Recipe - Stuffed Artichokes With Red Pepper Vinigrette

4 lg Artichokes
2 Lemons, halved
One half cup Water
One half cup Olive oil
1 Red bell pepper, finely
chopped
One half md Onion, finely chopped
2 Garlic cloves, minced
1 One half cup Fine dry bread crumbs
4 Scallions, thinly cut or sliced up
2/3 cup Freshly grated Parmesan
cheese
One half teaspoon Dried thyme, crumbled
Cayenne, to taste
1 tablespoon White wine vinegar

Using a stainlesssteel knife cut off the stems of artichokes and discard.
Break off the tough outer leaves and cut off the top fourth of the
artichokes. Using sharp kitchen scissors, snip off the tops of the
remaining leaves. Rub the cut edges with a lemon half.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the juice of the two
lemons reserving 3 tablespoons. Add the prepared artichokes to the boiling
water and cook for 20 to 30 minutes or just until a few leaves pull out
easily, taking care not to overcook the artichokes. Drain the artichokes,
place inverted on paper towels and allow to cool completely.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a small heavy saucepan heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over moderately low
heat and cook the red bell pepper, reserving One fourth cup for garnish, the
onion, and the garlic until softened. In a bowl combine the softened
vegetables, bread crumbs, scallion, cheese, thyme, cayenne, lemon juice and
2 tablespoons of remaining olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste.

Carefully spread open the center leaves of each artichoke and scrape out
the chokes with a small spoon. Spread the leaves of artichokes gently and
fill the center and spaces between the leaves with the stuffing. Arrange
the stuffed artichokes in a baking dish just large enough to hold them and
add enough water to cover bottom of dish. Drizzle 1 to 2 tablespoons of
remaining oil over artichokes and bake 12 to 15 minutes.

In a small bowl whisk together vinegar, remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil,
remaining One fourth cup of red bell pepper, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve
warm artichokes drizzled with vinaigrette.

Yield: 4 servings

NOTES : (Adapted from a Gourmet Magazine recipe)

Recipe by: Cooking Live Show #CL8843 Posted to MCRecipe Digest V1 #523 by
Angele Freeman jfreeman@netusa1.net on Mar 19, 1997