Monday, December 3, 2007

How to eat an artichoke

First, source your artichoke directly from a reputable artichoke grower. (There is a very good one at the Masterton Farmers Market where you can buy huge artichokes for a $1.00). Boil a big pot of water - biff your artichokes in and boil until they change colour. Drain and place on a plate. This is a magnificent feast, even for a meat lover like myself. Grab a fine bottle of olive oil - olivio is a good medium priced one - tip some into a desert bowl and swoosh around. Then one by one pull the "petals" off each artichoke flower and dip into the olive oil and then eat the tips. Repeat this taste sensation until you get to the "heart". Then grab a small vegetable knife, peel all the prickle bits off (otherwise you will will feel like you are eating a Thistle - which actually, you proabably are!) and then duck the artichoke "heart" in olive oil and eat. Repeat until artichokes are finished off your plate. Makes a helluva mess, but not a lot of dishes, so is one of the best vegetarian dishes I know. Devine. Recycle used flower petals into your compost bin. This is not only a very cheap meal it is also a very "sustainable" one. This meethod of artichoke eating comes no where near to sourcing your artichokes from Moore Wilsons all neatly packaged in olive oil. Try it!

Speaking of hearts, I heart the Farmers Market Queen. At the weekend, she came up to me and gave me a little bunch of beautiful flowers in the form of a tussie mussie because she said I was a regular customer and supporter - which hello I am. The Markert was celebrating its first birthday. It was better than getting quadruple flybuys from Noel Leeming and being served by the CEO of Noel Leeming and given a free pie maker. Tussie Mussies and the Market Queen rock.

1 comment:

strong light said...

Thank you for this! I ahve always wished I'd known how to deal with artichokes! Will have to give it a try.