Artichokes Are Flowers

Recipe from the kitchen of Kevin Walz as recorded in the journal I kept while in Rome in January

The one and only, Harold McGee says "the most important flowers in the West are neither colorful nor flowery!" When left to bloom, the choke turns a beautiful purple.



My recent favorite way to cook them is on the grill. Chop off the top, remove some of the outer layers, skin the stem and then half or quarter each. After the grill, dress with olive oil, salt and lemon.

I eat them on their own, toss them in a farro pasta or add them to a frittata.

Critical Mass 1 & 2

Be Good for Something

This painting of Henry David Thoreau is from Robert Shetterly's book of portraits "American's that Tell the Truth"




I was lucky enough to grow in the same Concord woods where Henry wrote Walden and Civil Disobedience. My cross country team jogged daily past the small, low lying pile of stones where he once lived. Hot summer nights were spent sneaking along Walden pond's path to reach the cool water for a moonlit swim.



There's nothing like the timeless wisdom of Thoreau:

"Do not be too moral. You may cheat yourself out of much life so aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something."

"How does it become a man to behave towards the American government today? I answer, that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it."

"Being is the great explainer."

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."