Although I have been eating this delicious antipasto since I moved to Victoria nine years ago, I never knew how to make it. Then last month, I was given the original list of ingredients from Grandma O’Brien by her grand-daughter Kieran and there I was  trying to figure out the “how to”  make the recipe, so that it would taste like  genuine Italian antipasto. Because I was very anxious not to ruin all this food, I divided the amounts given by half. The recipe below yielded about 22 eight-ounce jars, and a bit extra for testing by the cook. I was surprised that a lot of ingredients are actually canned, jarred or pickled but was told by another friend, who has been making this  for years , that it was best not to tamper with good things and that  this antipasto  recipe was incredibly good and addictive.

• 1 lbs  Dill pickles (no garlic) sliced
• 1 lbs  silverskin onions pickled, cut in halves
•  1 lbs cauliflower cut in small pieces
• 2 tins sliced mushrooms (284ml)
• 1 lbs yellow pepper
• 1 lbs green pepper
• 3 tins chunk tuna (regular size, net weight 120gr)
• 1 tin black ripe olives sliced (375ml)
• 1 jar stuffed Manzanilla green  olives sliced (375ml)
• 1,87 l ketch up
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup white vinegar
• 1 tin green beans cut (398ml/14fl oz)
• 1 tsp salt

Heat a  small quantity of olive oil in your largest stockpot, or Le Creuset cast-iron pot, or a very large non-stick pot. Add the peppers, cut up in squares about 1/2 inch and sauté them gently 5 minutes. Add the cauliflower and sauté 1 minute. Add everything else except the tuna. Simmer 15 minutes. Add the flaked tuna and simmer another 2 minutes. Keep stirring often to prevent burning the bottom.

While your antipasto cools down with a lid on top. Sterilize Mason jars, tops, rings, prongs, a large spoon. Then, fill the jars leaving 1/2 inch at the top, cover and preserve  for 20 minutes. If you are not familiar with preserves, follow a book or internet directions. As we all preserves, the process is important to avoid botulism, and  especially  here because low acid foods are included in this recipe. Note also that there is no garlic for that reason. (If you don’t feel like preserving, the antipasto can also be frozen).

Try to save the jars for one month before eating! Right!

Note: To be truthful, I have to confess that I added 3 tbsp red wine vinegar and 3 tbsp Frank’s red hot sauce, but that is up to you!