May 26, 2008
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 buttermilkPreheat 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.
Filed under * Feature Columns, 5 Minutes for Books, Contests by Jennifer
Thank you soooooooooo much for sharing this post! (ps. Kirtsy and StumbleUpon are our favorites)
94 Comments on 5 Minutes for Books — Sweet Caroline »
#1 - Noreen @ 12:38 am
my mouth was watering too! I always enjoy a good book
#2 - Krista @ 1:08 am
Oh me, me! I really want to read this book!
#3 - Holly @ 1:25 am
I love food books but I’m so suggestible … if a book mentions “tea” I have to get up and make myself a cup before I can continue.
#4 - Michelle @ 4:32 am
I would love to be entered. Thanks!
#5 - Sam @ 5:19 am
Sweet Caroline sounds like an interesting book, and although I have read many novels that often have recipes in them as part of the story, I have never actually tried to replicate them!
#6 - Ginnie @ 7:19 am
I’d love to read this book. Please enter my name in the drawing. Thanks!
#7 - Monica- Paper Bridges @ 7:45 am
yes, please.
#8 - Kristin @ 8:31 am
I’d love to have a copy!
#9 - Kari @ 8:41 am
I LOVE BOOKS, this one sounds like a great one!!! Count me in, thank you so much!
#10 - Larena @ 8:47 am
I enjoy reading and this sounds like a great book. Thanks for the chance to win.
#11 - Belinda @ 9:14 am
I would love to have this book.Thanks for the great giveaway!
#12 - Hannah @ 9:16 am
I’d love a copy!
#13 - Mama Zen @ 9:40 am
This sounds really good!
#14 - Susan @ 9:47 am
I would love to win this book. Summer vacation is coming up, and I need some good books to read.
#15 - stampedwithgrace @ 10:04 am
sounds like a good read
#16 - Meg @ 10:53 am
Count me in!
Sounds great!
#17 - Jen @ 11:26 am
I’d love to win, and can’t wait to try the recipe!
#18 - Chrysa @ 11:26 am
Sounds like a great book!
#19 - Amanda Daybyday @ 12:40 pm
Looks like a really good read. Love the premise.
#20 - Karrine @ 12:47 pm
I like your book!
I would love to see your blog listed at HerBlogDirectory.com
#21 - jenna @ 1:02 pm
sounds wonderful! I’m in.
#22 - Kim @ 1:10 pm
Sounds like a great story!
#23 - Mandy @ 1:50 pm
I would love to be entered in your drawing!
#24 - rachel @ 2:13 pm
This sounds fabulous and I am in dire need of a good summer read! Please, Please!
Fingers, toes and eyes crossed!
#25 - Paige @ 2:20 pm
this sounds like an excellent read. If i could only finish the 2 books im reading now
#26 - Michele @ 2:33 pm
Sounds excellent!
#27 - WherestheBox @ 4:47 pm
Sounds like my kind of book!
#28 - Tara R. @ 6:43 pm
sounds good to me!
#29 - mannequin @ 6:55 pm
Sounds like a very interesting summer read!
#30 - dh @ 8:11 pm
Enter me into your contest. I followed your link back to read more, so thanks for that too.
#31 - Jill @ 10:56 pm
Cool, count me in!
#32 - Susan @ 10:57 pm
Here’s my comment! I’d like to win a copy of “Sweet Caroline.” Thanks!
#33 - Forgetfulone @ 11:41 pm
I would like to win this book. Thanks.
#34 - Cindi @ 12:13 am
Happy Memorial Day! I have read good things about her book. The story line sounds like an interesting one and with two men interested in her, how could it not be?! Please enter me in your drawing. I appreciate it. Many thanks,Cindi
#35 - Liz @ 8:37 am
I love good books that incorporate food. Count me in!
#36 - Blessed @ 8:47 am
Sounds like a great book!
#37 - Alexia @ 8:52 am
I would love to win a copy - it sounds like a great story…and I agree, I always get hungry when reading books with lots of food in them LOL
#38 - Michelle @ 10:35 am
Sounds good. I’d love to win!
#39 - Gloria Walshver @ 11:31 am
I would love to win this book.
#40 - Ivan Girl @ 11:58 am
this book sounds fabulous!
#41 - CPA Mom @ 12:15 pm
sounds like a fun book!
#42 - Linda Pinto @ 12:30 pm
I hope I win this. The recipe makes me hungry.
#43 - SJ @ 12:34 pm
Sounds like a great book! Please include me!
#44 - christel @ 12:39 pm
Sounds like a good read. Count me in.
#45 - Judy J. @ 3:16 pm
I would love to win this book! Thank you!
#46 - Gina Stratos @ 4:02 pm
Would love to read this. Thank you.
gkstratos@yahoo.com
#47 - Chondra @ 4:14 pm
I have been longing for a good summer read…This one sounds perfect! Hope I win it!
#48 - Kristinia @ 4:21 pm
Would love the opportunity to win! I love reading!
#49 - randi @ 4:52 pm
This book sounds like one that I would enjoy, enter me please! Thanks
#50 - Patricia Schraier @ 5:40 pm
I also like books with food plots.
#51 - jenny hebert @ 6:50 pm
Love a great book
#52 - Melinda Smith @ 7:08 pm
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 - Joanne @ 8:50 pm
***************************************************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. @ 8:51 pm
I really like the premise of this book. It sounds like my type of tale.
#55 - Jay @ 11:26 pm
sign us up- sounds like a good beach read=)
#56 - Carolyn @ 11:43 pm
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 @ 1:09 am
fabulous!
#58 - Patricia Simpkin @ 8:30 am
Sounds like a great book; I’d LOVE to win it!
#59 - israel y @ 8:54 am
nice books, thanks!
#60 - Elizardbreath @ 10:49 am
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 @ 11:54 am
Would love to win
#62 - Susan C @ 12:37 pm
This is my favorite type of book, old-timers sitting around cafes and bars, food, and romance-sounds perfect!
#63 - Crystal Gleason @ 1:00 pm
Sounds good!
#64 - sandra kao @ 3:51 pm
so sweet
#65 - julie @ 6:06 am
sounds like a wonderful read
3beez at bellsouth dot net
#66 - Jen E @ 11:38 am
Sounds like a great summer read!
#67 - Vicki Wurgler @ 11:40 am
sounds like a good read, I need a new book for the summer
#68 - lace @ 1:49 pm
I’ve heard great things about this book. I would love to read it.
#69 - dallimomma @ 1:55 pm
Am I too late? I hope not. I would like to win this book.
#70 - the mama hood @ 2:01 pm
I would love this book! Thanks for another chance to win something great!
#71 - Patti @ 2:22 pm
This sounds like a great summer read! Thanks!
#72 - Jody @ Mile High Mommy @ 3:07 pm
Love to read, love to write - thanks for the “therapy” link too!
#73 - Aubrey @ 3:32 pm
I would love to read this book!
#74 - Adriane @ 5:18 pm
I love “food” books- I’ll be trying the Bubba Biscuits! I’d love to win the book too. Thanks!
#75 - Mary @ Adventures in Mommyland @ 5:56 pm
Great giveaway, thanks!
#76 - Sandy F. @ 9:47 pm
Sweet Book!! Count me in….thanks :O)
#77 - kim @ 10:01 pm
Oooh…sounds like the perfect summer read.
#78 - Julie Mead @ 1:36 pm
This book sounds great!
#79 - Kathy Conley @ 3:45 pm
What a sweet story idea!
#80 - Allison @ 5:54 pm
I’d love to be entered! It sounds wonderful!
#81 - Staci J. @ 6:23 pm
sounds like a fabulous read. I would love to have it to curl up with while my husband watches the kids.
#82 - Theresa N @ 10:53 pm
Sounds like a great book, I’d love to read it.
#83 - L McLendon @ 4:54 am
I would love to add this one to my collection!
#84 - JenniferH @ 11:34 am
I’m always looking for a good read!
#85 - Just a mom’s take on things… » Contest Round-Up - 5/31/08 @ 4:53 pm
[...] at 5 Minutes For Mom you could win a copy of the book Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck, or you could win a Lipton Branded Fuji Crosstown 2.0 Bike, 5 [...]
#86 - Elizabeth M. @ 8:17 pm
This book looks like something I will love!
#87 - Lisa P @ 3:32 am
I would love it. I tend to mostly read nonfiction, so this would be a nice break!
#88 - Brooke @ 8:36 am
SOUNDS GREAT!
#89 - Pamela White @ 12:53 pm
I was born to please, I can relate, I want to win.
#90 - kathy pease @ 2:43 pm
count me in please
#91 - Barbara H. @ Stray Thoughts @ 2:43 pm
This sounds interesting!
#92 - Jody @ 4:58 pm
Always looking for a yummy summer book!
#93 - AnneMarie @ 9:56 pm
I love to read and try new authors.
#94 - 5 Minutes for Books — The Host @ 12:10 am
[...] winners of Sweet Caroline are #72 Aubrey and #69 The [...]