Artichokes

This last week was killer with work. I worked four night shifts last week (I usually work 2). So I was either sleeping or working. So I didn't have time to post, let alone, cook. We ate leftovers and ate out more than one really should. I was pulling the Tired-Night-Shift and the Pregnancy cards all week. Yikes.

I recently got this comment on my blog from Christina, "Artichokes intimidate me - how do you prep and cook them?"

image via

I love Artichokes, one of my favorite veggies ever. I just like foods that are fun to eat. When we were younger, we were always so excited when my mom would come home with artichokes in hand. We would all have our own, and sit around the table talking and pulling leaves through our teeth for at least an hour. Not only was it tasty, but we were having quality time as a family.

Artichokes can be prepared in many ways - roasted, stuffed, but my favorite it just a simple steam.
Cut the thorns off the leaves (like the picture above), place upside down in two inches of salted, boiling water and cook about 20 minutes or until a knife is inserted near the stem and comes out easily. Add a bit of lemon to the water to keep the nice color.  Serve with lemon butter (equal parts lemon juice and butter) or mayo, or your favorite dipping sauce.

How to: Freeze Fruits

Have you ever stuck some fruit or something else in the freezer, only for it to come out in a big block and you can't use it until you defrost the whole thing. Well, I have a trick for you!
So I am a memeber of a produce co-op and get some amazing things. I have been gone from my house a little more than normal so I can't use up all the produce before it goes bad. Plus, my husband is gone for the week and can't help me eat it. So I decided to freeze some things rather than letting it go to waste. I love freezing fruit because I can make delicious smoothies later.

How to freeze fruits:

Place items you want to freeze (for me, it was blackberries, strawberries and bananas) on a cookie sheet and place in the freezer until hard.

Remove and place in freezer safe bag.
Not too hard right?

If you are going to freeze something like peaches, mangoes, etc - it works best to cut them up in peices then freeze them. That way they are ready to go into any dish.
For bananas - I just cut them in half because I only use them in smoothies or banana bread (if you use it for banana bread, let them defrost a little. But you could also cut them into slices to make it easier on your smoothie blender.

Other produce that freezes well:
Mangoes
Peaches
Pineapple
Grapes - these a fabulous mini popsicles (don't thaw great though)
All berries
Corn
Peas
Beans
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Brussels sprouts
*if you see it in the freezer section at the grocery store - you can freeze it too.