I let my 6 year old son pick dinner the other night. He picked steamed artichokes and grilled pork chops. I love that kid.

This is the first time I’d cooked artichokes since my interview with Jason Webley, and let me tell you, I can’t look at them the same way ever again! I felt like maybe I shouldn’t be having these with my kid!

All I do to make artichokes is to cut the top of the pointiest parts and all but about 1/2″ of the stem off with a bread knife (I find it easier to use the large serrated knife so the knife doesn’t slip). Then I snip all the thorn-tips off with my kitchen shears. Rinse them off and put them in a pressure cooker with a little water. Once it reaches full pressure I cook them about 15 minutes for large globes.

The pork chops were easier than ever since he picked the already marinated ones from the butcher. It was a simple marinade of olive oil, garlic and herbs. But then all I had to do was put them on a hot grill! Easy for mom! They were fatty and completely saturated in oil which made my grill flame up like crazy so they got a bit charred but the flavor was great.

Throw in a little garlic bread and you have a quick, easy and fun-to-eat meal. Who doesn’t like to eat their way through to the heart of a thistle?