Consider serving your family steamed artichokes tonight. They are simple to prepare, and kids seem to really love them. Maybe because they look like a pretty flower, or maybe because kids love watching you scoop out the prickly choke after they’ve gnawed on all the yummy leaves.

To prepare: cut the stem down to about 1/2″ and pull off all of the small leaves around the base. Then take a very sharp serrated knife and and cut about 1″ off the top, cutting off a lot of the pointy leaf tips. Use a kitchen scissors to snip off any remaining pointy tips. Rinse well and put into a steam basket in a large pan.Fill with water up to below the basket.  Sprinkle some salt over the artichokes and bring to a boil. Turn to “low” and simmer 30 minutes.   [Read more…]