Chinese Pickles

Photo: flickr user avlxyz

Ingredients

2 cups Round cabbage

cup Chinese white turnip

1 cup Carrots

cup Cucumber

1 cup Celery

4 cups Water

2 slcs Fresh ginger root

2 -(up to)

3 Dried red peppers

8 Black peppercorns

1 teaspoon Sherry

4 tablespoons Salt

Preparation

Wash and core cabbage; cut in 2-inch cubes. Peel turnip and carrots; cut lengthwise in quarters, then crosswise in 2-inch sections. Peel cucumbers; cut in 2-inch slices. Cut celery stalks in 2-inch sections.

Wipe all vegetables with cheesecloth; then spread out to dry for four hours. Transfer vegetables to a crock or jar.

Bring water to a boil. Slice ginger root and add. Add dried red peppers, peppercorns, sherry and salt. Let simmer 1 minute; then remove from heat and let cool.

Pour over vegetables and cover tightly. Let stand (unrefrigerated) 3 to 4 days in cool weather, only 2 days in summer.

NOTE: The marinade can be used again to pickle other vegetables if 1/4 cup sherry, 2 teaspoons brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt are added.