LACTOSE FREE ARTICHOKES!

For all of you who wonder how to make lactose free steamed artichokes, now you will know! First you want to select large, green artichokes. Make sure they're firm, look fresh and have very little brown on them. (The brown ones are old.) Next, take them home and wash them in a large bowl (using water only...no soap). You may want to leave them soaking in the bowl for about 20 minutes. Next, rinse them and drain them well.

Cut off the bottom stem just at the base. Next, cut off the top pointed part about 1/2 inch down. This will eliminate the prickers at the top. (You don't want to eat those!) Next, on EACH individual leaf, cut off just the top pointed part (about 1/4-1/2 inch down). You don't want to cut off too much on each leaf, or you'll be left with very little vegetable to eat!

Now, in a large stockpot on the stove, saute some fresh garlic in olive oil for a few minutes. If you absolutely have to, you can use garlic salt but it doesn't taste as good. Next, add about 4-8 cups of water and 2-4 chicken bullion. You want the water here to totally cover the artichokes. Next, after your chicken bullion mixture has boiled, add the artichokes and cook for about 20 minutes or until soft. The trick here is to make sure you "baste" them like you would a turkey. The bullion water will eventually burn off, so the artichokes will stick out of the water and they need to be basted or else they will become hard.

To eat, drain each one and serve warm on a plate with a little salt. Enjoy!