The Knobbly Plate

A veggie, foodie, photography site

seasonal

Marsh Samphire

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Not strictly allowed to do this in Chichester Harbour Conservancy as it’s an area of special scientific interest (SSSI) and an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). Went out with a friend to forage some marsh samphire very early this morning. We only took what we needed and left the vast majority of it alone to continue propagating and growing. I do love foraging for as much free food as I can get. Waitrose would charge you in excess of £5 for a quarter of what I have gathered here.

Marsh samphire, also known as glasswort, sea asparagus, or salicornia, is a succulent halophyte (salt-tolerant plant) found in coastal regions, salt marshes, and along saline lakeshores. Here are some key details about marsh samphire:

Characteristics:

  1. Appearance: Marsh samphire has fleshy, bright green stems that resemble asparagus. The stems are jointed and segmented.
  2. Taste: It has a crisp texture and a salty flavor, often described as a mix between asparagus and seaweed.
  3. Nutritional Value: Samphire is rich in vitamins A and C, and minerals such as iodine, magnesium, and potassium. It’s low in calories and can be a good source of dietary fiber.

Culinary Uses:

  1. Raw: It can be eaten raw in salads, providing a crunchy texture and a salty taste.
  2. Cooked: Often lightly blanched, steamed, or sautéed, it is used as a garnish or side dish, particularly with seafood. It can also be pickled.
  3. Preservation: Due to its high salt content, it can be preserved for extended periods.

Harvesting:

  • Samphire is typically harvested in the summer months. It is often foraged from the wild, though there are also cultivated sources.

Winter vegetables in the style of Dutch Masters

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Creating food photography in the style of Dutch Masters involves drawing inspiration from the paintings of artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Jan Steen. Here are some tips to achieve this aesthetic:

  1. Lighting: Dutch Masters paintings often feature dramatic lighting with strong contrasts between light and shadow. Use soft, directional lighting to create a similar effect on your food. Side lighting or lighting from a single source can help to create depth and drama in your images.
  2. Composition: Dutch Masters paintings often have a sense of balance and harmony in their composition. Arrange your food in a way that creates interesting shapes and lines within the frame. Consider using props like vintage plates, utensils, and fabrics to add visual interest.
  3. Color Palette: Dutch Masters paintings often feature rich, earthy tones with accents of deep reds, greens, and blues. Choose a color palette for your food and props that reflects this aesthetic. Deep red meats, golden bread, and rich sauces can all add warmth and richness to your images.
  4. Texture and Detail: Dutch Masters paintings are known for their meticulous attention to detail. Capture the texture of your food using close-up shots and shallow depth of field. Focus on the intricate details of ingredients like grains of rice, flakes of salt, or the texture of crusty bread.
  5. Backdrop: Choose a backdrop that complements the colors and mood of your food. Rich, dark backgrounds can help to create a sense of drama and contrast, while lighter backgrounds can add a sense of freshness and brightness to your images.
  6. Props: Incorporate props that add to the narrative of your food photography. Vintage tableware, rustic bread baskets, and fresh herbs can all help to evoke the feeling of a Dutch Masters still life painting.
  7. Arrangement: Pay attention to the arrangement of your food and props within the frame. Experiment with different compositions and angles to find the most visually compelling arrangement.
  8. Post-Processing: Finally, consider post-processing techniques to enhance the mood and atmosphere of your images. Adjusting contrast, saturation, and color balance can help to achieve the rich, painterly look of Dutch Masters paintings.

By incorporating these elements into your food photography, you can create images that evoke the timeless beauty and sophistication of Dutch Masters still life paintings.

Borough Market

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The last of my shots from a very productive afternoon photographing in and around Borough Market in the heart of London. I was blessed with a beautiful late winter’s sunshine day. It almost felt like spring. I was amazed by the variety of produce from all over the world that was for sale. The guy who ran the tomato stall told me his produce was mainly from Spain but there were also varieties from Kenya and Uganda. The cheese shop specialized in cheeses mainly from right here in the UK but there were also varieties from France and Italy. The shop had a very heady aroma of fresh cheese. I wish however that we would all turn to produce grown right here in the UK and that we all ate seasonal vegetables. It would help our farmers no end and reduce the food miles of expecting to be able to eat everything all year round. Predictably the cost of all this pristine veg is eye waveringly high. I bought a kilo of heritage tomatoes and it cost me £6. I know these stall holders probably pay sky high prices for their pitches which influences their prices but I’m not convinced it’s a market where I would shop everyday for my fresh vegetables.

ASPARAGUS

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Now I know it’s not in season but I just love asparagus and I look forward to the fresh English asparagus every springtime.

Consuming fruits and vegetables of all kinds has long been associated with a reduced risk of many lifestyle-related health conditions.

Many studies have suggested that increasing consumption of plant foods like asparagus decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and overall mortality while promoting a healthy complexion and hair, increased energy and overall lower weight.

Asparagus ranks among the top 20 foods in regards to its ANDI score (Aggregate Nutrient Density Index); this score measures vitamin, mineral, and phytonutrient content in relation to the caloric content.

To earn a high ANDI rank, food must provide a high amount of nutrients for a small amount of calories.

Asparagus is one of the best natural sources of folate. Adequate folate intake is extremely important during periods of rapid growth such as pregnancy, infancy, and adolescence.

Asparagus is high in both fiber and water content, this helps to prevent constipation, maintain a healthy digestive tract, and lower the risk of colon cancer.

Adequate fiber promotes regularity, which is crucial for the daily excretion of toxins through the bile and stool. Recent studies have shown that dietary fiber may also play a role in regulating the immune system and inflammation, consequently decreasing the risk of inflammation-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity.

According to the Department of Internal Medicine and Nutritional Sciences Program of the University of Kentucky, high fiber intake is associated with a significantly lower risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and certain gastrointestinal diseases.

Increased fiber intake has also been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and enhance weight loss for obese individuals.