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Artichokes are among the most fascinating and delicious vegetables in the world. One of the oldest-known foods, artichokes have nourished people for several thousand years. Today, artichokes are enjoyed in every corner of the globe.

If they were too become too popular then you would then find them forced to grow all year round, available in all produce sections and the corner store.Thankfully, they appear out of their thick, green foliage at a time when we need them most, for spring is at the beginning of its production period, but we're not quite ready for the harvesting of other fruits and vegetables.So Globe Artichokes make a welcome addition to my table.

I've begun to see a trend on the restaurant menus. Artichokes are no longer just served warm, steamed or chilled with a simple vinaigrette. You can find many versions of grilled (or even fancier: "fire-roasted") artichokes with spicy basting sauces and creative sauces that complement the smoky artichoke flavor.

Lauded for centuries as an aphrodisiac, this fiber-rich plant contains more bone-building magnesium and potassium than any other vegetable. Its leaves are also rich in flavonoids and polyphenols — antioxidants that can cut the risk of stroke — and vitamin C, which helps maintain the immune system. "Eat them as often as you can," says Bowerman. Ripe ones feel heavy for their size and squeak when squeezed.

Save Mart and Lucky Supermarkets teamed up with Ocean Mist Farms, Castroville, Calif., in April for an artichoke display contest.

I am always slightly amused when I dine out and begin to see a trend on the restaurant menus. Artichokes are no longer just served warm, steamed or chilled with a simple vinaigrette. You can find many versions of grilled (or even fancier: "fire-roasted") artichokes with spicy basting sauces and creative sauces that complement the smoky artichoke flavor.

Researchers at the University of Reading have found that an over-the-counter Artichoke Leaf Extract (ALE) from the globe artichoke plant can lower cholesterol in otherwise healthy individuals with moderately raised levels.

UK research has found artichoke leaf extract (ALE) can reduce cholesterol levels in healthy adults.

Levels dropped six per cent in otherwise healthy adults with raised cholesterol between a group given 1280mg of ALE per day and a control group taking a placebo.

Grilled Artichokes with Truffle Oil.

Depending on your perspective, artichokes are fun to cook and eat or not worth the trouble. For a long time I was in the second camp, feeling that the yield from an artichoke just didn't justify the effort required to cook or eat it. Over time though, I've realized that artichokes are a great dish for a group because they are naturally build of one-bite servings. They are also fun for sharing around the dinner table. I loved these grilled artichokes because they smack of summer and the truffle oil takes the taste experience to a whole new level.

America, we're shell-shocked! The fad diet hype machines have left us bleary-eyed, and, somehow we've forgotten the simplest way to lose weight and stay healthy. It might bring back painful childhood memories, but kids, "Eat your vegetables!" has taught me anything, it's that eating plenty of fruits and vegetables gives your body the best chance to look great and prevent disease. Hey, it worked for me! I went from being an overweight Soprano's look-alike... to a fit and trim gym rat...

Need some last minute Valentine's dinner plans? Think artichokes. They're tender and subtly flavored, reminiscent of a flower, and have a heart in the middle. The possibilities for metaphor are endless. Though artichoke season isn't quite begun yet (usually in March), you can still find them available. Look for 'chokes with a very firm center when squeezed, and bright, healthy-looking leaves.

When you think about Valentine's Day, food often becomes the language of L-O-V-E...Eating artichokes is so utterly sensual. They require abandon and hands-on attention, your fingers pulling apart the olive oil-garlic-scented leaves, your teeth scraping the tender tips. Roasted artichokes leave both you and the table a bit of a mess. And yet, I feel beautiful when I eat an artichoke. Perhaps it's because the artichoke itself is so beautiful; perhaps it's because it takes quite awhile to cook and therefore the waiting takes on special-occasion dimension.  Perhaps my association of artichokes with beauty began as a child, on the Sunday drives with my grandfather down the coast to Castroville - the self-proclaimed "Artichoke Capital of the World." When told that American's 20th century pinup, the glamorous Marilyn Monroe, was Miss Artichoke 1947, the little blond girl who was then me thought that artichokes might have made Monroe as beautiful as she was; at the ver