Cozy Mystery Blog Tour: Author Guest Post, Review & Giveaway: Fry Another Day (Biscuit Bowl Food Truck #2) by J.J. Cook

From the national bestselling author of the Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade Mysteries comes the second in a new series featuring Zoe Chase, a Southern food truck chef who serves justice on the side.

With a few loyal friends in tow—including her handsome attorney, Miguel, and her cat, Crème Brûlée—Zoe drives the Biscuit Bowl to Charlotte, North Carolina, to enter a nationally televised food truck race. The contest features challenges across the Southeast, and with a fifty-thousand-dollar grand prize, competition isn’t just fierce—it’s killer.

As everyone gears up for the first challenge, another food trucker from Zoe’s hometown is found dead. The race rolls on, but when the body count rises, police begin to suspect Miguel. Now Zoe must race to catch the killer before her attorney needs an attorney.

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How to Make Biscuit Bowls!

by Zoe Chase

I know some of you were out during the Sweet Magnolia Food Truck Race and ate one of my biscuit bowls. Some of you live in my hometown of Mobile, Alabama and eat one whenever you feel like it. I appreciate your patronage!

But for those of you who haven’t tried one of my deep-fried biscuit bowls, but saw me on TV during the food truck race and thought they looked good – here’s the recipe for you. It won’t taste exactly like the ones I make, but you can come close. They are so good. I wouldn’t want to deny anyone the chance to try them!

Ingredients:

2 cups white flour

¼ teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons butter or vegetable shortening

1 cup buttermilk

How to make it:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Combine the dry ingredients. Cut the butter into the flour mixture until it forms coarse balls. Add the buttermilk until the mixture is slightly wet. Turn the dough out on a floured board. Gently roll or pat dough until it is about ½ inch thick. Fold the dough three more times then carefully press down to about 1 inch thick.

Here’s where the normal biscuit recipe changes for biscuit bowls.

Spray vegetable shortening into a muffin tin.  Use a cutter to cut circles of dough. Place these circles into the openings in the tin, pressing down the center gently. Bake for about 10 minutes until brown. The biscuit dough will rise around the circle, leaving a well in the middle for the filling.

The biscuits don’t have to be deep fried right away, but don’t wait more than a few hours. The freshest biscuits will make the best biscuit bowls. If you can’t use them right away, freeze them for later.

To deep fry, simply drop the biscuits into a deep fry set on high for 2 minutes. You want them to be crisp but not greasy. Be sure to use good quality vegetable oil in your deep fry.

Fill with whatever you like but make sure there isn’t too much liquid. I cut the water in my fillers so they are nice and think!

Enjoy!

What a fun story!  Zoe and her motley crew are taking their show on the road in this addition to the series.  They are entering a food contest in Charlotte, North Carolina, that is being featured similar to a reality television cooking show.  What made this aspect of the story so fascinating, was the author's ability to bring this competition to life as though it were happening right on your tv screen in your living room.  The author shines a light on the long known truth that people will do just about anything when fame and fortune are on the line - including murder!  

The story picks up from the beginning and zips right along.  It's full of action, mystery, intrigue, humor... and food :)  It's so well written, it's nearly impossible to put down!  I truly enjoyed the mystery itself - especially the fact that Miguel is the prime suspect.  It forces Zoe to become a super sleuth - where she excels!  

I was eagerly anticipating the second book in this series and it definitely didn't disappoint.  I cannot wait to see what book number three has in store for us next!  

Rating: 5 stars

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All conclusions reached are my own.  

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