Baked Artichokes with Parmesan Stuffing

Baked artichokes, Parmesan, herbs and breadcrumbs.

Globe artichokes, stuffed with breadcrumbs and Parmesan

Globe artichokes are funny lookin' things! At first like a cactus (but actually a thistle) and later like a delicate flower, an artichoke is worth the patience for its nutty and creamy decadence.
Although they look a little daunting to prepare, turning an artichoke can actually be very simple, although I was surprised how much of the vegetable is not actually eaten, only the soft heart is consumed once the leaves, scratchy 'petals' and choke are removed. The revealed heart can be boiled baked, grilled, barbecued or steamed and then stuffed with whatever you fancy really - cheese bread, ham, anchovies, tomato, bacon, egg - like a homemade mini pizza! They make a great side dish or a large artichoke would be a great vegetarian dish.

The Cheese Board, Harrogate, UK

Our "Cheese Board"- Harrogate

The Cheese Board is an amazing treasure trove on Commercial Street, Harrogate. The shop contains so many cheeses, it is impossible to know what to look at let alone choose and if you like cheese it is enough to send you over the cheese board edge! We bought just two to sample along with some Raydale Preserves Fig and Honey chutney and a packet of oat crackers. Yorkshire Blue and Swaledale Ewe's Milk cheeses went down a treat and we ate the whole lot in one sitting! I didn't even feel a little bad about it. They also provide a bespoke wedding cheese stack service which although against tradition, was an amazing spectacle at the last wedding we attended (although on that occasion it was not a Cheese Board purchase). I am sure we will be back there soon to sample a new tasty morsel.

The Royal Oak in Ripon - Review

Royal Oak, Ripon

It's fun to spend a day in a new place discovering what is on offer and browsing windows and menus. We recently had a drive up to Ripon for the day and were pleasantly suprised by the range of foodie treats on offer. The cathedral was impressive and the large market town feel made us feel welcome. We spent some time looking in the well established Deli on Duck Hill, enjoying the range of Yorkshire produce including Taylors tea and coffee, unusual global food items and a huge amount of cheese! There were also a great deal of cafes. An interesting looking wine bar named Squiffy's caught my eye and we are due to give that place a whirl one time soon.