Our Top 5 Gifts for Cooks this Christmas

Christmas is well and truly on its way and here at Roost Living HQ, we're getting just a bit excited. Especially when it comes to planning all the delicious Christmas food. And as you know we love to cook (almost as much as we enjoy eating it!) and here are our top 5 gift ideas for the cook in your life...

Golden Deer Butter Dish by Fliff, Exclusive £80

Wooden Boards by Bojje from £28

Fruit Bowls by Fliff, Exclusive £85

Artichoke Apron by Thornback & Peel for Roost Living £22.50

Artichoke Tea Towel by Thornback & Peel for Roost Living £12.50

Artichoke Season, Pan-Cooked Artichokes

Artichoke season is here so its the perfect time to start experimenting in the kitchen with this striking yet beautiful vegetable.  When cooking artichokes it's best to keep it simple.  Here is a rather delicious, yet simple recipe is from My Tuscan Kitchen by Aurora Baccheschi Berti, with beautiful imagery by Beth Evans.

Pan-Cooked Artichokes

12 Baby artichokes (violetto variety preferably)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, chopped
Leaves from 1 bunch parsley, chopped, plus more for serving
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Wash the artichokes, remove the hard outer leaves, and cut off the pointed ends.

Place the artichokes in a saucepan with the oil, garlic, parsley and salt and pepper to taste.  Place over low heat, add 1 cup of water, cover the pan and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until the artichokes are tender.   Serve sprinkled with parsley.

Artichoke Apron, Tea Towel and Hankies by Thornback and Peel is available Exclusively at Roost Living