Artichoke Nibbles

This recipe is one of our favorite appetizers to take to a party or gathering.  The recipe is titled Artichoke Frittata in our cookbook: A Taste Of Oregon, but we like calling them Nibbles.

This recipe is very easy to make, the only thing we had to go to the store to get were soda crackers.  It seems silly that we have to buy a large box of crackers for a recipe that uses only six.  While I was at the store, I also purchased some fresh parsley instead of using dried parsley in the recipe.

I started by setting our small lower oven to 325 degrees and then measuring twelve ounces of drained artichoke hearts from our supersized jar we purchased at Costco.  Into a large skillet, I put two tablespoons of the oil and spices from the jar of artichoke hearts and put it on the stove to heat.  I cleaned and chopped three green onions and put them in the skillet.

While the onions sautéed in the oil until limp, I chopped the artichoke hearts and large clove of garlic.  I put the contents of the four eggs in a large mixing bowl and beat with a wire whisk until the whites and yolks were mixed.  Into the bowl, I added the chopped artichoke, garlic, and the six crushed soda crackers.

Next, I grated 1 /2 pound of Tillamook Cheddar cheese using our box grater and added the cheese to the bowl.  Lastly, I added the onions and oil mixture from the skillet and then thoroughly mixed all the ingredients together.  I prepared the 8x8 inch glass Pyrex glass baking pan by giving the inside a very thin coating of margarine, then poured the mixture from the bowl to the baking pan making an even layer across the bottom.

I cooked the nibbles for thirty-five minutes then removed the pan from the oven and let it cool on top of the stove before transferring to the refrigerator to chill.  Once the pan was cool, we cut the nibbles into bite-sized pieces (about one inch square).  My wife moved the individual nibbles to a serving plate and stuck a colored toothpick in each one as a serving.

We love the artichoke nibbles and are always saddened when we take them to an event and there are some that sit out for hours and go uneaten.  That was not the case at our latest party.  My wife was still moving the nibbles to the serving plate and people were walking by and picking them up.  I noticed that they were all eaten within the first thirty minutes, and I know that I ate my share.

Adventures In Food: Author: Kerry Howell