This spring's artichokes are bigger than ever. In fact, they rival a 16-inch softball. But don't be tempted to play with artichokes. You'll have enough fun eating them.
Artichokes are the ultimate finger food.
Pull off the leaves one at a time, run them between your teeth and scrape off the meaty flesh. You don't even have to apologize for licking your fingers. For a simple pleasure, serve plain artichokes with a dish of melted butter or a mayonnaise-based sauce. For a meal, stuff artichokes with crab meat salad. Either way, allow about an hour to cook the vegetable.