Sunchokes

My friend Rosemary took me out to her garden and showed me where she'd just dug up some Jerusalem artichokes, also called Sunchokes. Her neighbor had given her a root and she stuck it in the ground and forgot about it -- and while she wasn't looking, it grew, and grew -- and grew! I'd never had one before, and as I'm always encouraging my students to try something new, I followed my own advice and now have a new favorite vegetable!
My favorite way to eat them is to chop the root in chunks, and braise in a small amount of water with other veggies. They are creamy, rich, and delicious with a delicate flavor reminiscent of artichokes!