We’re officially in the heart of summer and temperatures have been incredibly hot! The intense and huge changes in weather conditions are not hard to observe anymore. But it’s not the high temperatures that make the weather so unbearable, it’s mostly the humidity. It feels quite tropical and we’re definitely not used to such conditions. At least not yet! I remember while on a trip with my parents in Egypt -many many years ago when I was a kid- that I had the exact same feeling as this was the kind of weather that we experienced there. Very high temperatures and humidity! Our clothes felt so sticky on our skin, a total nightmare. And now it’s here!

We’re obviously not the only ones experiencing those dramatic changes, it’s an international phenomenon and things are definitely not looking very good! Compared to the extreme weather conditions and catastrophes that we’ve seen happening around the globe, I have to say that Greece has been very lucky so far. It seems that it’s so hard or maybe even too late to reverse the situation and the measures being taken internationally to restrict and mitigate the issue are inadequate and almost non-existent.

It’s only natural that dramatic changes in weather conditions affect our plants as well. Extremely high temperatures and humidity create an ideal environment for fungi and pests to grow and since we don’t use any chemicals on our plants, we often come up against unexpected repercussions. This year, due to the aforementioned changes, our sour cherries fell off the trees in just two days!

But there’s no need for me to be pessimistic, this is all part of the game when you’re a farmer! At the same time, some of our veggies and fruits have been very successful this year. Our artichokes are a living proof of that! It seems that the mountain where our veggie garden is located and the microclimate of the area are ideal for them and our plants are incredibly loaded with beautiful artichokes! Seeing their growth makes me consider increasing our crop productivity. Artichokes are an extremely healthy vegetable, packed with nutrients and health-promoting properties. They have started to gain popularity in Greece lately and they’re adored all across the Mediterranean, especially in Italy.

In Greece, artichokes are mostly used in the south, in the Peloponnese and in numerous islands where they’re produced. It’s very pleasant to see so many charismatic and talented Chefs showcasing the beauty of artichokes through creative and impressive dishes. And that's the kind of dish that always attracts my attention. Artichokes are slowly getting the recognition they deserve!

I personally adore this wonderful flower and always try to incorporate it more and more into our diet in various ways. And the result is pleasantly surprising each and every time. I love how any recipe can be transformed into a gourmet dish that can impress anyone!

Artichokes are also very impressive-looking. They have this wonderful grey colour (my favourite colour) and they’re so naturally photogenic! I will never get tired of taking pictures of them and I feel like each time is just as exciting and unique even though the protagonist is always the same and the only thing that changes is the background..

I have invited my friends over tonight and I’ve already cleaned and prepared some wonderful artichoke flowers. I’m thinking of making a beautiful puff pastry, artichoke and ricotta cheese tart. Super easy since I’ve made this one quite a few times in the past. However, cleaning my artichokes turned out to be very time-consuming today and I didn’t have the time to make my own dough. Store-bought puff pastry is a great alternative, though. I know my tart will pair perfectly with our wine and my friends will definetely love it!