Grilled Artichoke Recipe

Prep: Wash artichokes, trim stem, cut off top 1/2" of leaves and remaining leaf tips, if desired. I use a sharp knife and kitchen scissors (for the individual leaf tips). Cut artichoke in half, remove choke ("hair" and any purple leaves) using a spoon.

Boil: Immediately place in pot of boiling water with lemon (you can use the lemon left over after squeezing the juice for your grilling sauce). Boil for approximately 20 minutes. You want to leave the artichokes slightly undercooked - they will finish cooking on the grill.

Drain: Remove from heat, drain and cool. You may refrigerate artichokes at this point and grill them later (I grilled mine the next day).

Preheat Grill. In a large bowl squeeze the juice of two lemons. Mix with 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 cloves of minced fresh garlic (or a generous sprinkle of garlic powder), freshly ground pepper and salt to taste. (I used Lime Flake Sea Salt).

Toss: Add the artichokes to your bowl and turn to coat thoroughly.

Grill: Place artichokes on the grill, cut side down. Cook for about 10 minutes and turn. Cook for about 5 minutes more on the other side. You should have nice grill marks on the cut side of your artichokes.

Add: A Teaspoon or two of mayonnaise to your leftover lemon/oil mixture (if desired) and whisk together. Serve on the side as a dipping sauce.

Serve: Immediately with an additional squeeze of fresh lemon. Grilled artichokes are also great served chilled with a cup of Gazpacho!

photos by: Lisa Keating 

I Took A Trip On A Train . . .

and I thought about you.

photos by: Lisa Keating  

New toy!

Ever seen one of these before?




It's a solar pool heater! I'll let you know how it works. So far, installation was a breeze: I carried the box to the back yard and my hubby set it up. It doesn't get any easier than that!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone


photo by: Lisa Keating
 

 Update Update Update Update Update Update 

The solar pool heater works wonderfully, although not quickly. It took 4 or 5 days to bring the temperature up - noticeably - to the touch. We also use a pool cover to diminish heat loss over night. If you'd like faster results, the manufacturer recommends using more than one (if your pool pump can handle it) used in tandem. No guarantees, but I think it would work! For our purposes, one was enough. :)




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Born On The Fourth Of July

Besides many of my favorite people and our nation, many of those born on the 4th of July have been adored by Americans young and old. From writers; Nathaniel Hawthorne (The Scarlet Letter), Ron Kovic (Born on the Fourth of July), and Neil Simon (The Goodbye Girl) and songwriters Stephen Foster (O Susanna), Bill Withers (Lean on Me) and NOT George M. Cohan (Give My Regards To Broadway) - he was born on July 3rd - to circus impresario - NOT Phineas T. Barnum - he was born on July 5th, but his partner; James A. Bailey and other great showmen Louis B. Mayer (MGM) and George Steinbrenner (the show called baseball) today we celebrate them all. Dear Abby (Abigail Van Buren) and her twin sister, Ann Landers were born on this date along with actresses (too many to mention, so here are two you may remember) Gina Lollobrigida and Eva Marie Saint (North by Northwest), NOT actor Tom Cruise (Risky Business) - he shares George Cohan's b-day, July 3rd - confusing, I know, especially since he starred in the movie Born on the Fourth of July! President, Calvin Coolidge was born on this date and America's First Daughter, Malia Obama celebrates today, too.

Some facts sourced here: The Sacramento Bee 
Photographer: unknown :(

In Celebration Of Independence!

Wishing you a wonderful holiday weekend, from EncinoMom!

photo by: Lisa Keating