Hot Pickled Vegetables

Ingredients:
1 pound carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch slices on the diagonal
1 head cauliflower, trimmed and separated into small florets
1 pound pickling cucumbers, unpeeled, washed and cut into 1/4-inch slices on the diagonal
3/4 cup chopped fresh oregano leaves
1 quart white vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup coarse salt
2 T cracked black pepper
6 red jalapeno chilies
6 green jalapeno chiles
2 heads garlic, cloves separated, peeled, cut in half lengthwise
1 medium yellow onion, sliced

Preparing the pickled vegetables:
Bring a medium saucepan of salted water to a boil, and blanch the carrots for 3 minutes. Remove from the boiling water with a slotted spoon, and refresh in a bowl of iced water. Drain and reserve. Then blanch the cauliflower about 6 minutes, drain, refresh and drain again. Place the carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers and oregano in a large non-reactive bowl.

Combine the vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add the jalapeno chiles, garlic and onion and return to a boil. Cook 1 minute longer, and pour over the vegetables.

Set aside to cool to room temperature. Pour into three 1-quart glass jars and refrigerate as long as 1 month.

Makes 3 quarts