Cured Olives With Lemon And Garlic

• 1 1/2 pounds olives...I prefer green ones, the black are too mushy
• 1 quart brine
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lemon, cut into quarters
• 3 cloves garlic (optional) If you use garlic, poach it first to thoroughly cook before adding
• fennel bulb, sliced (optional)

1. Make a brine. Into a quart of water add enough salt so that a egg will float (start with 1/2 cup and keep adding until the egg floats)
2. Wash the olives and pick out any that are not perfect.
3. Put half the olives in the jar.
4. Put in the lemon slices (you can add garlic and/or fennel slices if you want, too) . Add the rest of the olives.
5. Pour the brine to the top of the jar, just covering the olives.
6. Top with a thin layer of olive oil.
7. Close the jar, but do not seal. I use a baggie and put the closure over that
8. Put the jar in the refrigerator or a very cool room for at least 6 months.
9. When you open the jar the olive oil will be solid and messy. Take as many olives as you need and rinse them and then sprinkle with olive oil, herbs or eat plain.
10. Keep refrigerated and put another thin layer of olive oil on the top.

green ones, brine, olive oil, lemon, garlic, fennel bulb

Taken from food52.com/recipes/1206-cured-olives-with-lemon-and-garlic (may not work)