Artichoke Bottoms Filled With Spinach Food

SPINACH STUFFED ARTICHOKE BOTTOMS

Steps:

• Prepare artichokes or buy canned bottoms. To prepare remove stem and then break the leaves of the base. Artichoke should have a conical shape when done. Cut off the core of the artichoke above the base. Base should be trimmed with vegetable peeler until all of the fibrous material is removed. Place the core and bottom in lemon water. The choke will be removed after cooking.
• Arrange artichoke pieces in one layer in saucepan with little oil, water, lemon juice and a dash of salt. Cook for 20-25 minutes covered. Once tender remove bottoms with spoon and pour cooking liquid over the bottoms.
• Spinach Sauté:.
• Cook in skillet with dash of salt 3-4 minutes until wilted. Drain. Using a spoon, press spinach to extract water. Chop the spinach and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat butter in skillet until dark brown then add spinach. Sauté just until heated. Reheat the artichoke bottoms in their liquid and drain. Arrange them in a gratin dish and spoon spinach into each one. Press the Swiss cheese on top of spinach.
• Gratin Sauce:.
• Melt the butter in a heavy saucepan and add flour. Mix with whisk and cook on medium heat for 10 seconds. Add the milk all at once and mix with whisk. Add the salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir until sauce boils. Reduce heat and boil for 30 seconds. Add cream and remove from heat.
• Preheat the broiler. Coat the artichokes with sauce and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Heat under broiler for 3-4 minutes or until browned.

SAUTEED ARTICHOKE BOTTOMS

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine and toss drained and rinsed artichoke bottoms with lemon juice. Set aside.
• In a large frying pan over medium heat, sweat onions in oil until translucent. Add tomatoes and cook until heated through, about 1 minute. Stir in Italian seasoning and shredded basil leaves. Add in artichoke bottoms with lemon juice and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover pan and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 minutes.
• To serve, remove artichoke bottoms and place on serving plate so the hollow side is up. Fill with tomato-onion mixture.

SPINACH-STUFFED ARTICHOKE BOTTOMS

Steps:

• Heat 1 Tbs. oil in skillet over medium heat. Add leek, and sauté 5 minutes, or until translucent and soft. Stir in spinach and garlic, and cook 3 minutes, or until most of liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat, and stir in feta until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Cool 10 minutes, or until easy to handle. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat baking sheet with cooking spray, and place artichoke bottoms on baking sheet. Fill each artichoke bottom with spinach mixture (amount will depend on size of artichoke bottoms), and top with tomato slice. Sprinkle each tomato slice with salt, pepper, and oregano, then with breadcrumbs. Drizzle with remaining olive oil. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until breadcrumbs are browned and crispy.

ARTICHOKE BOTTOMS STUFFED WITH SPINACH AND WALNUT PUREE

Steps:

• Heat oil in a skillet over low heat.
• saute the onion until lightly browned.
• add the spinach and cook, stirring constantly until wilted.
• place the spinach, walnuts, and cream in a food processor and puree.
• season with salt and pepper.
• preheat oven to 350.
• fill artichoke bottoms with spinach cream.
• place in glass baking dish large enough to hold all bottoms in one layer.
• drizzle with teh broth or beer, cover with alumnium foil, and bake for 25 minutes, basting occasionally.
• just before serving, douse with te hremaining liquid from the bottom of t hepan.

STUFFED ARTICHOKE BOTTOMS

Steps:

• Cut a thin slice from bottoms of artichokes to level if necessary. Place in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan., In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, garlic, chives and oregano. Spoon into artichokes; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350° for 22-26 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.

SPINACH ARTICHOKE WONTONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375F and place rack in upper third of oven.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat, add onion and shallots, sauteing for about 4 minutes or until softened.
• Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds, then remove mixture from heat to a bowl, set aside.
• In a food processor, process cream cheese, mayonnaise, artichoke hearts and cayenne until smooth.
• Put cream cheese mixture in a medium bowl, and add onion mix, spinach, and asiago, mixing well to combine.
• Taste and add salt if needed. Mine didn't need any with the brined artichokes and the cheese.
• Lay out 24 wonton wrappers on counter and place about 1 heaping teaspoon of mixture on each wonton.
• Wet edges of wontons with water, fold in half to make triangles, pressing edges together so they stick.
• Place on a baking sheet lightly sprayed with cooking spray and bake for 10 minutes, until bottoms and edges are beginning to brown, turn over and continue to bake for about 4 more minutes or until both sides are crisped and slightly browned.
• Serve right out of the oven.