Linger at the table

I come from a family of people who linger. I don’t need to share all of the details, but there is this epic story of my dad sipping a latte all the way from Vancouver proper up to Whistler. It is a bit of a drive and most people would have finished the drink in the walk between the coffee shop and the car. And while I won’t be found sipping up the last drops of coffee from my cup hours later, I’ll likely be lingering too long over something else.

One of my favorite places to linger has to be the kitchen. I know some people feel like the kitchen houses the equipment needed to prep a meal and once that is done, get out! At my house, the kitchen seems to be the focal point of the whole house. Throughout the day, many hours are spent in this room—we wake up there with cups of warm coffee and wrap up the evening there too, trying to fit in bits of conversation over the happy sounds of the boy playing close by. And when we’re enjoying a relaxing meal, it seems like the perfect time to bring out the artichokes.

Artichokes are really in season two times a year—spring and then again in the fall. Of course, these days it seems like one can find artichokes no matter what time of year. But I like finding them in season for better selection and price. More artichoke meals for my dollar, you know?

Don’t be fooled into thinking that bigger is always better. With artichokes, one must consider the pot size needed to cook these beauties. If the artichoke gets too big, it might almost require its own pot for cooking, which is not great when you are cooking for friends! And speaking of friends, that is where this recipe comes from.

For the better part of my life, artichokes have always been cooked in a pot of boiling water. It works well, but plan accordingly because it can take a while to cook a pot of artichokes. Then, a few years back, I stumbled over the idea of roasting artichokes. It might take even longer than the boiling routing, but the flavor that builds up is amazing. And talk about simple, just slide the pot into oven and wait for an hour or two.

But what about that day when you decide to make artichokes for lunch with friends? It’s a great idea, sitting around the table chatting and pulling leaves off of piles of artichokes. In that case, you’d better have a plan up your sleeve. And what’s where this gem of a recipe comes in. Feed a few or a crowd, this tasty preparation is sure to be a hit.

My “recipe” is a little loose because it is dependant on how many are eating, the size of the artichokes and what else will be served with the meal. With the large artichokes that are in season now, I usually plan on half an artichoke per person. It leaves room to serve a few other dishes alongside it. And don’t even think about substituting the butter out for olive oil or anything else. The browned butter that results is so very important to the flavor that developes in this dish.
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Braised artichokes

Artichokes, washed and trimmed

Butter

Chicken broth

White wine, optional

Fresh herbs, optional (I used a few sprigs of thyme, sage, rosemary and fennel)

To prepare the artichokes, slice in half, starting with the stem first. The artichokes will begin to darken as soon as they are cut, so work with one artichoke at a time. Scoop out the choke and some of the smallest leaves.

In a large pan, melt a generous pat of butter over medium-high heat and add the artichokes, cut side down. Allow to cook until beautifully golden and fragrant, about seven to 10 minutes. Don’t hesitate to add a little more butter if the pan looks dry. Add enough broth and wine, if using, to cover the bottom of the pan to about ½-inch deep. Nestle the herbs in the pan. Bring the liquid to a boil, then turn the heat down to medium and cover with a lid.

Allow to cook for about 20 minutes, checking to ensure there is enough cooking liquid at about the 10-minute mark. If not, add a little more liquid. Check for doneness by poking the heart with a knife, very gently of course! The knife should go in easily, much like a properly cooked potato.

Remove from heat and serve immediately. Garnish with dipping sauces as desired.