Artichokes can also stain hands quite badly so it is recommended that rubber gloves be worn for cleaning and chopping.

Artichokes can be boiled, steamed, microwaved or sautéed. They can be eaten whole or added to other dishes.

Cooked artichokes may be refrigerated for several days in a covered container.

Microwave: cook 6 to 8 minutes or until a petal near center pulls out easily.

Boiling: Stand artichokes in a large pan with 3 quarts boiling water. Cover and boil gently 20 to 40 minutes according to size, or until petal near center pulls out easily.

Small artichokes are good for pickling, stews, casseroles; medium size are good for salads and large size are good for stuffing.

To eat, pull off leaves and eat fleshy ends attached to plant. Lift out cone and cut out core, which is fuzzy portion at center. The heart is a true delicacy and will break easily with a fork. General

Dip leaves in lemon juice or try low-fat dipping sauce in recipe section. Enjoy a healthy, tart treat-sprinkle lemon, lime and orange juices over steamed leaves. Add artichoke hearts to your favorite pasta dish or salad. Make your vegetable soup unique by adding artichoke hearts. Try serving and/or stuffing artichokes for a different appetizer.

Marinades

Marinades are seasonings which contain acidic ingredients such as vinegar, wine and citrus juice and are used to tenderize meat. Marinades can be a combination of herbs, spices and vegetables and are used to add flavor to dish. When you soak meat into marinade, meat absorbs ingredients and result is a more flavorful and tender dish. The meat must soak in marinade for a good part of day or even overnight to ensure it has enough time to absorb its maximum capacity. Make sure you read directions prior to marinating because some foods (like shrimp and fish) can become mushy and soggy if they are left in too long.

Regardless of which form of seasoning you choose, rubs, sauces and marinades add flavor and tenderness to all forms of meat. So give your BBQ a gourmet kick and add a gourmet BBQ sauce, rub or marinade to your next barbecue.