Artichokes

It is no secret that I love food. But what I have come to find out, is that I love cooking as well. And, I love reading about cooking. I thoroughly enjoyed Under the Tuscan Sun, Bella Tuscany, and Julie and Julia. And I recently bought Tender at the Bone...and I cannot wait to read it.

The challenge, completing the task at hand, the comfort, not thinking about anything else in the world except for when to turn the fish, the ease: all these things I love about cooking. Food is intriguing and each vegetable or spice plays a part in what becomes a wonderful meal.

I love artichokes. Isn't is weird that we can eat something that looks so strange? And who was the first person to eat an artichoke heart and determine that it was sweet? Did they get the little hairs caught in their teeth the first time the sunk into the heart?

The best artichoke I ever had was from a road-side stand on the highway from San Fran. to Carmel, California. I was on my honeymoon, and we were making our way down the California coast, stopping at gorgeous lookouts and farm stands along the way. It must have been artichoke season (or maybe it always is there) because these artichokes were luscious and grand, and delicious! We steamed them with some mayonaisse on the side. Delightful!



The ones I made the other night were not quite as good, or tender and sweet, but they still do the trick and remind me of that wonderful dinner in California. Maybe that is why I love cooking and food so much. Because a meal, or a taste, can easily rekindle a memory, or make a new one.