A-Z Challenge A is for Artichokes

Artichokes

Steamed and grilled with garlicky butter

Scrumptious

~~~~~

Artichokes

Who figured out the prickly plant

Was edible?

There are more than 1440 bloggers participating in this

month long event.  It will be fun to see all the different

 approaches to this challenge.

Just amble over here to find more A-Z Challengers:

http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html

Just click on the links and have fun!!

PS I am #1430!

K is for Kale with Garlic and Bacon and another tasty recipe.....

Photo from my kitchen-

the potatoes are from our garden

and I am sure there is some sort of

Potato recipe coming up soon!

This week our local paper had a recipe for

braised artichokes in the FOODday section-and

it turned out to be a tastier way to prepare

them than the usual plain old steaming.

Here's the link to that recipe thanks to Mark Bittman of the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/02/dining/02mini.html

Now- on to K is for Kale with Garlic and Bacon!

I found this recipe in the beautifully produced cookbook

Blue Eggs and Orange Tomatoes

http://www.jeannekelleykitchen.com/Site/Book.html
I picked up this book at our local library and so far all

the recipes I have tried have been good and no surprises!

I might have to buy this book !

Anyhow here is that recipe:

Kale with Garlic and Bacon

serves 2

1- 1/2 bunch Kale - I used just 1/2 the bunch

(if the Kale you purchase has tough stems or ribs cut them out)

2 slices of bacon cut in 1/2" pieces

4 garlic cloves or less according to your taste-chopped finely

1/2 cup water

salt and pepper to taste

with a squeeze of lemon juice if you want

Stack Kale leaves, roll up and cut into 1/2" strips

Cook bacon in heavy pot med/hi heat stir occasionally til crisp

remove bacon and drain on paper towel.

Keep 1 Tablespoon of bacon fat-remove the rest and cook the

garlic until golden about 1 minute or so. Add the Kale and cook

turning with tongs until wilted and bright green about 1 minute or so.

Add water and simmer partly covered fpr 6-10 minutes-toss with bacon

squeeze some lemon juice over if you want and serve.

Yum

and finally here's the latest baby quilt I just finished. This one is for my nephew Clay's latest baby boy soon to arrive the end of this month! I made a farm quilt complete with the lyrics from Old MacDonald Had a Farm going around the border. Thanks to the expertise of Pat Roche at Just Quilting in Portland I am able to make these fun quilts. Take a look at her web site: http://patsjustquilting.com/