Giardiniera

Ingredients

• 1 bay leaf
• 5 teaspoons black peppercorns
• 1 cup white vinegar
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• ⅛ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1½ cups cauliflower florets
• 1 cup roughly sliced carrot
• ½ cup roughly sliced onion
• 2 garlic cloves, smashed
• 2 celery stalks, roughly sliced
• ½ cup pimento-stuffed green olives, roughly chopped
• ¼ cup pepperoncini
• The piquancy of this spread is a perfect contrast to melted cheese and cured meat in Donald Link's muffuletta. Note: Start giardiniera 2 days before you plan to make the muffuletta.