I had never had one until I met Tom. It was a weird looking vegetable, and I had no idea how to prepare it, much less how to eat it.

An artichoke is beautiful and unique and full of health benefits.

“Artichokes are frequently cited as a superfood, in part because of their high levels of antioxidants. Studies show a number of proven and potential health benefits of artichokes, [including much needed fiber].”

WebMD

Ok so what do you do with it?

First, cut the bottom stem off with a sharp knife to allow the artichoke to sit flat while stuffing.

Next, with kitchen shears snip off the tips of each leaf. Then wash well separating the leaves to rinse thoroughly. Drain upside down on a towel or rack while making the stuffing.

For the stuffing you’ll need equal parts of melted butter, Italian bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Mix all together until well blended.

Place artichoke in a shallow bowl or pan. Using a small spoon, place stuffing inside each leaf. Continue until all leaves are filled with this yumminess. Finally, place stuffing on the top and pack it down to give a nice pretty crust on top.

Repeat for every artichoke you’re making.

Steam artichokes for 30-40 minutes until the leaves pull off easily.

To eat, simply peel off a leaf and scrape the stuffing into your mouth. The artichoke has a bit of meat on the inside of each leaf. It is delicious.

But the best is yet to come…

After enjoying all the leaves you’ll be left with a soft pointy center which is actually the blossom of the plant. It is made of silky fibers that are inedible. Use a sharp paring knife to cut away this part from the bottom. You’ll have only the bottom “heart” of the choke left. This is worth all the work, I promise.

Pile the leftover stuffing onto the heart, sprinkle with salt and eat with a fork.

This is a fun appetizer to eat because it takes time. Perfect for a game day snack.