April is a big tease in the Catskills, it is sunny, you can feel the sun almost burning your skin ---granted I am extremely pale but it is light until 7:30 now! There is no green really, and it still can be very cold. I remember when I was a freshman at SUNY Albany and I was annoyed at all the Long Islanders complaining about how cold Albany was. I thought they were all soft suburbanites, ironically now I am in love with one but that is a WHOLE other story. However, they were right the truth is that Upstate New York gets two more months of winter weather, but I still think it is worth it. Upstate New York has some of the best pasture land I have set my eyes on, and it requires no irrigation; it is a grass farming paradise, and the long cold winter has a lot to do with this.With this said, it is still majestic in Delaware county and if you take a hike at dusk you can almost imagine yourself in a Bronte novel: there is something really moody about the dusky light that hugs the brown and blue landscape.
I topped the evening off with tomato and basil braised artichokes along with Ricearoni .I know, I know, not very farm fresh but it was in the house and it sorta had a risotto thing going on, which was perfect with the braised artichokes.
Braised Artichokes with Tomatoes and Fresh Basil
Ingredients:Preparation: The secret to braising artichokes it to remove all the green leaves, if the leaves are green they will be tough but if they are yellow they will be tender. These artichokes where so tender you did not have to remove the chokes.
- 4 medium tender artichokes, all dark green leaves removes and quatered
- 1-14 oz can of whole tomatoes or two fresh tomatoes
- 3 cloves garlic
- Olive oil to cover pan
- handful of fresh basil
- salt to taste
I heated the olive oil and added the artichokes, garlic and satueed at a low to medium heat for 10 minutes, i then added the tomatoes and basil and stewed them for about 30 minutes. Enjoy! serves 2-4 people(two people if it is the main dish).
19 comments:
GORRRGEOUS scenery and delish artichoke recipe!!
thank you!:)
and thank you for all your comments:)
we had a stellar sun day here on cape cod...the sun felt like the perfect electric blanket warming each single inch of my body. hadn't felt that in a long time as the winter was long and cold here.
love that shot of the happy dogs just running and having a blast!
Those artichokes look fantastic. I've never braised them...great idea! The hike loos great, too.
What beautiful pictures! The braised artichokes look really good. Your book is on its way!
Love the pics, you should make them full screen. Its funny you mention about the quality of the light, how moody it can be (or just make you feel) I was trying to explain that exact same thing to someone the other day.
Dawn, oh I am jealous! It is a toss up which I like more the mountains or the ocean!
Yeah my dog Flynn and my baby sister's whippet love to run together, it is almost liking going to the ballet they are so graceful!:)
unconfidentialcook : thank you!:)
yeah they came out well, the secret is the tender artichokes because I am lazy when it comes to cutting up artichokes:)
Reeni:)
THank you!
Can not wait to try some recipes:)
VR: Glad to hear that you feel the same. There are a lot of times at dusk in the Catskills that there is this heavy feeling, not sure what it is, maybe the elevation and the light.
Hi Ulla, love the photo's of your dusk walk, its like looking out of my own back window!... the light, the colors and the mountains are truly spectacular up here.. i feel like we must be spittin distance from each other...
Oh you are right...such beautiful scenes! We finally got a beautiful day in Manhattan but I must admit those open pastures are making me quite jealous!
Great photos! Where did you find affordable artichokes out here? I haven't used them since moving from CA since they seem to be a couple bucks a piece at Wholefoods.
Always looking for great ways to use artichokes. Nicely done!
We too had great weather here and it was awesome to start getting everything prepped for the upcoming growing season.
Truthfully up until a couple years ago I thought all of New York was just a hustling bustling city but boy was I wrong. You were not kidding about some great pasture and great food items being made out of those pastures.
The Catskills Kiwi:
Thanks! It is so hard to describe April up here, glad it is the same for you! We should get together in the summer!
Laura: I know what you mean!:)
What a gorgeous few days:)
Marc: I bought these for 2.99 for four at Trader Joe's there is one on the way upstate and it is perfect for stocking up on stuff for upstate. Also, they were really good.
I sometimes get them at my local Westside Market in Chelsea they can be from 1.50 each to 3 for five dollars which I think is an alright price. What I like most about artichokes is they keep for a long time and make a great dinner on the pinch!:)
Marc: thanks too:)
Jeff: thank you!
Yes, isn't upstate New York gorgeous, it really upsets me to see it fall into economic ruin. I hope that there can be more focus on how great the farm land is up there!:)
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