Stewed Baby Artichokes with Fava Beans and Peas
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
4 spring onions, trimmed and quartered OR 12 scallions trimmed and cut into 2 inch pieces
6 baby artichoke hearts, cut into quarters
1 cup fresh fava or lima beans
1 cup fresh or frozen peas
salt and black pepper to taste
1/2 cup vegetable stock
1 fresh tarrragon sprig

     Put the oil in a large, flameproof casserole dish and place over medium high heat with the lid on.  Add the onions and cook, until wilted only.  One at a time, add each vegetable, stirring each for 1-2 minutes at a times.  Add the salt and pepper, stock, and tarragon at the end.  Turn the heat to low, cover, and simmer for a 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.  This is a wonderful italian dish that is delicious mixed with penne pasta or served as a side dish.

                        December
A little girl is singing for the faithful to come ye
Joyful and triumphant, a song she loves,
And also the partridge in a pear tree
And the golden rings and the turtle doves.
In the dark streets, red lights and green and blue
Where the faithful live, some joyful, some troubled,
Enduring the cold and also the flu,
Taking the garbage out and keeping the sidewalk shoveled.
Not much triumph going on here- and yet
There is much we do not understand.
And my hopes and fears are met
In this small singer holding onto my hand.
     Onward we go, faithfully, into the dark
     And are there angels hovering overhead? Hark!            
                                  - Gary Johnson