How to cook artichokes

How to Cook Artichokes the Easy Way! I have a hard time figuring out what to do with this seasonal vegetable. I am going to try this tonight. Teach your kids how to cook artichokes for a fun and tasty family treat. Standing at attention, peaks pointing to the sun, a beautiful bounty of artichokes lined the tables of our local farmers’ market. Their prickly appearance was a little off-putting to my budding new food adventurers. “How do you eat those spike-y leaves?” pondered my five year old. Whispering, I replied, “Hidden inside is a delicious, secret treasure. Would you like to find it?” With that, we were off on our food adventure of the week: learning how to cook artichokes! Feature Recipe: Steamed Artichokes with Lemon Butter Sauce The beauty of artichokes is that they are so simple to make, they look glamorous when they’re done, and eating them is a tasty, fun adventure in itself! At our local market we found everything from teeny tiny purple bundles to glorious green giants, so we decided to try a variety to compare tastes and textures. How to Cook Artichokes the Easy Way! Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes Makes 4 to 6 servings Ingredients: 4 large artichokes 3 Tbsp butter 1 lemon Directions: 1)    Let the kids trim the sharp ends of the leaves with a pair of kitchen scissors. 2)    Using a large knife, cut off the top two rows of the artichoke, then the stem. This part of the recipe is better suited to a parent. 3)    Add about two inches of water to a double broiler. Bring to a boil. 4)    Place the artichoke in the basket of the double broiler and cover. 5)    Steam for about 30 minutes, or until the leaves can be easily removed. Check the pot occasionally to make sure the water hasn’t boiled away. 6)    Once cooked, remove the artichokes and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes. 7)    While the artichokes are cooling, slowly melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Mix in the juice from one lemon. 8)    Serve the sauce in individual dipping bowls alongside your freshly steamed artichokes for a fun family treat. Crunch a Color Kids Vote: We heart the heart! What we liked: Learning how to cook artichokes is easy and fun! The kids loved helping to prepare the recipe by snipping the pointy ends off the leaves. They enjoyed peeling back the layers and noting how the texture changed as we got closer to the hidden treasure. Naturally, the heart was the best part!   Do you have a favorite way to prepare artichokes? Share your tips!