Putting Up the Season

There is a deep satisfaction in a shelf of jars that carries the fall into February. Jerky on the racks, quick pickles in brine, and a batch of pepper jelly turn a good season into a long one.

Start simple. A quick refrigerator pickle needs no canning kit -- just vinegar, salt, sugar, and a day in the cold to come together sharp and crisp.

Jerky is just as forgiving. A lean cut, a marinade with real salt, and a low oven or dehydrator, and you have trail food that keeps for weeks.

Written by Marek Olszewski for Hunters & Anglers Kitchen.