Moving into her second decade working in education, Jodi Rath has decided to begin a life of crime in The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series. Her passion for both mysteries and education led her to combine the two to create her business MYS ED, where she splits her time between working as an adjunct for Ohio teachers, educational writing, marketing consultant work with authors, and creating mischief in her fictional writing. She currently resides in a small, cozy village in Ohio with her husband and her eight cats. Learn more about Jodi and her books at her website.
Biting Off More than we can Chew on the Holiday, Best Laid Plans, and Other Idioms
I’ll be the first to admit that I like to do those cute memes about happy holidays on social media. For the most part, my holidays are happy, too (she says tongue in cheek). I tend to do that—bite off more than I can chew on the holidays, that is.
The commercials all show happy Norman Rockwell picturesque families, and then we look at social media and see those family pictures of the whole gang gathered around the dinner table with big smiles on their faces. The truth is, many families have issues and prove to be dysfunctional. Don’t leave me quite yet—those of you that do live this life! This is not a bleak blog by any means!
My family is a dysfunctional family. So much so that I relate to Melvin Updale’s quote in the movie As Good As It Gets: “Some of us have great stores, pretty stories that take place at lakes, with boats, and friends, and noodle salad. Just no one in this car. But, a lot of people, that is their story; good times, noodle salad. What makes it so hard is not that you had it bad, but that you’re pissed that so many others had it good.” I’m not thatcynical though. I love to make people happy and see people happy. This is where the blog turns around—promise!
Writing The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series has been excellent therapy for me. My protagonist Jolie Tucker is based on a lot of things I’ve been through with my biological father and my family. I lighten the mood in the series to add a lot of comedy for entertainment purposes. What I’ve been able to figure out is that, yes, there are a lot of issues with my past, my mom has issues, my grandma has issues, my bio dad was a huge letdown, and of course, I have issues. BUT I am happy.
I’ve learned so much from the good, the bad, and the ugly that comes with family turmoil. As an adult, I’ve learned about boundaries and when to walk away from disastrous relationships. Most importantly, I’ve been able to realize that as much as my grandma and mom can drive me up a wall, they are at the same time my rocks. Both are strong-minded, independent women who know how to take care of themselves. And while I may not always see eye to eye with them (and vice versa), I would do anything for them as they would for me. They have been the ones to be present in my life through everything.
One of the things I wrote for my protagonist, Jolie, to say in my upcoming Thanksgiving holiday book, Turkey Basted to Death, is “Why can family push your buttons so easily? Because they installed them!” I believe this to be true for all of us. But here’s the thing, there is nothing else in this world like the connection of family, and family comes in so many different forms. Those people and/or pets that are there for us, they are the ones that can drive us batty, but they are the ones we love unconditionally—warts and all.
So, from me—and my family (both literal and the Leavensport family from the Cast Iron Skillet Mysteries) Happy Holidays! Remember, along with giving an eye roll as needed during your holiday family gatherings, also give hugs!
Dutch Cast Iron Cajun Turkey Recipe
Ingredients:
6 to 8-pound turkey, patted dry
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup Cajun Spice Mix (see below)
1 celery stalk, coarsely chopped
1 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup (or more) olive or vegetable oil
Note: If you’d like your turkey to have a crisp coat, heat oil in a large cast iron skillet. When hot, place the turkey in the skillet for 30 seconds, moving it around before placing in Dutch Cast Iron Pot.
Set a rack inside a large heavy Dutch Cast Iron Pot. Season turkey lightly inside and out with salt and pepper, then with spice mix, massaging it into the skin. Transfer turkey, breast side down, to prepared pan and refrigerate, uncovered, overnight.
Remove turkey from refrigerator; let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375°. Mix celery, pepper, and onion in a medium bowl. Fill turkey cavity with vegetable mixture, scattering any remaining vegetables over bottom of roasting pan. Brush turkey with oil.
Roast turkey, basting occasionally, for 1 hour. Using paper towels, flip turkey. Roast, basting occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of thigh registers 165°, 1–1 1/2 hours longer. Transfer to platter. Let rest for at least 20 minutes before carving.
Cajun Spice Mix
Ingredients:
5 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons sweet paprika
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
Stir together.
Note: You can make the spice mix up to one month ahead. Store in airtight container at room temperature.
Turkey Basted to Death
A Cast Iron Skillet Mystery
Welcome to Leavensport, Ohio where DEATH takes a delicious turn!
Thanksgiving is here, and Jolie Tucker has had quite the year! She is ready to sit back and relax with family and friends. But this is Leavensport, OH—so get ready for intense therapy sessions, dysfunctional family holiday gatherings, uninvited guests, and an inner-city teen advocate found DEAD—stabbed in the ear with the turkey baster!
