carefree; optimistic; careless; reckless; heedless; happy-go-lucky
preliminary arrangements; preparation; spadework; pre-cooking
bewilderment; perplexity; embarrassment; discomfiture; bafflement
white sauce; béchamel sauce
onigiri; rice ball (often triangular, sometimes with a filling and wrapped in nori)
sweetly (smiling); broadly (grinning)
cooking stove; burner (gas, electric, etc.); range; cooktop; hob
while; during (the time when)
to be cooked; to have finished cooking
saucepan; pot; stew; hot pot
suitable time; good time; propriety; moderation
cast; mold; mould; forming; shaping; fashioning
for a short while; for a brief period; soon; in a short while
to be fascinated (by); to be captivated by; to be enchanted by; to gaze admiringly at; to watch in fascination
to be confused; to be flustered; to be at a loss
cooking; food preparation
stage; step; level; rank; order; stairs
staringly; scrutinizing; scrutinising
technology; technique; technical
to steal; to plagiarize; to steal (a technique, idea, etc.); to do stealthily; to do during scant time; to steal a base
blank; blank space; gap; time spent not doing something (e.g. working, practicing)
learning by watching others; learning by imitation
uneasy; unsure; unreliable; untrustworthy; (arch.) nervous; (arch.) impatient
the way one works; one's working manner
studies; schoolwork; classwork
going side-by-side; going abreast; running concurrently; occurring at the same time; keeping pace with
making efficient; optimization
to rise; to go up; to enter (esp. from outdoors); to come in; to enter (a school); to advance to the next grade; to get out (of water)
elegance; grace; article; item; counter for items (of food, etc.); counter for dishes or courses (at a restaurant)
to be indelibly stained or ingrained; to be dyed in deeply
outsider's perspective; as seen by an observer
to cook (grains, e.g. rice); to boil; to simmer; to stew
polished rice; (uncooked) white rice
to become serious; to take something seriously (joke, teasing); to become irritated or angry (usu. at something trivial); to get worked up
to work hard at; to devote oneself to; to be diligent in