Artichokes

We have two artichoke plants that produce a lot of artichokes each spring.  We love them.  They are delicious and fun to eat.

How to Cook and Eat Artichokes
1 artichoke per person
Salt
Lemon juice, maybe 1/4- 1/2 cup
About 1 heaping teaspoon minced or crushed garlic
Mayonnaise for dipping (some people prefer melted butter)

Fill a large pot with water.  Salt the water well.  Add several squirts of lemon juice and some minced or crushed garlic. Cut the very top of the leaves off of the artichokes.  Put the artichokes in the water and bring to a boil.  Reduce to a good simmer and simmer for about an hour or an hour and a half.  Check for doneness by using tongs to pull one of the inner leaves.  It should come out easily.  Scrape your teeth along the meaty bottom of the leaf.  If the good stuff comes off easily, the artichoke is done.

Remove the artichokes from the water and drain a bit.  Serve an artichoke to each person (or two could share.)  Eat by pulling off leaves and dipping the meaty bottom of the leaf in a little mayonnaise.  Scrape the good stuff off with your teeth.  When the leaves are gone, remove the hairy choke with a knife and cut up and eat the heart (the best part.)