This is the only recipe I know of that is tested and safe for canning that has eggplant. It doesn't have much eggplant comared to the total amount of other vegetables. I don't have any other information that I have found online about the eggplant. I just know what I was taught in my food safety training classes. VEGETABLE ANTIPASTO Makes about 7 (500 m)l jars This antipasto recipe was specifically formulated to be processed safely in a boiling water canner. Do not deviate from the recipe ingredients and quantities as any change could affect the safety of the end product. 2 1/2 cups (625 ml) green beans cut into 1/2 inch (1 cm) pieces 2 1/2 cups (625 ml) cauliflower florets, about 1/2 medium head 2 cups (500 ml) diced onion, about 2 large 2 cups (500 ml) diced green pepper, 2 medium 2 cups (500 ml) diced red pepper, 2 medium 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) diced carrots, 3 to 4 medium 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) diced celery, 4 to 5 stalks 2 cups (500 ml) lightly packed brown sugar 3 tbsp (45 ml) pickling salt 2 cups (500 ml) red wine vinegar 3 cans (each 156 ml) tomato paste 4 tbsp (60 ml) worcestershire sauce 2 tbsp (30 ml) hot pepper sauce 4 garlic cloves, minced 2 cups (500 ml) diced peeled eggplant or unpeeled zucchini 3 tbsp (45 ml) dried basil 1 tbsp (15 ml) dried mustard Prepare, measure and combine vegetables (including zucchini if using), except garlic and eggplant; set aside. Place 7 clean 500 ml mason jars on a rack in a boiling water canner; cover jars with water and heat water to a simmer (180F/82°C). Set screw bands aside; heat SNAP Lids in hot water, NOT boiling (180°F/82°C). Keep jars and SNAP Lids hot until ready to use. Combine brown sugar, salt, vinegar, tomato paste, worcestershire and hot pepper sauce and garlic in a large stainless steel saucepan. Stirring occasionally, bring to a boil. Prepare eggplant (if using); stir into hot sauce along with remaining vegetables. Stirring occasionally, return mixture to a boil; boil gently, 5 minutes to begin to soften vegetables. Remove from heat; stir in basil and mustard. Ladle antipasto into a hot jar to within 1/2 inch (1 cm) of top rim (headspace). Using nonmetallic utensil, remove air bubbles. Wipe jar rim removing any stickiness. Centre SNAP Lid on jar; apply screw band securely & firmly until resistance is met Âfingertip tight. Do not overtighten. Place jar in canner; repeat for remaining antipasto. Cover canner; bring water to a boil. At altitudes up to 1000 ft (305 m), process Âboil filled jars  25 minutes.* When processing time is complete, turn heat off and remove canner lid. When boil subsides - bubbles no longer rise to surface (3 to 5 minutes) - remove jars without tilting. Cool jars upright, undisturbed 24 hours. DO NOT RETIGHTEN screw bands. After cooling, check jar seals. Sealed lids curve downward and do not move when pressed. Remove screw bands; wipe and dry bands and jars. Store screw bands separately or replace loosely on jars, as desired. Label and store jars in a cool, dark place. Note: Because antipasto is available commercially, many people believe they can preserve their own recipe at home. Most traditional antipasto recipes cannot be home canned safely in a boiling water bath canner. (However, some can be frozen successfully.) When the recipe adds low acid foods such as tuna (or other canned seafood), olives, mushrooms, vegetables and/or oil the resulting food mixture needs to be processed at temperatures higher than those that can be reached in a boiling water canner. These higher temperatures are essential to avoid the risk of deadly botulism poisoning. Processing filled jars of homemade antipasto in a pressure canner is unsuccessful because the temperature/time combinations required to eliminate the risk of botulism destroys the integrity of the vegetables resulting in a product that is almost spreadable. This Vegetarian Antipaso recipe has been specially formulated and tested to allow low acid vegetables (with added vinegar) to be processed safely in a boiling water canner. It yields a product with a well-balanced flavour and varied texture. Do NOT alter ingredients or measures. When ready to serve, to make a traditional antipasto, toss the contents of a jar of Vegetarian Antipasto with tuna, salmon or shrimp and add your personal finishing touchesÂmushrooms, olive oil and/or olives. Or, just serve this delicious Antipasto on its own. It`s delicious as a spread, dip or appetizer.

The way I cook my eggplant is to slice it and salt it for 15 min. before sauteeing it, then rinse away the bitter juices and pat dry. Also, I will peel it if it has tough old peel. Eggplant benefits from a slow sautee like is done for ratatouille, its spongelike texture absorbs the flavor of the olive oil, basil, tomatoes, onions and garlic. Ratatouille is best made by sauteeing each vegetable separately to it's maximum flavor potential (well, actually just under) and then alowing the flavors to mingle as the tomato sauce thickens. Ratatouille is probably my favorite dish. Being vegetarian I often eat it as a main course, with garbanzo beans and topped with feta cheese, over brown rice. If you're watching calories, skip the feta and just a thin garnish of grated parmesean. I'll often serve ratatouille at room temp. with quiche. You could add maybe sauteed chicken to it if you really felt the need. I wouldn't add sausage, that would bring in other flavors.

You may want to try this one which is pan cooked then reheated in the oven until crispy. It's a dish we love: Here a recipe from the Spanish island of Mallorca. Most women there know how to make it and it's often seen in the typical restaurants there. Ingredients: Sauce: 4 TBS olive oil 4 medium sized ripe tomatoes, blanched, skinned and chopped 1/2 onion chopped 1 teasp salt The rest: 2 medium eggplant - if young and tender - leave skins on, otherwise peel. Slice into rounds 1/4 inch thick. Put immediately into bowl of salted water to prevent turning brown. 4 medium potatoes - peeled or not as you like, also sliced 1/4 inch thick. 5 Italian (mild) green frying peppers - seeded and cut into bit-sized pieces 3 cloves garlic - smashed a sprig of chopped flatleaf parsley oil for frying - I use sunflower oil clean newspaper and kitchen towels Sauce - Put the 4 TBS olive oil in a small frying pan and heat. Add chopped tomatoes, onion and salt. Simmer about 20 minutes or until thick and jammy looking. The Rest - 1) Fill large frying pan with about 1/2 inch oil. When hot but not smoking add 1/3 the amount of potatoes. When golden, remove and drain on paper towel-covered newspapers. 2) Continue with the rest of the potatoes - cooking them in two more batches, letting oil heat up again between batches. When potatoes are all done put peppers into hot oil along with garlic cloves and fry until toasted. Remove along with garlic to paper. 4) Drain and pat dry the rounds of eggplant and put them into hot oil and fry in 3 batches - draining them on paper. in the bottom of an ovenproof casserole dish, sprinkle with salt, next layer half the potatoes, again a bit of salt, next layer half the peppers. Repeat with the same ingredients (no more salt) until all are used. Spoon sauce over top and add a bit of chopped parsley. 6) Put into medium oven for about 20 minutes until all is reheated. This is also good served at room temperature and the next day. SharonCb

I'm tired--your question sparked a memory, but when I pursue it it goes away like a puff of steam, rather than solidifying. I have this memory of making cornichons, but no datails are coming forth. The central question of where the fruit came from is bringing back an echo of them being for sale, which would have been the impetus of doing such an odd (for me) thing. Only one jar for the fridge, I'm sure. Or possibly a few to give to other fridges. I keep seeing yellow backgrounds, so maybe it was when I was living abroad, which would also make sense because there wasn't a great variety of foods in the small town, but often interesting produce from neighboring farms would show up at the grocery store. None of which is helpful. It sounds like lower priced jars solved your question, and Look-what-the-cat-dragged-in produce in a different time and place doesn't help either, but I thank you for fishing up the memory! I used to love those "French picnics".