Wednesday: Steak, Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower, Steamed Artichokes

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Still have some steak tucked away in the freezer, so I'll marinate those and serve it up with some fun sides.  We all love artichokes and I've made this recipe many times.  Great flavor!  Also, I haven't made cauliflower in a long time, so this sounded like fun and its simple to make.  I love just about anything with cheese on it!

Cheesy Roasted Cauliflower  (borrowed from Food and Whine)

1 head of cauliflower  
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp Mrs Dash seasoning
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Cut cauliflower into small florets and toss them with olive oil and seasoning. Spread them out onto a baking sheet and roast them at 400F for about 30 minutes, until they begin to brown slightly at the tips. Remove from oven and place in a serving dish. Sprinkle with cheese and cover the dish until the cheese has completely melted, then serve.

How to Cook an Artichoke  (From SimplyRecipes.com)

1. If the artichokes have little thorns on the end of the leaves, take a kitchen scissors and cut of the thorned tips of all of the leaves. This step is mostly for aesthetics as the thorns soften with cooking and pose no threat to the person eating the artichoke.

 

2. Slice about 3/4 inch to an inch off the tip of the artichoke.

3. Pull off any smaller leaves towards the base and on the stem.

4. Cut excess stem, leaving up to an inch on the artichoke. The stems tend to be more bitter than the rest of the artichoke, but some people like to eat them. Alternatively you can cut off the stems and peel the outside layers which is more fibrous and bitter and cook the stems along with the artichokes.

5. Rinse the artichokes in running cold water.

6. In a large pot, put a couple inches of water, a clove of garlic, a slice of lemon, and a bay leaf (this adds wonderful flavor to the artichokes). Insert a steaming basket. Add the artichokes. Cover. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Cook for 25 to 45 minutes or until the outer leaves can easily be pulled off. Note: artichokes can also be cooked in a pressure cooker (about 15-20 minutes cooking time). Cooking time depends on how large the artichoke is, the larger, the longer it takes to cook.

*Note from me:  After the artichoke is cooked.  Cut it in half vertically (top to bottom).  Scrape out the "fuzz" with a spoon.  Careful not to scrape out the Heart of the artichoke...that's the best part.  (photos to come after I've cooked mine)