"Embracing the Artichoke" by Melissa Clark at nytimes.com:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/18/dining/embracing-the-artichoke-a-good-appetite.html?_r=0

Not quite as fancy as breadandbeta's recipe, but some crotchety ol' geezer posted a writeup on basic artichoke steaming at http://mantestedrecipes.com/recipe/8607/spring-hill-ranch-basic-steamed-artichoke.aspx

Many different ways to prepare artichokes but the most classic is steaming them. Here's a basic recipe
http://food52.com/recipes/4443-steamed-artichokes-with-eggless-basil-mayonnaise-dip