Be Still, My Artichoke Heart

Later, when they were east of Roma, someone gave her the gift of a Jerusalem artichoke.

--Michael Ondaatje, The English Patient

Jerusalem artichokes are actually native to the US, so I don't know how that particular artichoke made it to Roma. They do taste surprisingly like artichoke hearts. For some reason they have this reputation for being "difficult," but I found mine very easy to cook.

I steamed my artichoke with fresh ginger (yay farmers market!) and it's shown here with an Autumn Gala apple, some homemade yogurt, and a loaf of oatmeal bread.

I wonder how Hana cooked hers...