Crock Pot Artichokes

We love, love, love artichokes! They are so yummy and super easy to make and now that I've found out how to make them in the crock pot they are even easier! 

First you'll need artichokes. You'll want to find ones that are green and consistent in color. The leaves should be tight and free of brown spots.  (So, Indy isn't the hot spot for artichokes. I went to two different places looking for a better quality artichoke, but no such luck. Sometimes you just have to work with what you got and in the end they were still de-lish!)

Cut off the steam and the head of the artichoke.

Using a pair of kitchen shears, cut the top off of each leaf. 

When you're all done it should look nice and pretty like this:

Repeat with the remaining artichokes.

Rinse off each artichoke and place in your crock pot.

Fill the bottom of the crock pot with about 2 inches of water. I add freshly sliced garlic in between several of the leaves and drizzle them with olive oil, red wine vinegar and fresh lemon juice. Then I put the lemon in the water and sprinkle each artichoke with salt and pepper. It all depends on your tastes. Feel free to add or omit ingredients to your liking.

Cook on HIGH for approximately 6 hours. The time will depend on the amount and size of your artichokes. It took a little over 6 1/2hrs for mine to cook. You'll know they are done when the leaves peel off easily. 

I also like to make my own aioli dipping sauce. I make it in the morning and let it marinate in the fridge while the artichokes are cooking. Again you can add what you like to the sauce, make it your own. For those less adventurous, melted butter tastes yummy too!

I use:

• Mayo

• Fresh Lemon Juice

• Fresh Garlic

• Lemon Pepper

Add in your preferred amounts. I like A LOT of lemon pepper and lemon juice in mine. If it gets too tangy for the rest of the family I just add more mayo to tone it down a bit. Just remember that the favors will develop more as it marinates throughout the day. 

Serve with your hot and steamy crock pot artichokes. Don't forget an empty bowl to put all the leaves in. I think the girls love them so much because not only do they taste great, but it's the only time they're allowed to play with their food!