Italian Artichoke Braid Food

BRAISED ARTICHOKES WITH WHITE WINE AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Fill a big bowl with cold water. Cut the lemons in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl. The acidity from the juice keeps the artichokes from turning brown. Toss all but one of the squeezed lemon halves into the bowl of water. Keep the lemon half nearby.
• Trim the stems of the artichokes to about an inch from the base so the artichoke will sit flat on the stem when in the bottom of the pan. It the stems are very thick, use a paring knife to trim off the outer tough exterior of the stem.
• Next, remove the tough outer leaves until you get to the softer paler leaves.
• Cut about an inch off the top portion of the artichoke to remove the rough, sharp tips.
• Using a scissor, cut off any sharp tips that remain.
• Rub any cut surfaces of the artichoke with the reserved squeezed lemon half (a little extra protection from turning brown). Put the artichoke into the lemon water.
• Ready to go! When ready to cook, remove them from the lemon water.
• Grab a heavy bottomed pot, such as a Dutch oven, that is large enough to accommodate all the artichokes. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pot and heat over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add in the white wine, bay leaf, lemon zest and juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat. (Wait to season the liquid until after reduced or it may be too salty.) Then turn heat to low and keep at a simmer.
• Place the artichokes, stem side down, nestled next to each other, in the pot. Cover and simmer until the artichokes and stems are tender, about 20 to 30 minutes depending on the size of the artichokes.
• Remove the artichokes from the poaching liquid. Reserve the liquid. When cool enough to handle, cut the artichokes in half, lengthwise. Using a spoon or small knife, clean/cut out the fuzzy choke in the center and discard.
• Meanwhile, bring the poaching liquid to boil over medium heat and boil until reduced to half - about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
• In a large sauté pan, melt the butter with the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the artichokes cut side down and sauté until nicely browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the artichokes to a platter. Drizzle with the reduced poaching liquid, a little extra virgin olive oil, a sprinkle of sea salt and parsley. Serve warm or at room temperature.

BRAISED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Trim 6 medium artichokes (see Cook's Note), leaving the stems intact. Halve lengthwise. Cook 2 each sliced carrots, celery stalks and leeks in a pot with 1/4 cup olive oil over medium heat until tender, about 12 minutes. Add 3 sliced garlic cloves; cook 2 more minutes. Add the artichokes in a single layer; add 2 teaspoons salt, 2 bay leaves, 3 thyme sprigs, 1 rosemary sprig, 1 1/2 cups white wine, and water to cover. Lay a round of parchment paper on the artichokes and simmer until tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool in the liquid.

LEMON BRAISED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Bring 1/2 cup each water and white wine, two 9-ounce packages frozen artichoke hearts, 3 wide strips lemon zest and 2 tablespoons each lemon juice and olive oil to a simmer in a large skillet; season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring halfway through, until the artichokes are tender, about 10 minutes. Uncover and add 2 minced garlic cloves and 2 tablespoons each olive oil and chopped parsley and mint. Cook, stirring, until the garlic softens, 1 to 2 more minutes.

ARTICHOKE BRAIDED BREAD

Steps:

• Finely chop artichoke hearts.
• Add garlic, 1/4 tsp salt, pepper, olive oil& mix; set aside.
• Add artichoke mix, rest of salt and flour to bread machine and mix until it has gone through the rising process, do not bake in bread machine.
• Once dough is ready, remove from bread machine onto a floured cutting board or wherever you want to work with the dough.
• Split dough into four sections.
• Roll two balls into two narrow log shapes, at one end pinch together and braid.
• Complete the same step with other two logs.
• Tuck the pinched ends under the braided bread.
• Place the braids on baking sheet/s, with a brush, brush the beaten egg evenly over breads and bake in a 350 oven until lightly brown, about 30 mins.

BRAISED ARTICHOKES

Steps:

• Cut each of the artichokes in half; remove the toughest outer leaves, use a spoon to remove the choke, and trim the bottom.
• Put 3 tablespoons of the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. When it melts and foam subsides, add artichokes, cut side down. Cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add stock (it should come about halfway up the sides of the artichokes), bring to a boil, and cover; turn heat to medium-low. Cook for about 20 minutes or until tender, checking every 5 or 10 minutes to make sure there is enough liquid in the pan, adding more stock as necessary. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and transfer artichokes to serving platter.
• Raise heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced to a sauce. Stir in lemon zest and juice and remaining tablespoon butter; taste and adjust seasoning. Serve artichokes drizzled with sauce.

SOUTHERN ITALIAN BABY ARTICHOKES.

Steps:

• Juice 1 lemon into large bowl filled with cold water. Add remnant lemon also.
• Set bowl of water next to prep area.
• Juice 1 more lemon set juice aside.
• Take each artichoke and remove top few layers of dark green leaves exsposing slightly lighter more tender leaves underneath.
• Snap off artichoke long stems.
• With kitchen shears cut up 1/2 inch of the top of artichoke. Add to lemon water, otherwise they will darken.
• Boil enough water to cover artichokes with second lemon juice.
• Once boiling add artichokes for 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Strain and pat dry.
• In metal pot, large enough to hold artichokes SNUGGLY heat 1 tblsp oil and 4 cloves of mashed garlic over low to medium heat, allow to become tender.
• Set artichokes stem side down into pot, make sure they are snug.
• Add enough olive oil to reach halfway up artichokes.
• Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes. ( Leaves should pull away fairly easily when done).
• Once cooked discard most of oil, leave enough to toss to coat and season generously with pepper and salt add 1 handful 1/2 cup of italian bread crumbs.