Artichokes are one of my great childhood memories. LOVE. Our dipping sauce was oil, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce (yes, I totally looked up the spelling of that, and yet it still looks totally wrong–what a wretched word).
a Bossy blog idea: step by step tutorial on eating artichokes. Esp getting the choke out of the way.
I used to eat em. Have pretty much stopped due to (a) Husband doesn’t like them and (b) how do you eat them without butter or curry-mayo or something yummy and fatty to slurp on each leaf? For me, artichokes are primarily delivery systems for the fatty yummy stuff. mmmmmmmmm
Ok um I steam them for 45 minutes right side up and once cooled a bit I dunk each and every leaf into a VAT OF MAYONNAISE because OMG yum. Then I wrestle with the stringy inner bit and grab the heart and DUNK IT IN MAYO because OMG YUM
My beloved Italian grandmother used to stuff them with seasoned breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese and garlic. These heavenly stuffed artichokes were rivaled only by her EPIC fried eggplant.
Thanks to my dad, a Californian, I have been eating artichokes since I was old enough to pronounce ’em.
Bossy’s right–they’re best cooked upside down in water. Dad always put a little vinegar in the pot, too. My husband trims most of the stem and cuts an X in the bottom of it. I like lemon butter best with my arties. The choke can be removed with a spoon, very simply. The heart’s the best part!!! Yums!
I am curious about stuffed artichokes. Where exactly does one put the stuffing??? And I want the fried eggplant recipe! I have a bag of Japanese eggplant in my fridge RIGHT NOW and mmmm am hongry.
Ms. y Pants, how do you eat stuffed artichokes? All that good cheesy rich stuff is, I presume, in the middle where the choke used to be. (However one gets it out without tearing the thing apart…) Then do you peel the leaves off one by one as usual? Are they cut in half so you can dip in more easily? Why am I speculating and asking you when I could look it up online, and you probably won’t check back and answer this anyway?
Ah, dear Reeb, the stuffing goes in between each leaf. Uncooked chokes are first banged upside down against the counter to loosen up the leaves, stuffed to overflowing, then baked til the stuffing is crispy/crunchy (~1 hr). Or so my fuzzy brain recalls. 😉 All I know is that no one makes ’em like she did.
MariaV says
May 22, 2009 at 6:17 amHow do you cook them? Steamed? Grilled?
kristin says
May 22, 2009 at 7:13 amArtichokes are one of my great childhood memories. LOVE. Our dipping sauce was oil, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce (yes, I totally looked up the spelling of that, and yet it still looks totally wrong–what a wretched word).
Jeni says
May 22, 2009 at 7:43 amI have never bought an artichoke that wasn’t already prepared. I would have no idea what to do with one. Except maybe use it as a centerpiece.
BOSSY says
May 22, 2009 at 7:55 amBossy steams hers, upside down, in a pot. Mmmmmm.
corrie says
May 22, 2009 at 8:14 amOh the mysteries of artichokes!
One day I will manage to try them~ but to the uninitiated they are quite daunting!
Acher says
May 22, 2009 at 8:37 amThose are perhaps the loveliest artichokes that I have ever seen. Makes me want some now. At 7:30am. Thanks, Bossy.
Margie says
May 22, 2009 at 8:50 amMmm, dipped in melted butter and garlic salt. Yummy.
Lee says
May 22, 2009 at 9:09 amOMG beautiful!
Amber Star says
May 22, 2009 at 10:19 amThose look enormous! I’d have to practice eating them at home by myself with the shades drawn. I’ve never eaten one like that.
SherylW says
May 22, 2009 at 10:24 amMMMmmmmm, Bossy is inspiring me to eat healthy between the asparagus and artichokes .
Yellaphant says
May 22, 2009 at 10:55 amBRAAAIINNZZZZ
Reeb says
May 22, 2009 at 11:49 ama Bossy blog idea: step by step tutorial on eating artichokes. Esp getting the choke out of the way.
I used to eat em. Have pretty much stopped due to (a) Husband doesn’t like them and (b) how do you eat them without butter or curry-mayo or something yummy and fatty to slurp on each leaf? For me, artichokes are primarily delivery systems for the fatty yummy stuff. mmmmmmmmm
ScottsdaleGirl says
May 22, 2009 at 12:07 pmOk um I steam them for 45 minutes right side up and once cooled a bit I dunk each and every leaf into a VAT OF MAYONNAISE because OMG yum. Then I wrestle with the stringy inner bit and grab the heart and DUNK IT IN MAYO because OMG YUM
Liz says
May 22, 2009 at 12:49 pmOh, Bossy, these are my favorite things EVER! As fun to eat as they taste good. Now I want some, too!
foolery says
May 22, 2009 at 1:26 pmThose must be east coast artichokes. They’re prettier than Watsonville artichokes (but I’ll bet they taste the same).
Mayo. My mom is from the land of California artichokes, and she taught me to eat them dipped in mayo.
Ms. Cranky Pants says
May 22, 2009 at 1:48 pmThis CA girl says definitely mayo.
Ms. Cranky Pants says
May 22, 2009 at 1:53 pmMy beloved Italian grandmother used to stuff them with seasoned breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese and garlic. These heavenly stuffed artichokes were rivaled only by her EPIC fried eggplant.
Caroline says
May 22, 2009 at 5:23 pmThanks to my dad, a Californian, I have been eating artichokes since I was old enough to pronounce ’em.
Bossy’s right–they’re best cooked upside down in water. Dad always put a little vinegar in the pot, too. My husband trims most of the stem and cuts an X in the bottom of it. I like lemon butter best with my arties. The choke can be removed with a spoon, very simply. The heart’s the best part!!! Yums!
I am curious about stuffed artichokes. Where exactly does one put the stuffing??? And I want the fried eggplant recipe! I have a bag of Japanese eggplant in my fridge RIGHT NOW and mmmm am hongry.
Reeb says
May 22, 2009 at 6:57 pmMs. y Pants, how do you eat stuffed artichokes? All that good cheesy rich stuff is, I presume, in the middle where the choke used to be. (However one gets it out without tearing the thing apart…) Then do you peel the leaves off one by one as usual? Are they cut in half so you can dip in more easily? Why am I speculating and asking you when I could look it up online, and you probably won’t check back and answer this anyway?
Reeb says
May 22, 2009 at 7:05 pmIt’s really stupid to look at dozens of photos of beautiful stuffed arthichokes online at 4 p.m. at work. Mouth is WATERING now.
Emily says
May 22, 2009 at 7:32 pmNow you’re talkin’ lol. I guess my comment inspired you- and just seeing that picture makes me crave another helping of artichokes.
Well, my birthday IS next Thursday… 😉
So Not Mom-a-licious says
May 22, 2009 at 7:38 pmDrawn butter = yummy goodness.
I have tried them with a chipotle ranch sauce. At that creamy goodness moment, I actually wanted to be an artichoke.
magpie says
May 22, 2009 at 9:43 pmSo. Asparagus, then artichokes. What’s next, avocado?
Ms. Cranky Pants says
May 22, 2009 at 11:29 pmAh, dear Reeb, the stuffing goes in between each leaf. Uncooked chokes are first banged upside down against the counter to loosen up the leaves, stuffed to overflowing, then baked til the stuffing is crispy/crunchy (~1 hr). Or so my fuzzy brain recalls. 😉 All I know is that no one makes ’em like she did.