Artichokes are just so absolutely gorgeous when they flower!
And so good for you! They're an excellent source of protein and fiber with 6 grams of dietary fiber (a quarter of the recommended daily amount) with only 60 calories. And they are the number one antioxidant right vegetable, according to research conducted by the US Department of Agriculture (2 J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Dec 27;54(26):9966-77)

One of my favorite ways (and easy!) to eat artichokes is to steam them!

1. Cut of the tips of the leaves: Artichokes normally have little thorns on the ends of their leaves, so cut off the tips.

2. Slice off 3/4 of an inch off the top of the artichoke with a serrated knife.

3. Cut off excess stem and leave up to an inch on the artichoke or if you like how the stem tastes then just cut of the very end of the steam. The inside of the stem can taste bitter.

4. Rinse your artichokes

5. In a large pot, put a couple inches of water, the garlic, a slice of lemon, and a bay leaf. Insert a steaming basket.

6. Place artichokes on top of the steaming basket. Cover the pot. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Cook for 25 to 35 minutes or until the outer leaves can easily be pulled off