Kitchen, as it is
Food appears
in between things.
not planned,
not postponed
食物在生活之间出现
不是被安排的
也不是被推迟的
Quiet kitchen fragments — simple food, daily rhythms, and presence.
1
Coconut milk chocolate (fudge-like)
Cocoa powerder
with coconut cream.
No rush,
just a soft thickening.
可可粉在椰奶里慢慢融开
没有要完成什么
只是变得更柔一点
It doesn’t need to become anything.
some dark chocolate
coconut cream
a touch of sweetness if needed
melt
stir
pause
有时会放一点坚果
有时什么都不加
It sets
without being told to.
2
Zucchini, simply
Zucchini slices
touch warm olive oil
a little cumin
appears, disappears
西葫芦在油里变软
没有调味的野心
只是刚好
Nothing is trying to impress.
zucchini
olive oil
cumin
salt
low heat
turn once or twice
有时孩子会直接拿走一片
还没装盘
Before it becomes a dish,
it is already enough.
2
Carrot in apple cider vinegar
Thin carrot strands
rest in vinegar
time does most of the work
胡萝卜被放进去
没有被“处理”
只是换了一个环境
Transformation
without effort.
carrot
apple cider vinegar
leave it
come back later
有时会忘记它
然后某一刻想起
It was becoming
even when unseen.

3
Simple broth with whatever is there
Water
a few things from the fridge
nothing planned
水里放进一些刚好在的东西
不是为了营养
也不是为了味道的完整
Just enough to be warm.
vegetables
maybe egg
maybe tofu
maybe nothing much
boil
slow down
taste
Add some miso
有时孩子喝汤
有时吃几口菜
5
Coconut milk stew
A light pot
coconut milk, vegetables, sometimes meat
no fixed combination
only what is there
一锅很轻的炖菜
椰奶、蔬菜
有时加一点肉
没有标准配方
只是当下有什么
Nothing repeats exactly.
coconut milk
vegetables
maybe chicken or nothing
low heat
let it sit
let it change
有时吃很多
有时只吃一点
No need to balance anything.
6
Fermented Rice Trio
发酵饭团三种
Natto
Sticky, alive, slightly unfamiliar.
Held inside warm rice,
it softens without losing itself.
粘稠、活着、带一点陌生。
被温热的米饭包住,
没有消失,只是变柔了。
Simple way
-
纳豆 + 几滴酱油
-
包在中间
-
外面一圈海苔
Ume
梅子
Sharp, bright, almost too much on its own.
In rice,
it becomes just enough.
酸得很直接,
单独吃有点过头。
在米饭里,刚刚好。
Simple way
-
Umeboshi 少量
-
去核压碎
-
米饭多包一层
Sardine
沙丁鱼
Deep, rich, carrying the sea.
Balanced with something soft,
it settles.
味道很深,带着海的气息。
加一点柔和的东西,
就安定下来。
Simple way
-
沙丁鱼(压碎、去多余油)
-
一点美乃滋 或 柠檬
-
可加一点胡萝卜碎
7
Small things, often
Eggs
nuts
yogurt
bread
fruit
sometimes combined
sometimes separated
鸡蛋
坚果
酸奶
面包
水果
有时一起
有时各自存在
We don’t call it a meal.
chia
flax
dark chocolate
a little sweetness
孩子会选择
什么时候吃
吃什么
吃多少
Nothing needs to be decided.

8
Vietnamese-style beef vermicelli salad
Rice vermicelli, softened and rinsed in cool water.
牛肉米线,一切都很简单。
米线煮软,过凉水。
Beef, quickly sautéed with a touch of soy sauce,
and a hint of lemongrass.
牛肉用一点酱油炒一下,
再加一点柠檬草,味道一下亮起来。
Lettuce, cucumber, carrot, a handful of herbs.
生菜、黄瓜、胡萝卜,
再抓一把香草进去。
A squeeze of lime, gently tossed.
挤一点青柠,
轻轻拌一拌就好了。
Light, fragrant, a little sour, a little savoury.
没有复杂调味。
只是清爽,微微酸,也带一点鲜。
Especially on warm days.
天气暖的时候,
刚刚好。
Sometimes the child picks what he wants —
noodles, beef, cucumber,
or just the lime.
有时候孩子会自己挑着吃。
或者只是拿起一片青柠,尝一口。
9
Warm water.
Blackberries thawed from last season.
A few slices of lemon from the garden.
Just a little honey.
The child places each thing into the cup.
Pours.
Stirs.
Waits a moment.
Then drinks it all.
温水。
上一季留下来的黑莓,慢慢解冻。
花园里的柠檬,切几片。
再加一点点蜂蜜。
孩子把一样一样东西放进杯子里。
倒水。
搅动。
停一下。
然后,喝完。

Kitchen, again
Some days we cook
some days we don’t
some things are combined
some remain separate
有时是饭
有时只是一些食物并排放着
Nothing insists on becoming a meal.
The kitchen is not producing
it is receiving
厨房没有在“做”什么
只是刚好在这里
And that is enough.
Nothing to perfect, nothing to follow — just what is made and shared.
