Artichokes

My earliest memory of artichokes would have to be when I was about 3 or 4 and my parents were having a dinner party. I wandered into the dining room and my dad gave me a taste from his plate. It was an artichoke leaf dipped in mayonnaise, which is still my favorite artichoke dip. Yum. I was instantly hooked. These days Iadd a little horseradish, just a bit, to my mayonnaise, for some added zip.

I found a few quick facts from the California Artichoke Advisory Board:

*Almost all the artichokes grown in the US are grown in California, with 75% grown in Monterey County.

*Artichokes are members of the Sunflower family, the thistle tribe.

*A good-sized, fully-grown artichoke plant can reach 6 feet in diameter, with a height of 3-4 feet.

*The edible part of the artichoke is it’s flower bud.

*Artichokes have only 25 calories. They are high in potassium with 170 milligrams per serving. They are a good way to get vitamin C, folate, and magnesium.

*One serving has 6 grams of dietary fiber.

*Artichokes contain the powerful phytonutrients Cynarin and Silymarin, which are anti-oxidants that promote good liver health.

If you are lucky enough to live near a Raleys market, like me, artichokes are currently on sale for 88 cents!

Image credit: All Posters.com