Daughter Hawthorne and I are having stuffed artichokes for lunch.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_oAuAgU7GLLrR0R_bftarXF0SRFJ5b4SuYEIQP6_qgCibjzVvAnRa3j5bMGcHmdcvYERgNudvjTUix8Qcx1qKWXkWP2Z_y0Ab_kmFoLOXsuLnwBRVNsT9R5nOxwhQ_mq5VDcY2KGhSJO/s400/056.JPG)
I opened up my artichoke,
scraped out the choke,
poured a little melted butter over the heart,
and topped the whole with toasted homemade croutons
and a mixture of chopped tomatoes,
lemon juice and zest, and parsley.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmYwAbrNsMQYiNw-8wHtYQzNcE6sU6u-1Sk_PoSoIEDf8MjLkLmSwMFVgfmdaRZ3gmHxhfH7BvULwrDLA_7Z_zVdodpGd6gkZnJB1HHdO89NNdTeck9aVjRFiNoB6CXgS7JL5fnd_UCxV/s400/003.JPG)
How does one prepare an artichoke?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyo1GSZ83HM57Jnka-UAWxPMpeUJiLlkxfXrWyc8u5OHSmMTIz8BAAvCSCzajtRHgInfzn-MvD3rFNr5Un5QGk4ZUXC1q1-yZZyIcjTkwjpjhiqImPmQG9-3NfpkybNkmpMWpD71h4WCh/s400/001.JPG)
First one pulls off the lower leaves.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuG_Eh69HsEVJJEYsCRGdskKAmzfRaPT7LOn_HaDbIzvE5sQ3ZmdlScsfr4TPEkjObdebmagg7lFJEsuOr56h7v-CivgI1Z7zunEA1rxEANvTft-DVk2aRfQRldvc-Cvd_S0mHfxnFjccr/s400/007.JPG)
Then one slices off the top.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rtwMKwVfqiQV72Mrgd3THAx5LxVWArkUFJGjrJtFS3rsFE6KIaHR7QigJWoHw4fNP9Mnr8W-rgySNVrbELzdbTmYJIL582tDOzLsYVeVe2HSLkTAGNl4Bw8XgP9r7SZDdYz9CCNTrzyk/s400/005.JPG)
And one trims the pointy little leaves.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAl2aLqL_-AE4ZE6qzCWtA9WqgiJLjmNREAQxHYiHq-my53HAoh-_pTTACTU2BOK8TVNwc18cXC1jLK_r_kKRYaaRCX9DxUwvP0n4ImCDUioBeWyfTnJ4rS0cRsTU-7zYxdewkZYGVQFbV/s400/009.JPG)
I like to add a little white wine in my water.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkwcl9fX0ke0vBuVXFMKZ-2cMu8LCNpI_bvok1KVX_Ulgog8JtTSaOskqZZKMWYlJzWvnHT8cLo9ItY-S06DGOqfZMuPYLYntRh9uEJxFZT53vZES56TtO0qmTbVmqClOdlRTINdJynXT/s400/010.JPG)
Plop a couple of lemons in the boil.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGO08uTCdnWVlpVJ6FqrC0ttounhlpbAiN72m1JMVxb_7Ms6zNBmw3QDThyvOQ_JbYih_ju7KSGdQMHIZ3PDIv2Z9d7DhjUfEVHiQqJWlBS4axCiP4Eyq8NFr1gB_6Q3S_utSus2YnCG7k/s400/012.JPG)
Set the artichokes in, cover, and simmer about 50 minutes,
or until the outside leaves pull off easily.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXTq4UhDjJqMZjqPeMVMKb5jJBnEJQpIXv3lGQvORVSIkPEd3e8_DpnGZYi9xUb-WUV5LltE3Zq7lFTFt6C_rDQX6Goj-Nyfap1JQ4T8CX2_OL5iEYT7eoCYwHijH534Fd_r8Zq8LL9d3/s400/014.JPG)
I'm making croutons for the artichokes.
First I baked a Schwann's baguette.
From the garden,
I picked parsley, thyme, oregano, and sage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ua5bxe7n-JgMyfromGAgnDKlHnSj19i8-6idN74dS0URoGUNKze6MkEviu_kvpgSZ3f4UX5oEjah1kIgzHgvLla5e1XpiMGNoLTs-0WsBiYoXsVK-oEiroljJnsp8SyNba0JEUgHoPHX/s400/017.JPG)
Mince the herbs and ...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMg2QsRTKSXBG8xcNbpQIZCxsC26gVHD4xv1IeUesd_bTdlTf-qHIRF6l6l5WVCW8qm5C7Wgp1INa5VeW3Yv7uQ-uplZfp9XNjAbKQCOQdE3EIk2nJQDpbgIqZnCeqJ7IOhkJKthfyTAg3/s400/020.JPG)
... add them along with the pulled bread scraps
to a hot pan with about 1/2 stick melted butter
and a few swirls of ELBOO.
That's Extra Light Bertolli Olive Oil!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZjwum2OIILbi4lV_Vhp_NtHgJRRwIV4Wreslt5oHPhFRLjNU5PmBd7HO0Ik61dZygNqm8z5xFcJpl8iB-5qAXa_501NcseFHggc3hcayp-45RvUxbVqvMVgX5gwSvHga8Ix_dlchIx5l/s400/022.JPG)
Toss and swirl to slightly brown.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgw1-1fCfjryvPupdbdvF0wvWP2CODlSwtaKVYgjchiKPxoNjl0PcgWpF_XHYvJ41ZtDmT5Ng-CCRkBLlvbjPEenEOlXihHhVqNcSa9Y1JYeQkGGUJEO5rwMaexb9q7hLhn4JNHDMRvnaK/s400/029.JPG)
Place on a baking sheet
and put in a low oven - 250 degrees.
Bake until crispy, crunchy, and golden.
(That's the before shot.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV65rOeGm9nj9_fcrmZVK0GoZbU7gVAjSlV07PBVwCIDGAGup4B6x6khJ9NMMWxWFvUr4mQwpZj90lQLJeqkukYxgE4cCTIehU1LlQi7kVXkKqJatvB3JGY8FJAiTnZ2CGjxIz1x2vbkPO/s400/037.JPG)
Two peeled Roma tomatoes
Juice and zest of one lemon
Variegated lemon thyme
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnRlmzavq_aJ2TukzkM5l0GiG4qZUp0iaw40qKbOHjSI024EH6rKQd5CgKd1o9IV4K6Kh0sARye1Leyw_2zz6EDR7R9JEaKVFI5xxJ52ff4-nyUx3oX8RGDnZiKL4WONHRyaf0enV1zix/s400/039.JPG)
Mix all together.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfFeF3O9H6amsyAbvJpqpkoSxHp9Ne8jlwPL1ZPpFGI5r9gI_k8Oh7FvjAd8lJje3wSELcC9su6CLfGwwhX8EbBTvjWcxrgy3kpLQmNkv6v8i9qx_ywgGCI0bn5V7HjfULRvNcYyJXF4-/s400/049.JPG)
My Little Artichoke.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimueTe7BAvQpGplD0od0Wz-gxF5Tn8pYi4rQSuQQZ-5tLhgNN50jkQ6ddxaOuNHd0FUOOYX3Mqhw8567a1dx8UC94WBqdor33woqt3uYGGLbpDehSEL82TS4SdIbLPjWQD63eJ4fmi9iYL/s400/042.JPG)
The artichoke will open up easily.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNJH1QBLQ7XjHFGy_Edqo-qHnNEULcLthdL-xD_My6mYE8qdJJw2VeD2l-0wYDzQvQtCp2P6gynbfngpTu0mnwyAYuKhrl66k0gi7eF_nyPoQWDQjIq6J8TxTEv_9MV5PapMip0S14e-bB/s400/043.JPG)
Separate leaves until you get to this little domed cap in the center.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sdm97UXtn_5kQSi_djuOqctdu8ga8YO-uLr_Swdyzo2AnSCzDmVY5QOnwVnE3aFqi1BI3vAwGpRwXywE_z9jXLUJxFghL1QbvWlObcH55q8xbZi6Bqbve2xW3XZqFkQQQvjltFoxwgHS/s400/044.JPG)
Pop off the cap and ...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hMlHL-1xg8LaWMavB-KozGs4T8Fl323JytgnKme9MuLG3v3Nh3YqlwZaf_0fVjG0cVp3HnUJ-aRinmstLvjxRx3BY8oz6ntJ2kXhj5G29VSSWiwspVEIMkzXr6KXebU_MSrpMoKdBUtA/s400/046.JPG)
... you expose the choke.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenLhL-dJys8Lj9ZITY5h03cSy28AbELmnM3yrxuZdwFO_sle6oTZ7_-CEiMxfTW0pOV6e4uKGU8hQebPQVXd_uI3w_UPEX5G6KgZMalGyy5JWCj0B3LBu5xlYFqAmIiZYheTw5mwPvWP1/s400/045.JPG)
A very fuzzy choke which will choke you.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5JVzyKrWPHx0yWgnjvRS6JKU6c9mwssAxh1Jfwn_Qs9bDeC5p81_Y7wx9AnijXAJvSPmREKBD6_DS5YvvCYhuOToaUFtqrYxL9Iyb1NT_I_9i6VI4vLU-jmR6tlvxsyXr1JrGXEJXQLx/s400/047.JPG)
Remove the choke,
exposing the lovely heart.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE51GuD9AZ7xswqVwZCQkoc9RNGdE39kA9CHwFlYG9wGWFUqqfCm3qN_eHnSWRC0giFlaE1hRulYMlXYQC3uVTtjIesSVErLfYRpscoTZ-NnzA1KamlzYSyPSns3wbOMWaXJ_hh-vgsG8P/s400/052.JPG)
My splayed open artichoke,
with heart exposed.
Melted butter.
Tomato, lemon juice/zest, and parsley.
The toasted croutons.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTabXqnG2TYK2iTShyv1uVKvP4l5dOAc3kMc-jzJfHJv1YUdquicKzI1K-Rnx5mTeAYWAc8457mUYvf5xMK12jKoN5wRi6FrAdth2roxXEZfUrQr_eWob_Sxqy97zcwMixmLgOPaIeJJx/s400/055.JPG)
Now that's an artichoke.
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