Carciofi Ripieni Stuffed Artichokes Recipes

Steps:

• Remove as many as the outer leaves of the artichokes as look tough, bruised or split. Don't worry about taking off too many; there are plenty under there. Trim the stem, but not too far, and create a flat bottom for the artichokes. Cut off about 1/2 inch of the tops with a sharp blade.
• Rinse each artichoke under water, and place in a large bowl of water into which you have squeezed half the lemon. This acidulated water will keep them from turning brown on their cut edges.
• Drain the artichokes upside down on a clean dish cloth, while you prepare the filling. Put all the rest of the ingredients, except the olive oil, in a bowl and mix well. Now, hold each trimmed artichoke over the bowl, and spread the leaves with the fingers of one hand, while filling the gaps with a teaspoon and the bread crumb mixture. The goal is to get as much of the filling distributed as evenly as one can.
• Place all the filled artichokes in a baking dish, and liberally pour olive oil to taste over each one - nearly a tablespoon for each is about the right amount. Pour a scant cup of water, or even water and white wine, into the baking dish. Cut the remaining piece of lemon up, and tuck around the artichokes. Cover securely with foil, and bake at 350F for about 1 and 1/2 hours. The leaves should pull out easily when they are done.
• These should be cooled a bit before serving. Enjoy.

Steps:

• 1) First, cut 3/4 in off the top of the artichoke. Then cut most of the stem off, leaving 1/4 in stem, insuring that the stem is cut flat. 2) Trim remaining leaf tips with scissors so each tip is perfectly horizontal. 3) Soak artichokes in lemon and water, with artichokes totally submerged until ready to stuff (This will keep them from turning brown) 4) Add enough olive oil to bread crumbs to moisten. Remove an artichoke and drain water. Pry open leaves and fill between each leaf with about 1 tsp of stuffing mixture, without overstuffing. 5) Place stuffed artichokes in a pot just large enough so they fit snugly and fill with 1 in water. Season water with salt & pepper. Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil over each artichoke. 6) Bring pot to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover pot. Baste artichokes lightly after 1/2 hour of cooking with liquid. Continue cooking until leaves pull easily from stem, about another 30-45 minutes. (Do not boil artichokes, steam gently or you will boil the stuffing)