Cynara Cardunculus (Wild Artichokes)

All along the rolling hills of northern California live the most amazing things-free artichokes! Okay, maybe not the kind you are used to seeing in the store but, despite their smaller size, the flavor is the same (better in my opinion, actually). And free, if you don’t mind the prickly, aggressive spines. My husband and I went picking a little late last year so we ended up with some very beautiful electric blue flowers but no food.

This year, we’ve been keeping on top of it and have had a few artichoke dinners already. Preparing these wild artichokes is the same as preparing any other artichoke. Before cooking, soak your artichokes in water for an hour or so with a couple of teaspoons salt (to get rid of any bugs). Rinse well. Trim off the prickly thorns with a pair of scissors. Be careful! Place artichokes in a steam basket or pasta pot with a little water and steam on medium high heat until a leaf, when tugged on, comes off easily (around 40 minutes).

Plant

Artichoke has been part of the human diet since antiquity. It is highly prized for it’s nutrient value. Artichoke is also used in alternative medicine as a treatment for blood and liver diseases as well as digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. It is said that artichoke stimulates bile production and reduces cholesterol.

Meditate

As I pick these wild artichokes, it gets me thinking of all of the other local, free food sources all around us. In our hurried society, we always seem to rush to the store to purchase what we need. Little do we relish in the true abundance that nature brings us for free. To be grateful for and enjoy what is abundant and fresh now is to connect with our own Mother Earth. Today try and see what abundance surrounds you.

Happy Mothers Day!

Eat Well!

~Trish

21 thoughts on “Cynara Cardunculus (Wild Artichokes)”

I was more than happy to discover this website.

I need to to thank you for your time due to this wonderful read!!

I definitely loved every bit of it and i also have you
saved as a favorite to see new things on your website.

Admiring the hard work you put into your site and detailed information you provide.
It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that
isn’t the same unwanted rehashed material. Wonderful read!
I’ve saved your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to
my Google account.

Hey! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d
ask. Would you be interested in trading links or
maybe guest authoring a blog post or vice-versa?

My site goes over a lot of the same subjects as yours and I
believe we could greatly benefit from each other.
If you are interested feel free to send me an e-mail.
I look forward to hearing from you! Terrific blog by the way!

Undeniably imagine that which you said. Your favourite reason appeared to be
on the net the simplest factor to be aware of. I say to you,
I certainly get annoyed at the same time as folks consider issues that they just don’t realize about.
You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined
out the whole thing with no need side effect
, other people can take a signal. Will likely be again to get
more. Thanks

Hi there to every one, since I am genuinely eager of reading this blog’s post to be updated daily.
It contains nice information.

Amazing issues here. I’m very satisfied to see your post.
Thank you a lot and I’m looking forward to contact you.
Will you kindly drop me a e-mail?

You should take part in a contest for one of the best websites
on the internet. I am going to highly recommend this web site!

This piece of writing is in fact a nice one it helps new internet
people, who are wishing in favor of blogging.

My partner and I absolutely love your blog and find the majority of your post’s to be
just what I’m looking for. can you offer guest writers to write content for
yourself? I wouldn’t mind creating a post or elaborating
on a lot of the subjects you write about here.
Again, awesome weblog!

Hello, I wish for to subscribe for this web site to
take most recent updates, thus where can i do it please assist.

Un іmportant brazvo à l’admin de ce ѕite web

Jе publie unn commentaire simplement pour remercier l’auteսr

Hello there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I
could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m
using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one?
Thanks a lot!

Amazing! Its genuinely amazing post, I have got much clear idea regarding from this piece of
writing.

Thanks for the good writeup. It actually was once a enjoyment account it.
Glance complicated to far delivered agreeable from you! By the way, how can we keep
up a correspondence?