A Family Delicacy

Now that the spaghetti and meatballs, rigatoni and sausage, linguini in white clam sauce, baked lasagna and breaded veal and chicken cutlets have been removed from the table, you might think that room is being made for dessert. Actually the table is being prepared for the dish that everyone has anticipated since we sat down to eat over an hour ago. Finally, my grandmother places two large pans of baked, stuffed artichokes on the table to the sound of resounding applause. I have tried time and again to duplicate this family delicacy, but I'll admit that it hasn't yet happened. Even so, stuffed artichokes are a wonderful conclusion for any festive meal. Here is the recipe that has been handed down to me.

• 2 cups of flavored bread crumbs


• 1/4 cup of chopped parsley


• 1 garlic clove - finely chopped


• 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil


• 3 tbls. of melted butter


• 1/2 tsp. of salt


• dash of ground pepper


• 4 medium size artichokes

Trim the bottom of each artichoke to form a flat base. Trim the sharp ends of each leaf of the artichokes.

Combine the bread crumbs, parsley, and garlic in a mixing bowl. Sprinke the oil, melted buttter, and salt and pepper over the bread crum mixture. Toss until mixed well.

Spread open the artichoke leaves and place the stuffing inside of each leaf. Place the artichokes in a roasting pan which has one inch of boiling water on the bottom of the pan. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Enjoy!