Exotic Foods From the Swamplands

The Swamplands has its share of culinary delights. While not as sophisticated as what humans have, these are nonetheless considered local delicacies by swamp inhabitants.

• Fish Jerky
  
  Filleted fish strips salted and slathered with honey before being baked in a clay oven. Can be stored for long periods of time, and is, therefore, a staple in most Swampland households. It is also considered a typical ration by traveling wayfarers.
  
  
• Typha Fish Stew
  
  A specialty stew from Lake Typha. Made from cattail stalks, seaweed, and fish. The soup itself has a slightly bitter aftertaste.
  
  
• Elderberry Juice
  
  Refreshing berry drink made from elderberries native to Lake Flicker. It revitalizes the body and cures various illnesses; it is even deemed a universal cure-all by the residents of Waterfront. However, elder trees at Lake Flicker are only said to grow at the peaks of Flicker Falls, where a beastly guardian is said to be raising the berries and attacks any and all intruders on sight. Only a brave and capable few are able to make the journey and return unscathed.
  
  
• Honey Lemon
  
  Lemons preserved in clay jars of honey for a fortnight. Sweet and tangy, and are popular among children. In Reedside, the lemons they preserve are whole lemons; in Two-River, the lemons are sliced and deseeded before being preserved.
  
  
• Lotus Chips
  
  A specialty snack from Two-River. Lotus roots harvested from the riverside are sliced, coated with Typha flour, and toasted to a crisp before being salted.
  
  
• Chanterelles
  
  An orange mushroom with a wide cap found only in the hardwood forests north of the Blackout Mountains. It has a distinct aromatic flavor further heightened when cooked and salted. Incredibly difficult to find unless one has a heightened sense of smell.
  
  
• Roasted Walnuts
  
  Peeled walnuts toasted on an open flame. Along with lotus chips, they make for a fun snack on movie nights in Two-River.
  
  
• Seaweed
  
  Slimy grass that grows on lakebeds, especially in Lake Arca. Used mainly as feed for fish ponds, though some animals prefer to eat them as is. They are used in some stews, or dried and ground into powder.

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(Edit: Added descriptions for each item.)

Felt under the weather after work to get this done on time, but I've caught up at least! 🎉🎉🎉

Today I was itching to do some freehand painting and more worldbuilding with the Swamplands. I spent the evening after my nap just brainstorming ideas about what food would be considered delicacies for the locals. After a ton of research on Google about swamp fruits and vegetables, I came up with these, but not without feeling famished the whole time. 😅

This was pretty fun to do. It's nice to be able to paint without needing to stick to a pre-drawn draft or anything like that. I feel like I have a lot more room for creativity. 😌