Homemade Giardiniera

Ingredients

1 head cauliflower
1 head broccoli, or broco-flower, or another head of cauliflower of a different color
2 large carrots
1 celery root. If you can’t find it, use a few stalks of celery
1/3 cup salt
1 small yellow onion
1 red pepper
3 cloves garlic
2 mild banana peppers. If you can’t find fresh, use a jar of pickled banana peppers, but don’t tell anyone.
1 jar of green olives.
1 handful of dried Italian spices
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup vegetable oil, like canola (if you use all olive oil, it can get gooey in the fridge)
1 cup white vinegar (or rice vinegar)

Directions:

Dice up the cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, and celery root. You want these to be diced to about the same size, about 3/4 inch, not too big or too small. Think bite-sized.

Put the diced veggies in a big bowl, and add salt. Cover with water. Soak overnight, stirring once in a while.

The next day, drain the salty water and rinse the vegetables several times. Add the following vegetables, chopped up fine: onion, red bell pepper, and garlic. Add sliced banana peppers, then crush the olives with your hands and toss those in along with the spices, oils, and vinegar. Stir it all up, and let it sit for about 2 days, stirring and stealing tastes occasionally. Serve cold with Italian dishes, antipasti, or just as a snack on its own.

Experiment with different vegetables and spices to find the combination you like best!