Pickle Recipes - Giardiniera

Giardiniera is a pickle that uses any of a variety of vegetables. Essentally you can use whatever you have at hand. Some suggestions include celery, carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower, peppers or asparagus.

3 quarts of prepared vegetables (whatever you have, chopped into bite-sized pieces)
6 bay leaves
12 garlic cloves
1 1/2 teaspoons peppercorns
6 oregano sprigs
4 teaspoons pickling salt
2 3/4 cups white wine vinegar
2 1/2 cups water
6 tablespoons olive oil

Put 1 bay leaf, 2 garlic cloves and 1/4 teaspoon peppercorns into 6 pint jars.
Pack the vegetables into the jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
Add an oregano sprig to each jar.
In a non-reactive pan boil the vinegar, water salt. Dissolve the salt.
Pour the liquid over the vegetables, leaving 1/2 inch headspace.
Top each jar with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Close the jars with hot two-piece lids and boiling-water bath them for 20 minutes.
Store them in a cool, dark place for 3 weeks before eating.