Karen’s Killer Fixin’s
**AUTHOR SPECIAL**
with JODI RATH!

Welcome to my Friday bonus feature called Karen’s Killer Fixin’s **Author Special**!! Today, in lieu of one of my own recipes, I’m going to introduce you to a new author who will share one of her favorite recipes. Not only will you and I occasionally learn how to make something new and delicious, but we’ll get a chance to check out some wonderful authors. Introducing author, JODI RATH, and her favorite recipe for GRANDMA OPAL’S PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE!!

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PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN MURDER
The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series Book 1
BY JODI RATH

Blurb

Welcome to Leavensport, Ohio where DEATH takes a delicious turn!

Introducing Jolie Tucker, an introverted yet passionate restaurant co-owner of Cast Iron Creations. When her grandma Opal becomes the prime suspect in the murder of Leavensport’s local chocolatier, Jolie goes on a search for answers—only to find out that her family’s secret recipes may not belong to the Tucker family at all. Jolie’s job, family, and livelihood are all on the line.

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN MURDER
The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series Book 1
BY JODI RATH

Let’s talk…

“Wow, this is heavy duty,” I exclaimed opening the cast iron skillet my grandma gave me for Christmas this year.

“It’s 70-years-old, and I’ve only ever made pineapple upside-down cake in it,” Grandma said, “that was your grandpa’s favorite. I expect you to keep the Walton family tradition alive.”

“I will, grandma, I promise.”

This was a bit of dialogue from my Christmas 2017 when my grandma gave me her cast iron skillet. She also bought me a new set of cast iron’s so I could use them for savory meals. I’d never cooked with them before, and after cooking meat and potatoes in them, I have no clue how I’ve never used them.

This story ended up on Facebook to which I received more likes and comments and people sharing recipes and tips than any other post I’d ever made. I realized in March of 2018 I wanted to write The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series based off my grandma’s gift.

The process of getting this book written has been incredible. It’s been a lot of fun, but a ton of work. I’ve got fourteen titles for the series, and I’ve sketched out summaries for each book and how the series will end. I’ve been fortunate to find a wonderful cover artist in Karen Phillips and an excellent editor in Lourdes Venard as well as friends and family who have served as first-time beta readers: Rebecca Grubb, Mary Ann Ware, and my mom. Being an indie author is difficult to get traction, having an amazing team to read, critique, edit, and create visuals makes all the difference. My mom has over two decades in marketing and has helped me with all my advertising campaigns. I was thrilled to see my preorder hit #1 in the cozy genre for Kobo and hold steady in the top 10 for going on a month.

One of the things I plan to do in each book is to share a cast iron recipe. Also, I plan to share recipes on my Author Jodi Rath Facebook page and in my monthly newsletters. In Pineapple Upside Down Murder, my grandma’s secret recipe for pineapple upside-down cake is shared at the end of the book. WELL, most everything but the one secret ingredient which is revealed in book one if any readers can figure it out! A mystery within a mystery!

Book two, Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Murder, comes out June 21, 2019, and book three, which is a seasonal book called Turkey Basted to Death, comes out November 15, 2019, just in time for Thanksgiving. People who subscribe to my monthly newsletter will receive two free flash fiction prequels which will debut two weeks before Pineapple Upside Down Murder releases and they will lead to situations that occur in book one. Readers that sign up for my monthly newsletter can also expect to receive three-minute mysteries, more flash fiction, and serial scenes from The Cast Iron Skillet Mystery Series.

Meet Author Jodi Rath…

Moving into her second decade working in education, Jodi Rath has decided to begin a life of crime in her 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 and creating mischief in her fictional writing. She currently resides in a small, cozy village in Ohio with her husband and her seven cats.

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Links to Jodi’s website, blog, books, etc.

Amazon: http://authl.it/B07GXDPPSP

All other e-platforms:
https://www.books2read.com/u/md0XMl

Website: www.jodirath.com
(Subscribe to my newsletter to receive free flash fiction, serial scenes from series, and deleted scenes).

FB Author page: @jodirathmysed

Twitter: @jodirath

I hope you enjoy the recipe Jodi is sharing today on Karen’s Killer Fixin’s. Happy Eating!

Karen

P.S. We’re at 399 recipes and counting with this posting. Hope you find some recipes you like. If this is your first visit, please check out past blogs for more Killer Fixin’s. In the right hand column menu, you can even look up past recipes by type. i.e. Desserts, Breads, Beef, Chicken, Soups, Author Specials, etc.

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GRANDMA OPAL’S PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Sneak Peek Secret Recipe for Grandma Opal’s Pineapple Upside-down Cake:

• One stick of melted butter—melt it on the bottom of cast iron skillet
• ½ pack of brown sugar packed down on the bottom of the pan
• Canned pineapple rings—drain ½ the juice from a can—use ½ cup of pineapple juice in the cake mix
• Any vanilla cake mix (boxed or from scratch)—follow recipe remembering to add ½ cup of pineapple juice to it.
• Bake at 350 degrees for one hour
• Wait for 10 to 15 minutes then flip cake onto a plate
• Put cherries in the middle of the pineapple rings

ENJOY!!! Don’t forget to look for the secret ingredient in Pineapple Upside Down Murder.

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Thanks, Jodi, for sharing your book with us!

Don’t miss the chance to read this book!