Sicilian Artichokes

1. Coarsely crush croutons, if large pieces. In a large bowl combine croutons, sweet pepper, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Add anchovies, if using. In a small bowl combine olive oil, vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper; drizzle over crouton mixture. Toss to combine. Add enough chicken broth to moisten. Set aside.

2. Wash the artichokes; trim stems and remove loose outer leaves. Cut off 1 inch from top of each artichoke; snip off the sharp leaf tips with kitchen scissors. Brush the cut edges with a little lemon juice. Whack the artichokes, point side down, on a countertop and the center will open to expose yellow center leaves and choke. If necessary, use your fingers to pull the outer leaves away from the center leaves. Use a spoon to scoop out inner yellow leaves and fuzzy center. Brush insides with lemon juice. Spoon the filling into the artichokes, packing lightly.

3. Put the water in a 6-quart pressure cooker. (This recipe works best in a stainless steel pressure cooker, which most of the newer ones are. Artichokes tend to discolor on contact with aluminum.)

4. Place the artichokes, stuffing side up, on the rack in the pressure cooker. Cover and lock lid in place. Bring to high pressure over high heat (allow about 10 minutes). Adjust heat for moderate cooking and cook 8 minutes. Quick release the pressure. Serve artichokes in shallow bowls. Makes 4 servings.