Bestselling cookbook author Julia Turshen isn’t afraid to break the rules. She burns sugar until it smokes (on purpose!) as she pays tribute to Jennie, the woman who inspired this chicken pelau recipe. While she cooks, Julia talks about ways that food can fuel social justice, and shares personal stories of feeling empowered and finding solace in the kitchen.

Find more info about Julia Turshen’s books, Small Victories, Now and Again, and Feed the Resistance, as well as her podcast Keep Calm and Cook On at juliaturshen.com. Follow her on Instagram at @turshen.

See behind-the-scenes photos at @skilletpodcast on Instagram and Facebook. Transcripts and additional photos at skilletpodcast.com.