Do You Can (or Pickle)?

A slew of canning and pickling books have hit my desk in anticipation of summer and in spite of myself, I'm starting to think I may try my hand at it this year. It helps, of course, that Allie, RS's food director, swears that it is super simple to do. (Two summers ago she and her husband pickled jars of colorful peppers and gave them to everyone for the holidays—adorable and delicious.)

Pushing me over the edge into canning territory is the new Ball Canning Discovery Kit. For $12.50 you get ...