Preparing Artichokes

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The thistle is the flower of the artichoke and is beautiful. It's the national flower of  Scotland.  However, if you pick it before it flowers, it's a very nice vegetable.

First cut the top part of the artichoke off.  This allows the heat to get down into the core when you cook it.  I also remove the bottom leaves.

Then I microwave on high about 6-7 minutes per choke.  Check then by pulling a leaf and seeing if the insides are soft enough.  If not, put in for another minute or two.

Eat one leaf at a time, dipping in melted butter (mmmm) or yoghurt flavored with dill. When you can't get any closer to the bottom center, gently pull the whole top section away, and you should have to separated halves.

and then the fun begins...separating the little center thistle part from the core.  Do this by putting a knife between the two.

Pull the thistle away from the bottom core.  Make sure the knife has loosened the two sections completely..

Throw away the thistle section and cut the remainig core into pieces and dip them in the butter or yoghurt....and enjoy !!!