寒冬美食、修牆、清郵件 Winter Food, Mend Wall & Clear E-Mails
今期文章談談選擇合適的底漆來修復牆壁的重要性、實現「零郵件收件匣」的療癒體驗、創造可口冬季美食的樂趣，以及在季尾收割自家種植的蔬菜之喜悅。
In this post, I share insights into the importance of selecting the right primer for wall repairs, the liberating experience of achieving Inbox Zero, and the joy of creating hearty winter delicacies and harvesting home-grown vegetables at the end of the growing season.
1. 底漆的重要性 Primer Magic
在修復牆壁的項目中，我發現了Zinsser底漆這個好東西。它不但能有效遮掩滲漏的痕跡，還能迅速乾透。有了合適的底漆為基礎，再髹上面層油漆，就能做出平滑無瑕的效果。
During a wall repair project, I found a game-changer – Zinsser’s primer. It not only effectively conceals water stains but also dries very quickly. The right primer, I discovered, is the unsung hero that sets the right stage for a flawless paint finish.
2. 清理電子郵件 Decluttering Emails
我的電郵Inbox總是混亂一片。最近我採納了「Inbox Zero」的策略，重新整理閱讀電郵的習慣。整理過收件匣後，我的專注力顯著提高，進而提高了整體工作效率。
My email inboxes are once chaotic havens of unread messages. Adopting the Inbox Zero strategy brought order to the chaos. The decluttered mailbox significantly enhanced my focus and, subsequently, my overall efficiency.
3. 粟米魚肚羹 Fish Maw and Sweet Corn Soup
早前浸發好的魚肚，儲存在雪櫃冰格，隨時拿出來繼續製作美食。這次我做了粟米魚肚羹，只花了半小時的時間，便完成一道「暖入心」的冬季美食。
The Fish Maw I prepared previously (and stored in the freezer) continued to provide me with culinary delights. This time, I made a Fish Maw and Sweet Corn Soup which took just half an hour to prepare, resulting in a heartwarming winter delicacy.
4. 美味三文魚批 Savouring Salmon Pie
這三文魚批是另一道冬季美食——既美味又填肚，巧妙地融合了碳水化合物和蛋白質，為寒冷的冬夜增添溫暖的感覺。
This Salmon Pie is another winter delight – a filling and yummy dish seamlessly blending carbohydrates and protein adding a comforting touch to cold evenings.
5. 善用小牛排 Making Good Use of Beef Short Ribs
在肉店買來一塊靚牛小排打邊爐，剩下來的頭頭尾尾毫不浪費，用來熬湯，之後用於其他食譜。
A piece of beef short ribs from the butcher’s shop became the star of a Hong Kong-style hot pot. The remaining bits and pieces transformed into a rich beef broth, read to elevate future dishes.
6. 京水菜の戀 Mizuna Love
步入冬天仍能收穫「自家菜」，實在難得！京水菜的味道不算突出，但它總能給我一種日本的風味，用來製作這個鰹魚湯雜菜鍋，更是喚起了一份日本情懷。
What a delight that I’m still able to harvest some home-grown vegetables in this time of the year! Mizuna is not remarkably distinct in taste, but it always gives me a Japanese feeling. Putting it in this Bonito Daishi Vegetable Pot invoked a Japanese nostalgia.
7. 種豆苗‧重環保 Growing Pea Shoots for Sustainability
另一「自家菜」收成，是今年的最後一造豆苗。豌豆植物能將大氣中的氮轉化為植物可利用的形式。因此，我沒有將豌豆整株拔除，只是剪掉地上部份，保留根系在土壤中，讓其豐富的氮元素為下個種植季節提供肥沃的土壤。善用這簡單而環保的種植方法，不謹帶來種植的樂趣，更為地球盡一份心力。
Another vegetable harvested, and this makes the final yield of pea shoots for the year. Pea plants can convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use. So instead of pulling out the remaining plants, I cut away the above-ground portions, leaving the nitrogen-rich roots in the soil to pave the way for fertile ground next spring. This mindful use of a simple and an eco-friendly planting method not only brings joy to gardening but also contributes to caring for our planet.
