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5 Minutes for Books — Sweet Caroline

Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck tells the story of Caroline Sweeney. Caroline has always lived her life to please others. When the owner of the local cafe dies, he leaves his cafe to Caroline, with the stipulation that it be sold if she doesn’t choose to run it. Caroline’s the kind of person who makes choices with others in mind–not necessarily her own needs. She has the opportunity to move to Spain for a fabulous job opportunity, but then what would happen to the oldtimers who have always known the cafe as a part of their hometown? What about the employees who need the job at the Frogmore cafe? What about good-looking J.D., the new guy she’s been dating? What about Mitch, her high school sweetheart who has recently returned to town after starting a career in the music industry? I won’t let you know what happens, but if you read it, you’ll find out.

I always find my mouth watering when reading stories that have food as a subplot. The descriptions of the food at the Frogmore Cafe definitely provoked that response–Frogmore Stew with shrimp and corn, moist cake with buttercream frosting, coffee lightened with half and half, and most importantly, Bubba’s Buttery Biscuits.

Author Rachel Hauck has shared that recipe with us. I can’t wait to try them.

Bubba’s Buttery Biscuits

3 cups self-rising flour
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces and chilled, plus 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted for brushing the tops
1 1/4 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Place the flour and chilled butter in a medium mixing bowl. Work the butter into the flour with a pastry cutter, a fork, or your fingertips until the butter pieces are a little larger than an English pea, but not larger than a lima bean. If you are using your fingers, work quickly so that the heat of your hands won’t melt the butter.

Pour in all of the buttermilk and, using light pressure, fold the mixture a few times with a plastic spatula until it holds together. Do not over mix. In order to make light biscuits, it is important to work the dough as little as possible.

Turn the dough out onto a floured board and knead it quickly and gently 6 to 10 times or until it begins to be almost homogenized. There will be large pieces of butter throughout. Sprinkle a little flour under the dough so that it won’t stick to the board and lightly dust the top of the dough so that it won’t stick to the board and lightly dust the top of the dough so that it won’t stick to the rolling pin. Roll the dough out to about 1/2-inch thickness.

Cut the dough into 2-inch rounds, place on an ungreased baking sheet, and bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes. I like the biscuits to be crispy and brown on the top and bottom, but not dry in the middle. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and brush the tops of the biscuits with the melted butter. Serve right away. (recipe from Louis Osteen)

Find out more about the author and her books at rachelhauck.com, read what others are saying about Sweet Caroline at the blog tour post.  Are you an aspiring writer? Check out her Book Therapy blog.

Would you like to win a copy of Sweet Caroline? Leave a comment here, and we’ll announce the winner in next week’s column.

You can still enter last week’s book giveaway, for Trading Places. Because I’m out of town, I’m going to draw and post the winners on Wednesday.


About Jennifer D.

Jennifer Donovan has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom team since 2007. She writes product reviews, covers events, and manages the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column and website. She lives in Houston and blogs at Snapshot about life with her family.

92 Comments

  • 51
    jenny hebert
    May 27, 2008 | Permalink |

    Love a great book

  • 52
    Melinda Smith
    May 27, 2008 | Permalink |

    Love to win it. Like the name of the biscuits. We call my husband Bubba,and I love butterflies, so we will be sure to make the recipe.

  • 53
    May 27, 2008 | Permalink |

    ***************************************************Let me just tell everyone that I received this book on another blog contest. I am part way into the book and Rachel is an amazing writer.

    If you don’t win this copy, be blessed and march on over to amazon.com to pick this up for yourself….or how about getting this book for a summer book club for your reading galpals?

    You will be so blessed.

    Joanne

  • 54
    Elizabeth M.
    May 27, 2008 | Permalink |

    I really like the premise of this book. It sounds like my type of tale.

  • 55
    Jay
    May 27, 2008 | Permalink |

    sign us up- sounds like a good beach read=)

  • 56
    Carolyn
    May 27, 2008 | Permalink |

    Please count me in for this great contest. I love to read and this sounds like a great book. Thank you for the giveaway.

  • 57
    Valerie Mitchell
    May 28, 2008 | Permalink |

    fabulous!

  • 58
    Patricia Simpkin
    May 28, 2008 | Permalink |

    Sounds like a great book; I’d LOVE to win it!

  • 59
    israel y
    May 28, 2008 | Permalink |

    nice books, thanks!

  • 60
    May 28, 2008 | Permalink |

    I just found out about this great new book and would love to read it! Please enter me in the drawing! :)

    elizardbreath8@hotmail.com

  • 61
    DARIJAVAN
    May 28, 2008 | Permalink |

    Would love to win

  • 62
    Susan C
    May 28, 2008 | Permalink |

    This is my favorite type of book, old-timers sitting around cafes and bars, food, and romance-sounds perfect!

  • 63
    Crystal Gleason
    May 28, 2008 | Permalink |

    Sounds good!

  • 64
    sandra kao
    May 28, 2008 | Permalink |

    so sweet

  • 65
    julie
    May 29, 2008 | Permalink |

    sounds like a wonderful read
    3beez at bellsouth dot net

  • 66
    May 29, 2008 | Permalink |

    Sounds like a great summer read!

  • 67
    Vicki Wurgler
    May 29, 2008 | Permalink |

    sounds like a good read, I need a new book for the summer

  • 68
    May 29, 2008 | Permalink |

    I’ve heard great things about this book. I would love to read it.

  • 69
    dallimomma
    May 29, 2008 | Permalink |

    Am I too late? I hope not. I would like to win this book.

  • 70
    May 29, 2008 | Permalink |

    I would love this book! Thanks for another chance to win something great!

  • 71
    May 29, 2008 | Permalink |

    This sounds like a great summer read! Thanks!

  • 72
    May 29, 2008 | Permalink |

    Love to read, love to write – thanks for the “therapy” link too!

  • 73
    Aubrey
    May 29, 2008 | Permalink |

    I would love to read this book!

  • 74
    May 29, 2008 | Permalink |

    I love “food” books- I’ll be trying the Bubba Biscuits! I’d love to win the book too. Thanks!

  • 75
    May 29, 2008 | Permalink |

    Great giveaway, thanks!

  • 76
    Sandy F.
    May 29, 2008 | Permalink |

    Sweet Book!! Count me in….thanks :O)

  • 77
    May 29, 2008 | Permalink |

    Oooh…sounds like the perfect summer read.

  • 78
    Julie Mead
    May 30, 2008 | Permalink |

    This book sounds great!

  • 79
    Kathy Conley
    May 30, 2008 | Permalink |

    What a sweet story idea!

  • 80
    May 30, 2008 | Permalink |

    I’d love to be entered! It sounds wonderful!

  • 81
    May 30, 2008 | Permalink |

    sounds like a fabulous read. I would love to have it to curl up with while my husband watches the kids.

  • 82
    Theresa N
    May 30, 2008 | Permalink |

    Sounds like a great book, I’d love to read it.

  • 83
    L McLendon
    May 31, 2008 | Permalink |

    I would love to add this one to my collection!

  • 84
    JenniferH
    May 31, 2008 | Permalink |

    I’m always looking for a good read!

  • 85
    Elizabeth M.
    May 31, 2008 | Permalink |

    This book looks like something I will love!

  • 86
    Lisa P
    June 1, 2008 | Permalink |

    I would love it. I tend to mostly read nonfiction, so this would be a nice break!

  • 87
    Brooke
    June 1, 2008 | Permalink |

    SOUNDS GREAT!

  • 88
    Pamela White
    June 1, 2008 | Permalink |

    I was born to please, I can relate, I want to win.

  • 89
    kathy pease
    June 1, 2008 | Permalink |

    count me in please :)

  • 90
    Barbara H. from Stray Thoughts
    June 1, 2008 | Permalink |

    This sounds interesting!

  • 91
    Jody
    June 1, 2008 | Permalink |

    Always looking for a yummy summer book!

  • 92
    AnneMarie
    June 1, 2008 | Permalink |

    I love to read and try new authors.

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