Boiled Artichokes

   If you did not grow up eating artichokes or have never seen them prepared, they can be a bit intimidating.  They are not easy to figure out on what to do with them just by appearance so today, I am going to show you how to cook, prepare and eat them.

      Artichokes are not only yummy but they are nutritional powerhouse too.  Did you know that just one medium sized artichoke contains 6 grams of fiber???  That is MORE fiber than an entire CUP of prunes!!! Artichokes also contain 4 grams of protein, which is pretty significant for a vegetable.  They also contain antioxidants and probiotics.  

      If you have never tried artichokes, now is the time to give them a chance.  They are buttery smooth and have a really nice and pleasing flavor that is subtle but hearty.

      Okay, the first thing you need to do is cut of the top of the artichoke.  I used large kitchen knife  to remove about the top inch of it.  

      Next, using kitchen shears, cut of the tips of the petals.  

       Now cut off the smaller petals that are near the base of the artichoke.  They will be too bitter to eat so it is best to remove them.

    You can cut off part of the stem too if you wish.  If you do cut it off, be sure to leave about an inch of the stem and cut off the rest.  We just left the stem alone. 

     At this point, you need to rinse the artichoke again in some cool running water.  I kind of separated the petals a bit so the water can get into all the nooks and crannies.  

     Now you are finally ready to actually cook the artichoke. 

     Fill a large pot with water and stir in 1 teaspoon of salt.  Turn your stove onto high and bring the salted water to a full boil.  Once it is boiling, gently place the artichoke into the pot and return the water to a full boil.  Once it is boiling again, turn your stove to low; cover the pot and allow it to simmer for 25 minutes.

      You can eat artichokes either hot or cold but we prefer to eat ours hot.  You can eat the artichoke leaves by themselves or dip them into a few tablespoons of melted butter or make yourself a dip.  We make up a dip that is made from 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise mixed with 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar.

   Put the mayonnaise and the vinegar in a bowl and stir well.  That's all there is to it.

    In case you do not know HOW to eat artichokes, just pull off the outer petals one at a time.  

The end shown is the part you should hold and dip the other end into the dip.

   Dip the fleshy end of the petal into the dip.  

    Now, place the petal in your mouth, dip side down.  

      Now, pull the leaf through your teeth to remove the soft, pulpy part of the petal and then throw away the remaining petal.

     Continue eating them this way until all the petals are removed.  And that is all there is to it.  

     Ron and Bub really enjoyed it.

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