A guest post by Judith Natelli McLaughlin
For me, springtime means artichokes. A favorite vegetable of mine, I hope it’s one of yours too! If not, try this recipe…It comes straight from my Italian Grandma: my Nonny. The only difference is, I stuff mine with a bit more stuffing than Nonny did. Let’s say she was more of a purist. Nonny passed away before she heard my artichoke poem, but I’m sure would have gotten a laugh out of it. I think you will too. The poem appears in my book, Poems on Fruits & Odes to Veggies. What follows is my Nonny’s recipe. ENJOY! —
Stuffed & Steamed Artichokes
1. Prepare the artichoke…cut the stem off the bottom of the artichoke to make a flat surface. Trim off the top of the artichoke too.
2. Prepare stuffing…. mix 2 tablespoons chopped garlic, 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese (add more or less of any of these ingredients to your taste. Trust me, you can’t go wrong.)
3. Stuff the inner leaves of four artichokes with the bread crumb mixture.
4. Place artis in pot with 1/2 inch of boiling water. Cover, lower heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Check doneness by pulling a leaf out of the center. If it pulls out easily, artis are done. If not, simmer longer until done.
5. To eat, pull off one leaf at a time. With stuffing side in, run your teeth along leaf and eat. Discard leaves.
ENJOY!!
Do you have a favorite artichoke recipe? Share it now.
Artichokes
by Judith Natelli McLaughlin
Artie chokes on chocolate chowder
Artichokes on rice
Artie chokes on pumpkin pie
Laced with pepper spice
Artichokes on fettuccine
Barley, beans and peas
Lasagna, parmesan
And on pecorino cheese
Artie chokes on chile
Made with ice cream and beef chuck
Artichokes on Caesar salad
Sushi, roasted duck
Artie chokes or artichokes
Confusing, it is true
But if you do not try this food?
The arti JOKES on you!
Author/illustrator of
the children’s picture book Poems on Fruits & Odes to Veggies–Where Healthy Eating
Starts With a Poem, public speaker, health food enthusiast and mom
Judith Natelli McLaughlin is here to help introduce your family to some fruits
and veggies they may not know about, while reintroducing them to some old
favorites, too. Her goal is to educate AND entertain and get you to remember that healthy
eating starts with a poem.
