Artichokes are fun to eat, delicious and simple to prepare. Choose an artichoke with a healthy green appearance. Check the stem end to see that the artichoke is fresh.
Older artichokes have a brown or woody looking end.
I prefer the large artichokes over the tiny variety. Make sure to save the stem. You may peel and boil it along with the rest of the choke. This is just an aesthetic procedure. Place the artichokes in a mixture of 3 cups water and 2 Tbsp. of lemon juice to keep them from browning.