Several months ago, I was invited to participate in a blogging challenge of blogging my way through the alphabet, which I successfully completed in Inspiritual Reflections. The owner challenged some of us to complete the alphabet, if we had not, or do it again, which I have chosen to do. So this time I am going to blog my way through the alphabet in The Zenful Kitchen, spiritually reflecting on foods, herbs, spices, and other things culinary.

I decided to start this challenge with an ingredient, which has always intrigued me, the artichoke.  Artichokes are interesting because from an alchemical perspective, they encourage personal growth and protect a person from negative elemental energies. Women were at one time warned not to eat them, as it was believed they were sexually stimulating.