What's the Deal with Artichokes?

Really.  I mean, what's the deal with them?  Have you ever tried to just cook an artichoke?  I'm not talking gooey, creamy artichoke dip with artichoke hearts from a fancy little bottle.  I mean, go steam an artichoke and see what happens.  A whole lotta nothin', that's what.  Are the leaves merely dipping devices?  Do they serve any other purpose?  I thought it was supposed to have some kind of umph to it.  

This tilapia, on the other hand,  was pretty good.  In a food processor, I chopped up almonds, fresh rosemary, thyme and sage and sprinkled it on top of the fish with some olive oil.  Broiled on high for a few minutes and bam,  tilapia.  Something normal.   

I even got a little fruity sauce going.  I had half a peach left over from a snack sitting in some truvia in the fridge, so I blended that with the left over ground almond and herbs and some lemon olive oil and ate it with the fish.  Well, mostly I just spooned it into my mouth because it tasted like dessert.  But it was good with the fish, too.

Rotation is getting a little easier, now.  Especially with the discovery that I'm not allergic to goat's milk.  READ:  I can eat goat cheese.  Yes, I get excited over little things, like eggs, goat cheese and bacon.  And frozen cherries.

What's that?  How do I feel, you ask?  After avoiding all the wonderful treats that I'm allergic to?  I feel fantastic.  It's just like when I stopped eating dairy and eggs for the first time.  All these things/symptoms that I thought were from something else went away.  Dizziness, acne, being tired all the time, the inability to lose weight.  All gone.

For example, a symptom of food allergies is inflammation.  For the past few months, I've had a knee issue.  I couldn't run.  I went to a physical therapist three times a week and we couldn't fix it.  I was just about to go get a shot in my knee as a last resort, or give up running all together thinking my body just wasn't built for it.  Two weeks into this diet, and my knee feels fine after every mile.  I know, it's hokey.  When I get back up to three mile runs, I'll revisit this issue, but for now, I'm a believer.