Spinach and Artichoke Quiche

Would you like to start your day with a quiche? �That would be a great morning!� Oh yes, it is! How about a spinach and artichoke combo for a quiche? �Absolutely!� Be like Popeye by eating spinach in a whole new way! *winks* And artichokes? �I'm sorry but I don't know much about artichokes.� Oh, I guess we'll have some information about artichokes here first before we proceed to enjoy this recipe. No worries! Together, we will learn a lot about artichokes! *winks*

An artichoke is a thistle-like flower head with edible fleshy leaves and heart. This budding artichoke flower-head is a cluster of many budding small flowers together with many bracts, on an edible base. It turns into a coarse and barely edible form once the buds bloom. �The edible portions of the buds consist primarily of the fleshy lower portions of the involucral bracts and the base, known as the 'heart'; the mass of immature florets in the center of the bud is called the 'choke' or beard.� Artichokes are perennial plants. They are natives to the Mediterranean area. It has been used as a morsel of food among the ancient Greeks and Romans. The Dutch introduced artichokes to England, where they grew in Henry VIII's garden at Newhall in 1530. The French immigrants and Spanish immigrants introduce artichokes to the United States in the 19th century. Artichokes seeds are still found in the wild state in North Africa.

This cluster of budding flowers also has a cluster of health benefits. They are very high in antioxidants. According to Health Diaries' website, a study by USDA shows that artichokes have more antioxidants �than any other vegetable, and they ranked seventh in a study of the antioxidant levels of 1,000 different foods.� Some of the powerful antioxidants found in artichokes are quercetin, rutin, anthocyanins, cynarin, luteolin, and silymarin. Also, some studies have suggested that artichokes can help to prevent and treat cancer. The extract of the artichoke leaf causes apoptosis (cell death) and reduces cell proliferation in many different forms of cancer, including prostate cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer. �An Italian study found that a diet rich in the flavonoids present in artichokes reduces the risk of breast cancer.� Also, the leaves can help reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL).

�This is useful information, makes me want to have This Spinach and Artichoke Quiche right now!� Certainly! Now it is time for you to enjoy! The link to the recipe is found on the "Simply Recipes" website below.