Nature brings us a naturally beautiful decoration just for the season — the Thanksgiving cactus. Although those pictured here are very old and lacked my attention much of this year, they still bloom in bright shades to color our holiday. It is indeed odd that we have Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti and that the Lord knows just when to have them in full bloom coinciding with the holidays.
No Thanksgiving table is complete without dressing to accompany the turkey. One of the best cooks I know, my Aunt Mary Exley, will be serving her delicious dressing made by the recipe handed down to her by her mother to her family on Thanksgiving Day. She carefully bakes the cornbread and biscuit to flavor the traditional side dish. No stuffing, as some of the Yankees may call it in the north, here in Georgia.
The majority of people in our area bake their dressing in a flat casserole dish or pan rather than stuffing it inside the bird and it is served with a generous helping of giblet gravy. Although each of us has a recipe for dressing to accompany the Thanksgiving turkey, this one is sure to be on the Snooks’ family table for their annual meal as they gather for the holiday. No doubt, this dressing will be delicious. (See accompanying recipe from “Effingham’s Tasty Traditions,” the Historic Effingham Society cookbook available for sale in our Gift Shop in Effingham Museum. Hours are Monday 9 a.m.-noon, Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 2-4 p.m. Call 754-2170 for further information.)
Historic Effingham Society wishes each of you a safe, happy and blessed Thanksgiving. Please keep our soldiers scattered throughout the globe defending our freedom and their families in your prayers as they serve to protect the rights for us to have a holiday in a country with all the freedom we enjoy and often take for granted.
This was written by Susan Exley of Historic Effingham Society. If you have photos, comments or information to share, contact Susan Exley at 754-6681 or email her at: susanexley@historiceffinghamsociety.org.
