The aesthetics of food: now, there's a topic to occupy an idle hour. I wasn't idle yesterday as I prepared for the arrival of a friend who is staying for a couple of days, but nor was I too busy to notice the colours of these flageolet beans.
In their dry state, their bone and ivory whites and creams and palest jade greens were subtle and similar, but - as with shells and stones - water brings out the true shades
and a short, sharp shower showed them off
and lifted the colour, like wet shingle on a beach.
We ate them dressed with garlic and olive oil to accompany braised lamb shanks, and while they tasted very good, they are decidedly prettier in their raw state.
(Even when out of focus!)
It would be one of life's small tragedies not to notice the color of these beans. They are what got me to sit up and take notice of your blog, they and the cornflower. There is something about a cornflower, how the blue bakes all day in the sun and glows back at you at twilight.
Posted by: Susan | 20 March 2007 at 12:33 PM
Who would have thought dried beans could be pretty. Now that I think of it, I have seen in decorating shops and kitchen shops nice bottles filled with artistic layers of dried beans. I love beach rocks when they are wet, so have a lamp base made from an old Mason jar filled with pretty beach stones and covered with water.
Lamb Shanks - I have some in the freezer and always have dried beans! You have given me an idea!
Posted by: Peg | 20 March 2007 at 02:33 PM
How did you get the lens to focus on the reflection in the water and not on the beans in the last photo? It's a wonderful effect.
md
Posted by: Mary Ronan Drew | 20 March 2007 at 05:08 PM