Artichokes with a Butter-Lime Dipping Sauce

Artichokes are a scary vegetable. In a fit of craziness, we got a couple at Trader Joes, and then I had to figure out how to make them. It turns out they aren't difficult at all.

First, trim the stem and the top by an inch and trim the thorns with a pair of scissors.

Then put them stem up in a steamer with 2 inches of water for 20 minutes until the stems are tender. Here you can see the fork slid clear into the stem.

For the sauce, melt some butter and add a splash of lime until it suits your fancy.

Eat it by pulling off a leaf and dipping it in the butter, then scraping your teeth along the leaf about halfway up to get the fleshy part. Throw out the rest of the leaf and proceed to the next one.