Giardiniera - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups cauliflower florets
1 small carrot, chopped into 1/8-inch pieces
1/2 small onion, chopped into 1/8-inch pieces
2 garlic cloves, smashed
2 celery ribs, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup pimento-stuffed green olives, roughly chopped
1/4 cup pepperoncini pepper
1 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar (I prefer 1 tablespoon)
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (can sub 1 fresh chopped hot pepper)
1/8 teaspoon oregano
1 bay leaf
5 teaspoons black peppercorns

Preparation

Toast bay leaf and peppercorns. Combine vinegar, olive oil, salt, sugar, pepper flakes, and oregano in a pot and bring to a simmer. Add bay leaves and peppercorns. Steep 5 minutes.
Strain bay leaves and peppercorns. Reserve liquid. Place vegetables in a 1 quart container. Pour liquid over vegetables and let sit for two days before using.