Directions

Prepare whole artichokes for cooking. Cut off stem and 1 inch from the top of the artichoke with a sharp knife. Cut off sharp leaf tips with scissors. Place artichokes in large pot with stem down. Add olive oil, salt and enough water to cover. Bring water to a boil and cook 20 to 30 minutes. Artichoke is done when a life can easily go down through the center. Remove from water. To eat a cooked whole artichoke, pull off the thick leaves and dip the stem end into the lemon butter. Draw off the flesh between the teeth and discard the rest. After all the leaves have book removed, the fuzzy choke can be seen. Remove and discard. The bottom of the artichoke is the heart and is the most delicious part.

Lemon Butter: Heat butter and lemon juice together until melted. Serve warm with warm artichoke.

Makes 4 servings