This is a seriously scrumptious salad … insalata di verdura. Without a doubt a real Italian classic.

Ingredients

Broccoli
Cauliflower
Black Olives, pitted (use a quality brand)
Tomatoes
Mushrooms, Porcini
Celery

Olive Oil – Extra Virgin
Garlic
Salt to taste

After cutting up vegetables into your serving bowl, add pitted olives and crushed garlic cloves. Apply olive oil liberally and salt to taste. Stir frequently and what is great about this salad is you can make it few hours ahead of serving as you will want the olive oil to soak into the vegetables to help accentuate the taste … Mangia

Makes 5 jars

Ingredients:

20 pounds of green beans
3 cups of water
1 cup of white vinegar
5 tbsp table salt

Olive oil, oregano, garlic

Directions:

• Boil beans until semi soft, drain water and let sit until they are cool to the touch.
• Pack cooked beans into jars.
• Add 1 Tbsp. of table salt into each jar.
• Pour boiling water and vinegar solution into jars.
• Seal jars and steam for 4 minutes.

When ready to serve:

Remove green beans from jar, rinse with cold water and place into serving dish. Add 1/2 tsp oregano, 1 clove grated garlic and drizzle with oil. Mangiare!

Ingredients:

12 cups of water
1 cup of coarse salt
Large Green Olives purchased by the box (seasonal)

Directions:

• Crush firm green olives, removing the pit.

• Soak crushed olives in water for 4 days, remember to change water every day.
• Place olives into canning jars.
• Boil salt and water mixture, pour hot solution into the jars.
• Seal jars and store.

Preparation: Pour contents of sealed jar into a bowl and soak the olives in fresh water for at least one day (over night is better, squeezing olives occasionally and refreshing the water). Squeeze as much excess water out of olives  as you can and place into serving bowl, let air dry, add fresh garlic, oregano, salt, anise seed and olive oil to taste.

Stir frequently and after they have been dressed allow them to sit for a few hours before serving. If you are a true olive lover this Italian recipe will become a keeper.