Artichokes

Artichokes are really good and really expensive if you are buying them out of season. Heck even in season these babies can be expensive! So when you see them for cheap buy them up and enjoy their wonderful flavors! What is the best way to tackle these babies? Easy! I found an easy explanation on how to clean them!

"The best way to clean chokes is set them in the sink & cover with cold water for a 30 mins or so. Then take a shape knife & cut the stem back with an even cut so that they can stand upright in your pot or steamer without falling. After you cut the stem off, take kitchen shears & go around each choke & snip the tips of each leaf to remove the tiny stickers at the tops of each leaf. Run back under cold water again & now you can safely spread the leafs back some without getting pricked! Pull the center back & reach in with the tips of your fingers & pull out all of the little tiny purple leafs that are near the heart in the very center, they are too small to eat so remove them now to avoid a mess while eating them later."

INGREDIENTS

2 whole artichokes
2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, sliced
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Fill the pan with just enough water to cover bottom. Bring to a full boil over high heat. While water is heating, trim and discard the stems and tough outer leaves of artichokes. Tuck slivers of butter and slices of garlic into artichoke leaves.

2. When water is boiling, place steamer insert in pot and set artichokes in steamer, stem-side down. Cover pot with lid and allow artichokes to steam for approximately 20 minutes, until tender.

Posted by Sabriena at 10:06