Artichoke recipes. All you need to know.

Artichoke recipes. This is the best dip you will ever enjoy.

Lets start with the vegetable itself.

The artichoke is actually a thistle, well at least the bud of the a large thistle. It is grown mainly in the southern United States and in Mexico. There is also a small farm in Ontario Canada that has recently begun to have some success with growing a very tasty artichoke. You may see this story here in the Toronto Sun Artichoke Article

The artichoke has been around for thousands of years and has undergone centuries of changes and improvements by cross pollination.

Artichoke tea can be found in some Chinese stores. It is a product of Viet Nam. It has a slightly woody flavor but you need to try different makes because each manufacturer uses a different blend.

Of all the antioxidant-rich foods, the artichoke hearts rated fourth highest among the 1,100 foods tested. They beat out red wine, grapes, blueberries, coffee and tea. The tea can be made by crushing dried leaves.

Within the artichoke is an active ingredient called cynarin that is found in the pulp of the leaves. This ingredient aids in bile flow and is of great nutritional benefit. It aids in the functions of the liver, gall bladder and lowers the HDL/LdL ratio. While reducing the risk of heart disease and arteriosclerosis. Extracts from the leaves are also known to aid in the reduction of cholesterol. To say the least, artichokes are one fantastic vegetable.

There are many great recipes. Here is a terrific spinach artichoke dip you will want to try.

The spinach should be cleaned and dry for this artichoke recipes.

Marinate the hearts in oil and let them drain. Add a little seasoning and herbs to taste.

Prepare the cream cheese by softening in the microwave for fifteen seconds.

This is a recipe that will feed quite a crowd so you will need to use a mixer to mix it up and a pan at least 8” X 12”

Spinach Artichoke Dip Recipe

• 16 ounces softened cream cheese

• 1 cup mild cheddar cheese, shredded

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 1/2 cup of sour cream

• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

• 1/4 tsp black pepper, ground

• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

• 14 ounce jar of marinated artichoke hearts, well drained

• 5 ounce package spinach, chopped, frozen, drained and squeezed dry

• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the baking dish with vegetable shortening or spray with Pam. Mix all of the ingredients except the artichokes and spinach in a mixing bowl using medium speed. You want it nice and creamy. Now mix the artichokes and spinach by hand. Spread the whole thing in the pan. Sprinkle the top with mozzarella cheese. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until it is light brown on top. Let it sit for ten to fifteen minutes before serving.

Place on a platter (large) and surround the dip with tortillas, crackers, bagel chips. This serves 12 to 15 people. Artichoke recipes are fantastic.

Your friends and guests will love this Spanish artichoke dip recipe.