In article <fdphg0$ajh$1@registered.motzarella.org>,
"LynneA" <embstop@yahoo.com> wrote:
> "Dan Abel" <dabel@sonic.net> wrote in message
> news:dabel-97931B.23572927092007@c-61-68-245-199.per.connect.net.au...
> > In article <1190953114.591943.144760@r29g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>,
> > mom0f4boys <momshea4@msn.com> wrote:
> >
> >> When I was a kid, once in a while my mom would make artichokes for
> >> supper. They were steamed until soft, with garlic powder shaken into
> >> them. We ate them with just salt, and I loved them. Sometimes I
> >> make them the same way, but I drizzle olive oil into them before
> >> steaming, and I dip the leaves in melted garlic-butter with lemon and
> >> parmesan. Still, the process of eating them is a rushed affair,
> >> trying to get to the heart. And the heart is so small - I always want
> >> more.
> >
> > I'm not in a hurry. I like the leaves also. There a many different
> > sizes of artichokes. Perhaps you should look for larger ones. I've
> > monssters. They cost more, of course.
> >
> >
> >> Canned artichoke hearts are NOT the same. They are fine for
> >> artichoke dip, which is yummy, but what I really want is a big
> >> plateful of fresh steamed hearts, all buttered and garlicked.
> >
> >
> > I've seen demos on tv where the chef cut off all the leaves, leaving
> > just the hearts, before cooking. Seems like an expensive waste to me.
> >
> > We steam the artichokes in a little water, with lemon juice and a cut
> > garlic clove in the water. We serve either with garlic butter or
> > mayonnaise.
>
> Are the really big artichokes good? I saw some monster ones at Safeway for
> $1.50 each, but was afraid they might not be as nice as the smaller ones.
> If they're good though, I'll grab some if they're still available at that
> price.
>
> Lynne A
> embstop@yahoo.com
I always found the large ones to be just fine and dandy, so long as the
heads were tight and the stems were thick, and the leaf tips had not
started to purple a lot.
Picture of an artichoke bloom from one of the gardening binary lists:
http://home.centurytel.net/Katraslink/Artichoke.jpg
They are a giant thistle bloom. :-)
Supposedly, if I harvest the local wild thistles when the buds are still
closed, they are edible if steamed and I've read they taste similar to
the farmed artichokes.
I've not tried them yet.
--
Peace, Om
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"Human nature seems to be to control other people until they put their foot down." -- Steve Rothstein