The Poultry Keeper

bird_babe · Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 473 Location: wales

HI Nigel can you help my globe artichokes are just producing the heads on some of my plants . how do you cook yours haven't plucked up the courage to try them yet Question

which bit are you supposed to eat Question

I put five plants in last year which I grew from seed.
now they are growing not sure what to do with them Embarassed

nigel · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 11:55 am Post subject:

DA DA NIGEL TO THE RESCUE (pauses briefly put to underpants outside his trousers)

To cook a Globe artichoke. Cut off the stalk, remove outer layer of scales and then wash to remove creepy crawlies. Boil in salted water for 30-40 mins.

Eating is an inelegant affair. The plump half moon at the base of each scale can be eaten and the rest put back on the plate. When you have eaten all the scales remove the hairy cent re (the 'choke') and discard. The fleshy disc bit that's left ( the 'fond') is then eaten with fingers if you're a barbarian like me, or a knife and fork if you're at a dinner party. Very Happy

Tastes great with melted butter, vinaigrette or hollandaise (made from fresh eggs)

Lisa · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 12:09 pm Post subject:

I've never tried one - what do they taste like?

NannyP · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 12:11 pm Post subject:

I think you should now go to your room, and reflect on the last few minutes and come back when you can be more polite young lady Rolling Eyes

Sensual indeed, that's sewer talk that is Wink

Lisa · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 12:16 pm Post subject:

NannyP,

Thank you for your constructive suggestion, however I am unable to comply at this present time.

Or

(Don't ya just love it here!)

NannyP · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 12:20 pm Post subject:

we might get sent to bed Embarassed

And yes, I love being naughty and not being told off, and that you understand that I'm playing, not being rude Laughing

Lisa · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 12:27 pm Post subject:

Sorry, I'm just showing off. I'm bilingual me - I can speak PP and PK! Laughing

Anyway, naughtiness out of my system (for now Wink

)....

What does a globe artichoke taste like?

They look really impressive plants....

Are they easy to grow?

(I can feel another allotment coming on at this rate Rolling Eyes

)

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7140 Location: isle of lewis

they are lovely (mothers italian )used to eat a lot of them my mother used to stuff them as well,the children love them with a hollandaise sauce just like nigel says ,yes it is citychick ,big plate and sit and share ,lots of dribbling probably my table manners though
suz

Lisa · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 12:41 pm Post subject:

Do they taste a bit like anything else I might know?

Eg could you say "if you like brocolli / fennel / asparagus / whatever you'll love globe artichokes..."?

PS - I can see at this rate we'll need a gardening section Wink

Gina · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 471 Location: Kent

they sound interesting!...p.s think a gardening section would be great - peeps who have chicken seem to do the growing veg thing as a 'like to know where my food comes from' even if just dabbling (me!)

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7140 Location: isle of lewis

i've found them easy ,they even grew here .don't really know how they taste (different )if you let them flower which you probably will not they are lovely and bees love them ,sorry killing time ,must not go in shed every few minutes :oops:didn't mean to butt in
suz

nigel · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2005 3:42 pm Post subject:

Lisa

I think globe artichokes have a fairly unique taste, but I think if you like asparagus you'll like them. They are easy to grow, but you have to be patient. In the first year you take off all the fruits and focus on getting a good strong plant. Year 2 is when the cropping starts.

Eating them is a drippy affair. pulling off the leaves and dipping them in something...yummy

Nigel

bird_babe · Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 473 Location: wales

thanks Nigel and every body they sound good enough to eat. I definitely will try them now. Nigel had a very weird picture of you in my mind with your underpants over your trousers really made me laugh!!!