Sister Schubert Rolls...The Proper Way to Eat Them

Have you ever tasted Sister Schubert homemade rolls? They taste just like ya' Mama used to make! Miss Janice loves 'em ! Sister's grandmother taught her how to make the rolls when she was a young girl and today her rolls and other bread products are a mainstay on the dining tables of all of us Southern people...and no wonder, she's an Alabama girl!

I must say that the Parker House-style rolls are my favorite. They are perfect to serve at Thanksgiving Dinner or an Easter Brunch...they are also delish when you stuff them with a slice of ham or pork tenderloin...and are most certainly the 'comfort bread of choice' at funeral receptions!

Sister Schubert rolls are simply delish! It's only natural to want to pick up the roll and bite off a piece...especially when they are warm!

Well, there is etiquette to be followed when eating bread!

Bread is served...from the bread basket to the bread plate: Bread is not considered a "course" and may be served at several places during a meal. Bread may be served in a basket on the table where diners will pass it around the table counterclockwise or the waitstaff will serve each individual. When bread is served in a basket on the table, the person closest to the basket will begin the process of passing the bread. Once you pick up the basket, take a piece of the bread by hand and place it on your bread plate. Then, offer the basket of bread to the person on your left. Hold the basket and allow the person to take a piece of bread with their fingers. Next, pass the basket to the person on your right. If the bread is served by the waitstaff, the server will place a piece of bread on your bread plate usually with a pair of tongs.

The butter plate: The butter plate is handled in the same manner as the bread basket. Take a pat of butter with the butter knife or butter pick and place it on the bread plate, offer the butter to the person on the left. Once the person has taken a piece or declined, then pass the butter plate to the person on the right.

How to butter the bread: Hold the bread in your right hand and tear off a bite-sized piece with your left. The whole piece of bread should NOT be buttered at once, nor should a bite be taken out of the whole piece of bread and then put back on the plate. Place the larger piece of bread back onto the bread plate with your right hand. Butter the bite-sized piece using your right hand and place the butter spreader horizontally across the top of the plate. Switch the bite-sized piece to your right hand and eat it.

Be sure to hold the bread just above the bread plate when handling it. If it's a crunchy hard roll, keep it as close to your bread plate as possible. It's not the end of the world if a few breadcrumbs get on the table, but you should try to keep them to a minimum. Crumbs will be taken care of later in the meal. {I will address "Crumbing" the table in an upcoming post}

Social Graces 101: It is not polite to dip, dunk, or wipe sauces with your bread except in the most informal gatherings or with certain dishes that are designed to do just that--like fondues and olive oil. Of course, never double dip!

The bread basket...full of Parker House-style Sister Schubert rolls! A domed butter dish with a butter knife. A bread plate {well, today it is} with the butter spreader placed horizontally across the top of the plate. What is the difference between a butter knife and a butter spreader? The butter knife has a pointed end so it can get the hard butter from the butter plate/dish to the bread plate. The butter knife... The butter spreader has a round end so it won't poke holes in the bread. The butter spreader...

So now, you can go to the frozen food section of your grocers and buy Sister Schubert rolls, take 'em home and bake 'em in the oven and feel confident when you eat 'em...that you are following proper bread and butter etiquette! You can visit Sister's site HERE. She has a lot of fabulous products...Cinnamon Rolls, Orange Rolls, Buttermilk Biscuits, and Blueberry Rolls...just to name a few. Check it out, I'm sure you'll find something you like! You can also find fabulous recipes {using her bread products} on her site...Breakfast Bake Casserole, Breakfast Sandwiches, and Upside Down Banana Pecan French Toast--I simply have to try that one Sister!

Remember y'all, Nothing says more about you than your table manners!