Best Hearts

If I mention artichoke hearts in Canada, most of you will think of the marinated ones you buy in jars or the small canned hearts.

But in Lebanon (and other parts of the Middle East) artichoke hearts are big, hearty and make lovely meals.

You can buy them frozen at most of the Lebanese or Iranian stores in the city. But you may not know what to do with them.

So read along for some ideas and give it a try - a perfect base for quick, healthy, tasty and unique meal ideas.

One way of cooking them is to lay the hearts in a cooking platter. Fill them with pre-cooked ground beef, top with fried pine nuts and sprinkle with lemon and water sauce. Bake for about 30 minutes in a 350 oven and serve over rice.

Another approach is to fill them with cooked vegetables or cooked chicken, cover them with béchamel sauce, sprinkle with grated gruyere cheese and bake the same way.

And there is no law to say you cannot do a bit of each for the same meal. Enjoy.