Andrea Weigl

Andrea Weigl has been the food writer at The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C. since 2007. She has won awards from the Society for Features Journalism, the Association of Food Journalists and The Society of News Design. Her stories have been reprinted in such anthologies as "Best Food Writing," "Cornbread Nation," and "27 Views of Raleigh." "Pickles and Preserves," is her first cookbook. Andrea's year is defined by canning sessions. In the winter, she makes a batch of yellow Jerusalem Artichoke Relish from her backyard crop. In the spring, she cooks up sweet red Strawberry Preserves. In the summer, it's savory Yellow Squash Pickles and peaches — pickled, brandied, or as a thick butter. And in the fall, figs from her front yard are transformed into preserves that serve as the base for Ocracoke Fig Cakes. Andrea grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa., where she developed a love of pierogies, Primanti Bros. sandwiches and good Italian bread. She came came to the South in 1998 and came to love pimento cheese, shrimp and grits, and biscuits and gravy. She lives in Raleigh with my husband, Matt; toddler, Josephine Pearl; and a basset hound/beagle mix named Mr. Early.