Artichoke
Artichokes are actually a flower bud, part of the sunflower family, that are eaten as a vegetable. Artichoke hearts are baby artichokes with tender leaves that are picked before the prickly inner ‘choke’ has developed. Artichokes are an ancient vegetable that are full of symbolism. Since they have a tender heart at their core which is protected by strong layers of leaves they represent hope, peace and prosperity.
Storage
Artichokes are best stored chilled. Wrap in a plastic bag and put it in the crisper drawer. If the stems are still attached, another option is to stand the artichokes upright in a bowl of water as you would cut-flowers, then refrigerate. You can also blanch and freeze for a long-term storage option.
