Spring bouquet

A bunch of artichokes from the market this morning - I'll cook them in olive oil and wine with herbs and garlic to serve cold as hors d'oeuvres. We can buy artichokes in the market all through the year, but I know it's spring when they look as good as these and are as cheap as these were. Next month we should have our own in the garden, but I can't wait till then!

After all the rain we've had this week, today is the first day I've been able to blip a response to the 2011 Challenge - spring. The weather is forecast to improve at last from this afternoon onwards.