2 large jalapeños
1/2 white onion medium
5 cloves garlic smashed
1 1/2 cups white vinegar
1 1/2 cups water
1 tbsp vegetable oil
6 bay leaves whole
10 black peppercorns
2 tsp dried Mexican oregano (See Note 1)
1 tsp salt
Peel and slice carrots and onion into 1/4 inch thick pieces (See Note 2). Cut the stems off jalapeños and slice thin on diagonal (See Note 3). Set aside. In a large stock pot add the garlic, vinegar, water, oil, bay leaves, peppercorns, oregano, salt. Bring to a boil and add the carrots, onion and jalapeños. Lower heat to medium-low and cook for 15 minutes, uncovered. Allow to cool completely and store vegetables and cooking liquid in clean, sterile glass containers with lid. (This recipe fills 4 pint or 2 quart jars.) If more liquid is needed to cover add equal parts water and white vinegar. Keep refrigerated. Fine to eat after 3 hours, best if pickled for at least a day or two. See Notes if canning. Notes: The herb that makes this is Mexican oregano, but regular oregano works just as well. Slice carrots on the diagonal for larger pieces to eat. You can also add small cut cauliflower, this is optional. Cut the half white onion into 1/4 inch slices, no diagonal cut needed as with carrots. CANNING TIPS (This recipe fills 4 pints): This is a safe recipe for canning. Brine made with at least 50% vinegar (5% acid) is safe pH for canning. Check your vinegar bottle to make sure it’s 5% acid, some store brands are only 4% (calling them table vinegars) and do not measure up for proper acidity for canning. Boiling water bath pints and half pints for 15 minutes and adjust for altitude. (add 5 minutes to water bath time for every 1,000 feet in altitude. 15 minutes for sea level to 999 feet, 20 minutes for altitude 1000-1999, etc…). Have not found that the 15 minute water bath cook time on top of initial cook time in Instructions made the carrots mushy, but if concerned, cut initial cook time in Step 2 above by 5 minutes. Remove from canner, let cool, check to make sure the jars have sealed, remove rings, label lid and store in a cupboard. I’ve had jars that were 4 years old and still delicious. Refrigerate once jar is open, will stay good in refrigerator for a month.