Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Artichoke

Artichokes were my perennial curiosity. I would see them on shelves in stores - hold them, ponder about how the hell to cook it, see the price, and walk away. Well, if I am paying all that money, I need to know I can cook it, and what I cook will be edible. Fair enough? A couple of weeks ago I let go of reason, and picked up a few.  After all, the internet is an oasis of information. I was not wrong. I found simply recipes where she beautifully gives step-by-step version of cooking, as well as eating artichokes. I followed her method to a tee.

Artichoke

It is rather simple once you know how to go about it. The taste is difficult to explain, but similar to somewhere around the area of peas, avocado, etc. I think. A rich vegetable protein is the best I can do. You can read about artichokes in wikipedia here

Artichoke

It is described as a perennial thistle, and I couldn't help but smile. My second year in Tennessee, a friend and I drove down to Mississippi on the Natchez Trace. Fantastic times! Both of us being wild flower enthusiasts, we closely looked out for them, and sighed 'oohs and aahs' at every spotting - including dandelions and thistles too.  My friend, Marilyn, would forgive me liking dandelions, but when it came to thistles I had something else coming.  The minute I started photographing them, she would say with fervor - repeatedly, constantly "it is a weed, a farmer's nightmare!" Otherwise excited about stopping for pictures - if my target were thistles, she would not be budged.  Apparently, in her gardening days, she said she had ghastly experiences trying to weed these, and she hated it with passion.  It is kind of a joke between us - how I like thistles, and how she hates them. She now sends me birthday cards with thistle pictures on it :)

Artichoke

  Therefore from thistles to artichokes, it's a love that cannot be explained.  I love the way they look.  I guess it's time to send Marilyn a card picturing an artichoke!   

Ingredients:
Artichoke – 2
Bay Leaf – 1
Garlic – 2- 3 pods
Lemon – 1
Salt – to taste


Method:
1. Chop off the pointed end of artichoke globe and rub lemon juice to avoid blackening while you work on the scales
2. Snip off the pointed edge of each scale and boil it in enough water with bay leaf, garlic, lemon juice and salt
3. Once cooked you can eat the fleshy end of each leaf/scale. When you get to the heart of the globe, the base is covered with hairy choke which should be spooned off before you enjoy the fleshy base.
4. You can dip it in mayonnaise and enjoy.
5. It took me about 45 minutes to cook.

26 comments:

  1. wwow nice timepass...never tried artichoke...will try it now

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  2. Never tried playing with them.....

    sounds interesting

    http://www.panchamrutham.blogspot.com/

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  3. I was always curious on seeing this vegetable.. But somehow I do not like the taste... Love to see it though :)

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  4. i don think i can get myself to eat them on its own but I like them in pasta...its quite nice..that 1st pic i beautiful sunitha..im totally loving all ur pics

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  5. The recipe sounds gud...even then I think I wud love to just see and photograph them...Your clicks are really good...

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  6. Nowadays I m in love with artichokes,asparagus n brussel sprouts...love artichokes in pasta,sandwiches,fried rice...a hit In my family...wonderful pics dear..
    And this looks so yummy n healthy
    Sanyukta
    http://creativesanyukta.blogspot.com/

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  7. i also never tried cooking them for same reasons..i think its time for me too:)..

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  8. This is one veggie, I haven't gotten my hands on and it scares me. My extent of eating artichoke is in "Spinach and Artichoke Dip", that we usually get in some restaurants.

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  9. Looks very yummy and new to me.Never tried this arthichoke.

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  10. Your photos of the artichokes are just beautiful! Love them, just posted about artichoke bottoms! :)

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  11. I love artichokes in my pizza and I would love this way of artichokes cooking too for sure :)

    Lovely clicks Sunitha...

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  12. Thanks for the Artichoke insight :) The recipe look so simple and easy for the beginners to try.

    Lite Bite

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  13. wowwww..intersting n eazeee too...

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  14. I haven't tried this veggie yet but this looks too good and a must try..thanks for sharing!

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  15. Wonderful and quick recipe for beginners, i love this version with mayonnaise..

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  16. wow nice n simple recipe....vl try it surely as i nvr made nythgn thng with thm...lovely presentatn


    http://siddhiscookingexperiences.blogspot.com/

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  17. very interesting recipe. beautiful clicks

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  18. Never tried it before, sounds interesting,will give it a try.

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  19. Never tried it before... looks good

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  20. Looks good. Like you I have never tried this vegetable. Thanks for posting this recipe.

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  21. I love artichokes. My grandmother makes them for just about every holiday. I never thought of sharing her recipe. I stupidly just assumed everyone makes them. Your recipe sounds wonderful. Loved your story about the thistles...lol I have to say I think they are quite pretty too:)

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  22. i have never tried artichoke....they looks pretty so are the pics

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