Erica Campanella Bride

Spring fever has definitely struck. Most days I'm stuck in the house doing work so enjoying the weather is out for now. I would plant some flowers but I don't even have the option of a flower box in my fourth floor walk up so that's out. And I could indulge in the exhilaration of a spring fling but I'm not seeing any viable options these days so that is completely and might I add, damn annoyingly, out. But who needs a spring fling when you have spring vegetables like artichokes! OK, awkward bridge to a new subject. Spring time vegetables are exciting though. Buh-bye root vegetable and winter starchiness, hello crisp greenness. I thought I would share my easy stuffed artichoke recipe.

Here is what you will need-
1 onion diced
1/2 a red pepper diced
1 lemon ( juice and zest)
1 medium baguette cut into 1" cubes ( day old is great, if not a fresh one is fine)
1 egg
1/2 cup grated peccerino romano
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp red pepper flakes
salt
pepper
2 artichokes

Everyone seems to be fearful of using and preparing fresh artichokes
but once you get the hang of it, you're going to be an artichoke preparing fiend. Here's a link to show you the basics.
After you have trimmed and de-choked chokes, put them in a pan of boiling salted water. Make sure the pan is large enough that the artichokes are fully submerged in the water. You can throw and a sliced lemon if you like but it's not necessary. Let artichokes
boil for 30 minutes.
Take artichokes gently out of pan and let cool.
While cooling, saute diced onion in olive in large saute pan until soft. Then add diced pepper, salt and pepper to taste and red pepper flakes. Cook until soft. Remove pan from heat and let cool. Add diced bread, pecerino romano, juice and zest of the lemon and egg. Combine all thoroughly and gently. Salt and pepper to taste again.
Take the artichokes that you have set aside and using a spoon, gently stuff the center on the artichokes with the stuffing.
Place artichokes in oven safe dish. Drizzle top with addition olive oil or cheese ( optional). Place in preheated 375 degree oven for 20 minutes.
As Julia Child would say, bon appetit!
Or as another favorite chef would say, bun eppeteet!