Last winter I was on a serious local foods kick, because I was doing a lot of reading, and the result was that I bought and ate fewer vegetables, because so little is local around here in the winter. This winter, I gave myself permission to buy whatever out-of-season vegetables I wanted, especially if they were hard to find locally to begin with. (If you’re going to buy exotic fresh fruits and vegetables, shouldn’t you do it in the winter when it won’t compete with all the delicious local produce?) I’ve been much happier with this plan!
Example: last week we had artichokes. I prepared them very simply, in the way I usually do: steam for 45 minutes, then dip the leaves in melted butter with a little garlic or lemon, and eat. Utterly delicious!
Now, as much as I love artichokes, I’ve always thought of them as a special treat, which is probably why I always prepare them in the one way I know I really like. Why mess with a good thing, right? But I know there are other good ways to make artichokes; I’ve heard of braising them, stuffing them, and all sorts of wild things. I’ve been hesitant to try any new recipes when I have them so rarely, but I’m thinking maybe this winter is a good time to experiment a little.
So, I’d love some advice. What are your favorite ways to cook whole artichokes? Any suggestions?