Weigl talks pickles and preserves Sunday

Andrea Weigl, my food-writing colleague at the Raleigh News & Observer, is now my food-writing colleague in the "Savor the South" book series from UNC Press. Her book, "Pickles & Preserves," came out this month, covering Southern-style canning of all kinds.

She'll talk about the art of canning - and share samples of her recipes - at 2 p.m. Sunday at Park Road Books, 4139 Park Road (at the corner of Woodlawn and Park Road).

Her book brings the series to eight books out now: "Buttermilk," by Debbie Moose; "Pecans" and "Bourbon," by me; "Tomatoes," by Miriam Rubin; "Peaches," by Kelly Alexander; "Biscuits," by Belinda Ellis; and "Okra," by Virginia Willis.

The "Savor the South" series originally was going to be 14 books, but it's been so popular that the planned total is now 24. Each book is 50 recipes and costs $18 to $20, depending on where you buy it.

If you're into canning, you definitely need to come by Sunday and hear Andrea. She's an expert on the subject, as I can attest: I've been the lucky recepient of her Damson plum jam, watermelon pickles and fig preserves for several Christmases in a row.