ROUSES_Summer2021_Magazine_PAGES

W hen my phone rings and I see the word “Dad” on the screen, he’s usually calling about one of three things. It could be: 1) work related — Tommy is retired, but that grocery brain doesn’t really just turn itself off; 2) a weather event is coming, and he wants to make sure my husband and I are prepared — have we closed our shutters, picked up our patio furniture, wrapped our pipes, covered our plants, etc.; or 3) he’s cooking and wants to know if we want any — the answer to this is almost always yes, and then there are the follow-up questions… Should he drop it off? Or are we picking it up? Can we bring our own containers? (Of course we can. Is it still super-hot? Then we’ll bring a pot to transport it.) If it’s gumbo or beans, do we need rice? (No way! What kind of house in South Louisiana doesn’t have rice at the ready?!) If Dad is barbecuing and says he’s making steaks, I have some follow-up questions of my own: Does he (and/or my mom, but let’s be clear, she needs to be on board for this one) want us to bring the kids and eat over there? If Mom is participating in this cookout, I know there will be a spread of sides — at least rice dressing, pork and beans, and Texas toast. The only real addition I usually want is something green, so I’ll probably bring salad fixings. If it’s just my dad, there will usually be just steak with a side of sausage and jalapeño poppers — and maybe even another kind of sausage, if he was feeling adventurous at the butcher counter at his Rouses down the road. Meat with a side of meat. It’s… good , don’t get me wrong, but we’re really only hitting one note here. The pepper in the jalapeño popper doesn’t really count as a vegetable, especially since it’s stuffed with sausage and cream cheese, plus wrapped in bacon. (No, I didn’t hear any stomach grumbling. You did? OK, OK, it was mine.) Thetruthis, Iwillabsolutelynot turndownagood steak, especially one that I don’t have to prepare — the best kind! Especially if Dad is the chef.

CREAM CHEESE

- Ali Rouse Royster, 3 rd Generation

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