I love them. I usually buy 3 at a time. I trim them up, put them in a pressure cooker with a little water and when the steam starts coming out, I time them for about 15 minutes. I dip them in melted butter and lemon juice. Delicious!!!

I miss all the artichoke fields around where we used to live. in northern Monterey County. I can steam a large artichoke in only 45 minutes, Hint: the best artichokes are the uglier ones pointed at the tip end and not the ones that are completely rounded like a tight ball---- those are much tougher and take a lot longer to cook. And the ones that have a ugly exterior that we got in the winter, with brown an white patches, are 'frost-tipped' and sweetest.

For dipping, I like to thin out mayo with lemon juice and add a dash of dill weed.

I love them too and usually enjoy them plain, but melted butter and lemon is okay too! Makes me think so fondly of my Dad who used to eat the leaves and give me the heart :) What a guy.

I've never had one!!! So sheltered. Lol. Sounds pretty good though.

My favorite pizza is with artichoke and feta cheese. Love artichokes.

if not mistaken there's a variety that can be grown here in NJ??

My first thought was pizza too when I saw this thread. We order pizza with a white garlic sauce, feta, avocado, mushrooms and artichoke. It is SO good. I love those jarred artichokes from Costco in oil...and I've had them steamed a couple times too and they were good that way too.

I love artichokes, it's my favorite veggie. I try to avoid having it as an accompaniment to a meal, they take too long to eat. Better as a starter. Always eaten plain, not dipped. Well, maybe sometimes I'll put a small bit of mayo on the heart.

I don't like it on pizza, canned/bottled artichoke stuff is gross compared to fresh.

My mother stuffed them with soft bread and black olives. My MIL prepared a simple bread crumb and garlic stuffing. I miss them and often think about making them but I don't have the recipe. My mouth is watering just reading this thread.

How did you prepare it? I admit that I'm "artichoke ignorant". I've had the canned ones in spinach/artichoke dip, but that's about it. I don't care for the canned marinated ones. Please enlighten me!

I do it in less time by keeping the water at a light boil. We use a steamer basket or steamer tray, don't salt the water, and put them in upside down (stems up). Done in about 20 minutes. Make sure the pot doesn't boil dry, you may need to add water a few times and bring the water back up to a boil each time.

Thanks, Sheila!

Google Ocean Mist Farms and check out their pages for lots of hints.

This is Phil's fire roasted artichoke. Heavenly!

Were you a Phil's regular, sushipup? We've stopped going there, parking always seems to be a hassle. Any secrets for dealing with that?

Yeah, we went almost weekly. Just parked on the street and walked. Hint: any of those chain link gates on the water side of the street, if there's a padlock on the gate, you're okay parking in front of it/ But we went during the week, rarely on the weekends. so it was never too bad. I miss the crab and sand dabs.

haha, it's on a narrow peninsula, To me both sides of the street could be called the water side. Do you mean the marina side (east, toward the power plant) or the ocean side (west) ?

Like sushipup said, I pick the "pointed at the tip end" artichokes, not the globe, tight round ball type. I put them in a glass bowl, sprinkle with a couple TBL of water, cover with a dish, and microwave for 8 minutes. Let sit for five more minutes, covered, in the microwave. Dip the leaves in cold, Best Food's, mayo and call it dinner.
Husband thinks it is "too much work for too little reward". LOL

He's going hunting Sunday. Guess what I am having for dinner?

Elmer, there's no parking on the beach, so yes, the marina side.

Here's the link for those of you who are curious. Phil's

How have I been here this long and not known about this restaurant??? Thanks for posting the link, Sushipup. I hope we can try it soon.

Unless you live in the south county, sjerin, you may also like to try our favorite, Stagnaro's, on the Santa Cruz wharf. A shorter drive and a setting with lots of seaside ambiance. Watch the boats and the surfers while you eat and before or after, visit the sea lions resting on the wharf's wood pilings.