stiff  /stɪf/ ( stiff·er stiff·est)

DIFFICULT TO BEND/MOVE 不易弯曲╱活动

1.firm and difficult to bend or move不易弯曲（或活动）的；硬的；挺的

•stiff cardboard硬纸板

•a stiff brush硬刷子

•The windows were stiff and she couldn't get them open.窗户紧，她开不了。

MUSCLES 肌肉

2.when a person is stiff , their muscles hurt when they move them僵硬的；一动就疼的

•I'm really stiff after that bike ride yesterday.

昨天骑了那趟自行车，我觉得浑身酸痛。

•I've got a stiff neck .我脖子发僵。

MIXTURE 混合物

3.thick and almost solid; difficult to stir稠的；难搅动的

•Whisk the egg whites until stiff.把蛋清打成稠的。

DIFFICULT/SEVERE 困难；严厉

4.more difficult or severe than usual困难的；艰难的；严厉的；激烈的

•It was a stiff climb to the top of the hill.费了好大劲才爬到山顶。

•The company faces stiff competition from its rivals.公司遇到对手的激烈竞争。

•The new proposals have met with stiff opposition .新提案遭到强烈的反对。

•There are stiff fines for breaking the rules.违反规则要受重罚。

•a stiff breeze/wind (= one that blows strongly) 强风

NOT FRIENDLY 不友好

5.( of a person or their behaviour人或其行为 ) not friendly or relaxed不友好的；生硬的

•The speech he made to welcome them was stiff and formal.

他那番欢迎他们的话讲得生硬刻板。

PRICE 价格

6.( informal ) costing a lot or too much高昂的；过高的

•There's a stiff $15 entrance fee to the exhibition.展览会的入场费高达15元。

ALCOHOLIC DRINK 酒

7.[ only before noun]strong; containing a lot of alcohol烈性的；酒精度数高的

•a stiff whisky烈性威士忌

IDIOMS 习语

1.(keep) a stiff upper ˈlip

to keep calm and hide your feelings when you are in pain or in a difficult situation（面对痛苦或困境）不动声色，沉着而不外露

DERIVATIVES 派生词

1.stiff·lyadv.

2.stiff·nessn. [ U]

•pain and stiffness in her legs她两腿又疼又僵的感觉

stiff  /stɪf/

1.( informal ) very much; to an extreme degree非常；极其

•be bored/scared/worried stiff 非常厌烦╱害怕╱担心

2.frozen ~ ( of wet material含水的东西 ) very cold and hard because the water has become ice（冻）僵；（冻）硬

•The clothes on the washing line were frozen stiff.

挂在晾衣绳上的衣服冻硬了。

•I came home from the game frozen stiff (= very cold) .

我看完比赛回到家里，都快冻僵了。

stiff  /stɪf/

( slang) the body of a dead person死尸

stiff  /stɪf/

[ VN] ( NAmE informal ) to cheat sb or not pay them what you owe them, especially by not leaving any money as a tip

诈骗；不还钱；（尤指）不给小费

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Curve /kɜːv/

1. a line or surface that bends gradually; a smooth bend

   曲线；弧线；曲面；弯曲

   • the delicate curve of her ear

     她耳朵的优美曲线

   • a pattern of straight lines and curves

     直线与曲线交织的图案

   (especially NAmE)

   • a curve in the road

     道路上的拐弯处

   (especially NAmE)

   • The driver lost control on a curve and the vehicle hit a tree.

     司机在拐弯处失控，撞在了一棵树上。

   • to plot a curve on a graph

     在图上绘出一条曲线

   • (technical term) the unemployment-income curve

     失业与国民收入曲线

   ——see also learning curve

2. (also ˈcurve ball) (NAmE) (in baseball) a ball that moves in a curve when it is thrown to the batter

   （投向击球员的）曲线球

   (figurative)

   • One of the journalists threw the senator a curve (= surprised him by asking a difficult question).

     一名记者向那位参议员提出了一个出乎意料的难题。

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Pungent adj. /ˈpʌndʒənt/

1. having a strong taste or smell

   味道（或气味）强烈的；刺激性的

   • the pungent smell of burning rubber

     烧橡胶的刺鼻气味

   ——note at bitter

2. direct and having a strong effect

   说穿的；一语道破的；一针见血的

DERIVATIVES

pun·gency /ˈpʌndʒənsi/ n. [U]

pung·ent·ly adv.

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Mellow adj. /ˈmeləʊ/

1. (of color or sound) soft, rich and pleasant

   色彩或声音柔和丰富的

   • mellow autumn colors

     宜人的秋色

   • Mellow music and lighting helped to create the right atmosphere.

     柔和的音乐和灯光衬托出了适宜的氛围。

2. (of a taste or flavor) smooth and pleasant

   醇香的；甘美的

   • a mellow, fruity wine

     醇正浓香的葡萄酒

3. (of people) calm, gentle and reasonable because of age or experience

   老练的；成熟的

   • Dad's certainly grown mellower with age.

     随着年龄的增长，父亲当然是更老练了.

4. (informal) (of people) relaxed, calm and happy, especially after drinking alcohol

   欢快的，安详轻松的（尤指酒后）

   • After two glasses of wine, I was feeling mellow.

     两杯葡萄酒下肚，我就飘飘然了.

phrasal verbs

1. mellow out

   (informal, especially NAmE) to enjoy yourself by relaxing and not doing much

   悠然自得；怡然休闲

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Marinate v. /ˈmærɪneɪt/

(also mar·in·ade) [V VN]

if you marinate food or it marinates, you leave it in a marinade before cooking it

腌，浸泡（食物）；（食物）腌，浸泡

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Drain v. /dreɪn/

1. to make something empty or dry by removing all the liquid from it; to become empty or dry in this way

   排空；（使）流光；放干

   - [VN] Drain and rinse the pasta.

     把通心粉过一过水。

   - [VN] The marshes have been drained.

     沼泽地里的水已排干。

   - [VN] You will need to drain the central heating system before you replace the radiator.

     你得先把中央供暖系统的水排净再更换散热器.

   - [V] The swimming pool drains very slowly.

     游泳池里的水排得很慢.

   - [V] Leave the dishes to drain.

     把碟子控干.

2. ~ (something) (from/out of something) ~ (something) (away/off) to make liquid flow away from something; to flow away

   （使）流走，流出

   - [VN] We had to drain the oil out of the engine.

     我们必须把发动机里的机油全部放掉.

   - [VN] Drain off the excess fat from the meat.

     把肉里面多余的油沥掉.

   - [V] She pulled out the plug and the water drained away.

     她拔掉塞子，让水流走了.

   - [V] The river drains into a lake.

     这条河流入湖中.

   - [V] All the color drained from his face when I told him the news.

     我把这消息告诉他时他脸色变得煞白.

   - (figurative) My anger slowly drained away.

     我的怒火慢慢平息下来.

3. [VN] to empty a cup or glass by drinking everything in it

   喝光；喝干

   (formal)

   - [VN] In one gulp, he drained the glass.

     他一口喝干了杯中的水.

   - [VN] She quickly drained the last of her drink.

     她一下子就把最后一点儿酒喝掉了.

4. [VN] ~ sb/sth (of something) to make somebody/something weaker, poorer, etc. by using up their/its strength, money, etc.

   使（精力、金钱等）耗尽

   - [VN] My mother's hospital expenses were slowly draining my income.

     我母亲的住院开销把我的收入渐渐耗光了.

   - [VN] I felt drained of energy.

     我感到筋疲力尽.

   - [VN] an exhausting and draining experience

     令人精疲力竭的一段经历

drain

n. /dreɪn/

1. [C] a pipe that carries away dirty water or other liquid waste

   下水道；排水管

   - We had to call in a plumber to unblock the drain.

     我们只得叫个管子工来疏通下水道.

   - The drains (the system of pipes) date from the beginning of the century.

     下水道排水系统是本世纪初修的.

2. (BrE) [C] (US also grate ˈsewer grate) a frame of metal bars over the opening to a drain in the ground

   下水道孔盖

3. [C] (US)

   = plughole

4. [sing.] a ~ on somebody/something

   a thing that uses a lot of time, money, etc. that could be used for something else

   消耗；耗竭；耗费

   - Military spending is a huge drain on the country's resources.

     军费开支是对国家资源的巨大耗费.

IDIOMS:

1. (go) down the ˈdrain

   (BrE also (go) down the ˈplughole) (informal) (to be) wasted; (to get) very much worse

   被浪费掉；变得非常糟糕

   - It's just money down the drain, you know.

     你要知道，这是白白丢钱.

   - Safety standards have gone down the drain.

     安全标准根本不管用了.

---more at laugh v.

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Corrupt adj. /kəˈrʌpt/

1. (of people) willing to use their power to do dishonest or illegal things in return for money or to get an advantage

   贪污的；受贿的；腐败的；营私舞弊的

   - a corrupt regime贪污腐败的政权

   - corrupt officials accepting bribes接受贿赂的贪官污吏

2. (of behavior) dishonest or immoral

   不诚实的；不道德的

   - corrupt practices徇私舞弊

   - The whole system is inefficient and corrupt.

     整个体系都效率低下并且腐败堕落。

3. (computing) containing changes or faults, and no longer in the original state

   已变换的；有缺陷的；有错误的

   - corrupt software被破坏的软件

   - The text on the disk seems to be corrupt.

     这张磁盘上的文件好像有错误。

DERIVATIVES:

corruptly adv.

corrupt

v. /kəˈrʌpt/

1. [VN] to have a bad effect on sb and make them behave in an immoral or dishonest way使腐化；使堕落

   - He was corrupted by power and ambition.

     权力与野心使他腐化堕落。

   - the corrupting effects of great wealth

     巨大财富的腐蚀作用

2. [VN] [often passive] to change the original form of sth, so that it is damaged or spoiled in some way

   破坏；损坏

   - a corrupted form of Buddhism

     一种蜕变了的佛教

3. (computing) to cause mistakes to appear in a computer file, etc. with the result that the information in it is no longer correct

   引起（计算机文件等的）错误；破坏

   - [VN] The program has somehow corrupted the system files.

     这程序莫名其妙地导致了系统文件出错。

   - [V] The disk will corrupt if it is overloaded.

     磁盘如果过载，数据就会出错。

- corrupted data被破坏的数据

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Magnet n. /ˈmæɡnət/

1. a piece of iron that attracts objects made of iron towards it, either naturally or because of an electric current that is passed through it

   磁铁；磁石；吸铁石

2. [usually singular] ~ (for sb/sth) a person, place or thing that sb/sth is attracted to

   有吸引力的人（或地方、事物）

   - In the 1990s the area became a magnet for new investment.

     这个地区在20世纪90年代成了新的投资热点。

3. an object with a magnetic surface that you can stick onto a metal surface

   磁体；磁性物体

   - fridge magnets of your favourite cartoon characters

     可吸附于冰箱表面的你最喜欢的动画人物磁体

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Liver n. /ˈlɪvə(r)/

1. [countable] a large organ in the body that cleans the blood and produces bile

   肝脏

2. [uncountable] the liver of some animals that is cooked and eaten

   （动物供食用的）肝

   - liver and onions

     洋葱炒肝尖

   - chicken livers鸡肝

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Stew n. /stjuː/

1. [uncountable] a dish of meat and vegetables cooked slowly in liquid in a container that has a lid

   炖的菜，煨的菜（有肉和蔬菜）

   - beef stew and dumplings

     牛肉炖丸子

   - I'm making a stew for lunch.

     我炖个菜中午吃。

**IDIOMS**

1. get (yourself)/be in a stew (about/over sth)

   (informal) to become/feel very anxious or upset about sth

   （为某事）坐立不安，心烦意乱

2. [VN] to cook sth slowly, or allow sth to cook slowly, in liquid in a closed dish

   炖；煨

   - stewed apples

     炖苹果

   - [V] The meat needs to stew for two hours.

     这肉得炖两小时。

  

3. [V + adv./prep.] to think or worry about sth

   思考；担忧

   - I've been stewing over the problem for a while.

     这个问题我已经考虑了一会儿。

   - Leave him to stew.

     让他自个儿想想。

**IDIOMS**

1. let sb stew in their own juice

   (informal) to leave sb to worry and suffer the unpleasant effects of their own actions让某人自作自受

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Sonogram

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Maid n. /meɪd/

1. (often in compounds) a female servant in a house or hotel

   女仆；侍女；（旅馆里的）女服务员

   - There is a maid to do the housework.

     有个女仆做家务事。

   *See also: barmaid, chambermaid, dairymaid, housemaid, milkmaid, nursemaid

2. (old use) a young woman who is not married

   少女；年轻姑娘；未婚年轻女子

   *See also: old maid

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Folk n. /fəʊk/

1. (especially in NAmE also folks) [pl.] (informal) people in general

   人们

   - ordinary working-class folk

     普通劳动大众

   - I'd like a job working with old folk or kids.

     我喜欢与老人或小孩打交道的工作。

   - the folks back home (from the place where you come from)

     家乡的乡亲父老

2. folks [pl.] (informal) a friendly way of addressing more than one person

   各位；大伙儿

   - Well, folks, what are we going to do today?

     喂，伙计们，我们今天要干什么？

3. folks [pl.] (informal) (especially NAmE) the members of your family, especially your parents

   亲属；家属；（尤指）爹妈

   - How are your folks?你爸妈好吗？

4. [pl.] people from a particular country or region, or who have a particular way of life

   （某国、某地区或某生活方式的）普通百姓

   - country folk乡下人

   - townsfolk城里人

   - farming folk农民

5. (also folk music) [U] music in the traditional style of a country or community

   民间音乐

   - a folk festival/concert民间音乐节/会

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Anecdote n. /ˈænɪkdəʊt/

1. a short, interesting, or amusing story about a real person or event

   逸事；趣闻

   - amusing anecdotes about his brief career as an actor

     关于他短暂演员生涯的趣闻逸事

2. a personal account of an event

   传闻

   - This research is based on anecdote not fact.

 这项研究的根据是传闻而非事实。

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spa·ghetti n.  /spəˈɡeti/

[ U]in the shape of long thin pieces that look like string when they are cooked pasta意大利细面条

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Altar n. /ˈɔːltə(r)/

- a holy table in a church or temple

  （教堂、庙宇的）圣坛，祭坛，祭台

  - the high altar (the most important one in a particular church)

    教堂正祭台

**IDIOMS**

1. AT/ON THE ALTAR OF STH

   (formal) because of something that you think is worth suffering for

   因为，为了（值得为之受苦的事物）

   - He was willing to sacrifice his happiness on the altar of fame.

     为了名声，他心甘情愿牺牲幸福。

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Ammunition n. /ˌæmjuˈnɪʃn/

1. a supply of bullets, etc. to be fired from guns

   弹药

2. information that can be used against another person in an argument

   （辩论中可攻击对方的）信息，事实，炮弹

   - The letter gave her all the ammunition she needed.

     这封信给了她所需的一切有力证据。

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Shield n. /ʃiːld/

1. a large piece of metal or leather carried by soldiers in the past to protect the body when fighting盾（牌）

2. riot shield

3. a person or thing used to protect somebody/something, especially by forming a barrier

   保护人；保护物；掩护物；屏障

   - The gunman used the hostages as a human shield.

     持枪歹徒用人质作人体盾牌。

   - Water is not an effective shield against the sun's more harmful rays.

     水不能有效阻挡太阳中更有害的射线。

   - She hid her true feelings behind a shield of cold indifference.

     她把自己的真实感情掩藏在一副冷漠的外表后面。

4. a plate or screen that protects a machine or the person using it from damage or injury

   （保护机器和操作者的）护罩，防护屏，挡板

5. an object in the shape of a shield, given as a prize in a sports competition, etc.

   盾形奖牌

6. a drawing or model of a shield showing a coat of arms

   盾形纹徽；盾形徽章

7. (NAmE) a police officer's badge

   （警察的）盾形徽章

shield        v. /ʃiːld/

[transitive]

1. to protect somebody/something from danger, harm, or something unpleasant

   保护某人或某物（免遭危险、伤害或不快）

   - I shielded my eyes against the glare.

     我挡住眼睛以避开强光。

   - The ozone layer shields the earth from the sun's ultraviolet rays.

     臭氧层保护地球不受太阳紫外线的辐射。

   - Police believe that somebody is shielding the killer.

     警方认为有人把杀人凶手窝藏了起来。

   - You can't shield her from the truth forever.

     你不可能永远瞒着她，不让她知道事实真相。

2. to put a shield around a piece of machinery, etc. in order to protect the person using it给…加防护罩

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Beacon n. /ˈbiːkən/

1. a light that is placed somewhere to guide vehicles and warn them of danger

   （指引车船等的）灯标，灯塔；立标

   - a navigation beacon

     航标灯

   (figurative)

   - He was a beacon of hope for the younger generation.

     他是年轻一代的希望之灯。

2. a radio station whose signal helps ships and aircraft to find their position

   （导航）无线电信标台

3. (in the past) a fire lit on top of a hill as a signal（昔日）烽火

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Hanger n.  /ˈhæŋə(r)/

( ˈcoat hanger,ˈclothes hanger ) a curved piece of wood, plastic or wire, with a hook at the top, that you use to hang clothes up on衣架

1. Stiff - The old book's pages were stiff and yellowed.

(僵硬的 - 这本旧书的页面又硬又发黄。)

2. Curve - The road ahead had a dangerous curve.

 (曲线 - 前方的道路有一个危险的弯道。)

3. Pungent - The pungent aroma of onions filled the kitchen.

(辛辣的 - 洋葱的辛辣香气弥漫在厨房里。)

4. Mellow - As the wine aged, it developed a mellow flavor.

(醇厚的 - 随着时间的推移，这种酒变得口感醇厚。)

5. Marinate - You should marinate the chicken before grilling it.

(腌制 - 在烤之前，你应该把鸡肉腌制一下。)

6. Drain - Please remember to drain the pasta after boiling it.

(排水 - 煮面条后请记得要将水倒掉。)

7. Corrupt - The investigation exposed a corrupt politician.

(腐败的 - 调查揭露了一个腐败的政治家。)

8. Magnet - The magnet attracted all the metal objects.

(磁铁 - 磁铁吸引了所有的金属物体。)

9. Liver - Eating too much fried food can be harmful to your liver.

(肝脏 - 吃太多油炸食品对肝脏有害。)

10. Stew - He cooked a delicious beef stew for dinner.

(炖菜 - 他做了一锅美味的牛肉炖菜作为晚餐。)

11. Maid - The maid cleaned the entire house before the guests arrived.

 (女仆 - 女仆在客人到来之前打扫了整个房子。)

12. Sonogram - The doctor examined the baby's health using a sonogram.

(声波图 - 医生使用声波图检查了宝宝的健康状况。)

13. Folk - Folk songs are an important part of our cultural heritage.

(民间的 - 民间歌曲是我们文化遗产的重要组成部分。)

14. Anecdote - She shared an interesting anecdote from her trip to Africa.

 (轶事 - 她分享了她去非洲旅行的一个有趣的轶事。)

15. Altar - They exchanged vows at the altar in front of their loved ones.

 (祭坛 - 他们在祭坛前面向亲人们交换了誓言。)

16. Spaghetti - I cooked spaghetti for dinner with a delicious tomato sauce.

(意大利面条 - 我做了一份加上美味番茄酱的意大利面条作为晚餐。)

17. Ammunition - Soldiers need ammunition to defend themselves in battle.

(弹药 - 士兵需要弹药在战斗中保卫自己。)

18. Shield - The knight held up his shield to protect himself from the enemy's attack. (盾牌 - 骑士举起盾牌来保护自己免受敌人的攻击。)

19. Beacon - The lighthouse served as a beacon for ships in the stormy night.

(灯塔 - 在暴风雨的夜晚，灯塔成为船只的信标。)

20. Hanger - She hung her dress on the hanger in the closet.

(衣架 - 她把她的连衣裙挂在衣柜里的衣架上。)

The aroma of the simmering stew filled the kitchen, creating a pungent and inviting atmosphere. As I sniffed the air, my appetite was instantly awakened, and my taste buds tingled with anticipation. The scent seemed to curve its way through the room, swirling and dancing like a graceful maiden.

In preparation for this delectable dish, the liver had been marinated overnight, allowing the flavors to seep deep within. The process of marination not only tenderized the meat but also imbued it with a mellow and rich essence. It was as if the liver had absorbed the very essence of the marinade, transforming into a culinary masterpiece.

As the stew continued to simmer, I couldn't help but think of an old folk anecdote passed down through generations. It told the tale of an ancient altar where villagers would gather to prepare their special dishes. The aroma would fill the air, drawing people from far and wide, like a beacon calling out to hungry souls.

The stew was almost ready, and it was time to prepare the accompaniment. I headed to the pantry and grabbed a box of spaghetti, eager to add a touch of Italian flair to this otherwise traditional dish. I boiled the pasta until al dente, ensuring that it would retain its firmness and provide the perfect contrast to the tender liver.

While the spaghetti drained in a colander, I couldn't help but notice a small magnet stuck to the side of the sink. It had been there for years, collecting stray paper clips and other metallic odds and ends. Just like the magnet, this stew had the power to attract and unite different flavors and textures, creating a harmonious and satisfying meal.

With the spaghetti cooked and drained, it was time to assemble the dish. I carefully placed a generous serving of liver stew on a plate, arranging the spaghetti on top like a protective shield. It was a sight to behold, a culinary work of art.

As I took my first bite, the flavors exploded in my mouth, each ingredient working in perfect harmony. The tender liver melted on my tongue, releasing a burst of savory goodness. The spaghetti provided a satisfying chewiness, complementing the stew's richness.

As I savored each bite, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the magic that happens in a kitchen. From the marination process to the final plating, every step is a labor of love, transforming simple ingredients into a transcendent experience.

In the end, this dish was not just about nourishment; it was about creating memories and sharing moments with loved ones. It was about celebrating the beauty of food and the joy it brings to our lives. So, next time you find yourself in the kitchen, remember the power of a well-marinated liver stew and the stories it can tell.

炖菜的香味充满了厨房，营造出一种辛辣而诱人的气氛。当我嗅着空气时，我的食欲立刻被唤醒，我的味蕾因期待而兴奋起来。香味似乎在房间里蜿蜒而过，像一位优雅的少女一样旋转起舞。

在准备这道美味佳肴的过程中，猪肝经过了一夜的腌制，让味道渗入体内。腌制的过程不仅使肉变嫩，而且使它充满了醇厚和丰富的精华。就好像肝吸收了腌料的精华，变成了一道烹饪杰作。

当炖菜继续炖着的时候，我不禁想起了一件代代相传的民间轶事。它讲述了一个古老的祭坛的故事，村民们聚集在那里准备他们的特色菜。空气中弥漫着香气，吸引着四面八方的人们，就像灯塔在呼唤着饥饿的灵魂。

炖菜差不多做好了，该准备配菜了。我走向食品储藏室，拿了一盒意大利面，迫不及待地想给这道传统菜肴增添一点意大利风味。我把意大利面煮到有嚼劲，确保它保持紧致，与嫩肝形成完美对比。

当意大利面在滤锅里沥干时，我不禁注意到水槽边上粘着一块小磁铁。它已经在那里很多年了，收集了一些零散的回形针和其他金属碎片。就像磁铁一样，这道炖菜有吸引和融合不同味道和质地的力量，创造出一顿和谐而令人满意的饭。

意大利面煮熟了，沥干了水，是时候组装这道菜了。我小心翼翼地在盘子里放了一大盘炖肝，把意大利面像护盾一样放在上面。这是一幅值得一看的景象，一件烹饪艺术作品。

当我第一口吃下去的时候，味道在我的嘴里爆炸了，每一种食材都发挥着完美的和谐作用。嫩肝在我的舌头上融化了，释放出一阵美味。意大利面有一种令人满意的嚼劲，与炖菜的浓郁相得益彰。

当我品尝每一口食物时，我不禁对厨房里发生的神奇感到感激。从腌制过程到最后的电镀，每一步都是爱的劳动，将简单的食材转化为卓越的体验。

最后，这道菜不仅仅是为了营养;它是关于创造回忆和与亲人分享的时刻。它是关于庆祝食物的美丽和它给我们的生活带来的快乐。