Chef said.
"We learn all about food," Bobby said.
"And how to do things ourselves," Izzie said.
Grandma nodded but didn't say anything.
Jason moved the cooked vegetables to a bowl. Izzie helped Chef stir-fry the chicken. When it was cooked, Bobby put the vegetables back in the wok. Grandma added the sauce. All the ingredients simmered together.
Chef served the stir-fry over cooked rice. "Now we can eat!"
"Yum!" Grandma smiled at Izzie. "You're growing up fast, Isabel, er . . . Izzie."
Izzie grinned. "I'm glad you came today, Grandma."