Artichokes

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Castroville, California and the artichoke really made it on the map when Marilyn Monroe was crowned Artichoke Queen in 1948. Eighty percent of all artichokes grown commercially are from Castroville.
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Varieties
Green or Purple Globe Artichoke
When unqualified, the term "artichoke" nearly always refers to the globe artichoke, of which the aboveground part is eaten, in contrast to the other two, where a root part is eaten.

Baby Artichokes
Baby artichokes are fully mature artichokes that grow closer to the ground, sheltered by the larger leaves on the plant. They are easy to cook and prepare because the inner fuzzy portion of the choke does not develop.

Jerusalem Artichoke
The Jerusalem artichoke Helianthus tuberosus is a species of sunflower, hence it's also called sunchoke. The edible part of the plant is the tuber.

The Chinese Artichoke
The Chinese artichoke Stachys affinis is a species of woundwort. The edible part of the plant is the tuber.

How To
· Cook & Eat
· Select & Store

Tasty Recipes
· Simple Artichoke Pasta
· Artichoke Crostini
· Carciofi Fritti/ Fried Artichoke Hearts
· Artichoke Insalatina

Health Benefits
The Artichoke is an antioxidant superfood. A study from researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture found that Artichokes ranked seventh in total antioxidant capacity per serving out of more than 100 common foods, such as fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts, etc. Even more amazing is that Artichokes were the top ranked fresh vegetable tested, beating out such nutritional powerhouses as Broccoli and Spinach.

Nutritional Analysis: (1) Medium Boiled 60 Calories

In Season
Artichokes are a Spring item and Newport Ave. Market typically has them year round but they are in their prime March - June

History
The artichoke was first developed in Sicily, Italy. But there is mention of the plant in Greek and Roman literature as far back as 77AD. Artichokes were cultivated by the North African Moors near Granada Spain about 800AD in which it eventually traveled to England in about 1548, but was not well received. The Spanish settlers brought artichokes to California in the 1600's, but did not become widely grown or used in California until the 1920's.

The artichoke is fun to eat, and it's good for you too. One 12-ounce artichoke is a good source of vitamin C, folate and potassium. It's low in sodium, fat-free and a dieter's delight at only 25 calories. I