Recipes... The Fellowship of the Veggies

Far too lazy to write an actual post today. Actually I'm reading an excellent book, Predictably Irrational, so I'm rather engulfed in that. Here's a recipe for Italian Giardinera, a semi-pickled collection of awesome veggies with the flexibility to be adapted to anything you find at the farmer's market. Try it on sammiches, blend it in a food processor with cream cheese for awesome bagel topping, toss it in pasta salad, and the liquid it marinades in is perfect for a green salad. It keeps in the fridge for up to three months. Enjoy!


GIARDINERA

2 Green bell peppers, diced
2 Red bell peppers, diced
4 Banana peppers, sliced
1 large celery stalk, sliced
1 large carrot, sliced
1 red onion, Frenched
1/2 cup cauliflower florets
1/2 cup salt
water to cover
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbs. Dried oregano
1 tsp. Red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. Black pepper
1 5 oz jar pimento stuffed green olives, drained and chopped
1 cup white wine vinegar
1 cup olive oil

In a bowl, combine the green and red peppers, the banana peppers, celery, carrots, onion, and cauliflower.

Stir in salt, fill with water to cover.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Drain and rinse the vegetables.

In a bowl, mix garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and olives. Pour in vinegar and olive oil and mix well.

Combine with vegetables.

Place in 5-6 pint sized jars, adding more liquid (equal parts oil and vinegar) to come about 3/4ths of the way up.

Refrigerate for two days before using.