by Mary McDonald

Yes, it really is called Fingernail Dressing. Let me explain by starting at the beginning.

My brother, Nick, spent some time surveying for oil in the jungles of Peru during the mid to late 20th Century. He made this career move so his wife, a Peruvian beauty, could live close to her family.

During this time, my mother came for an extensive visit. It was nearing the holidays, and she so wanted to cook an American Thanksgiving meal for the whole family.

Problem was – cornmeal did not seem to be sold in Lima so it seemed like a moot point.

One of Nick’s workers invited him and Mother to take a ride down the Amazon River. Coincidentally, the worker’s mother lived on the river, in a thatch roofed house! He asked if they would like to stop and meet her, and, of course, they did.

While there, Mother spotted some dry corn hanging from the porch. Mother did not speak Spanish, and the woman did not speak English.

Somehow, Mother asked if she could have some of the corn for cornmeal, and, somehow, the woman understood. Not only did she give it to her, but she also ground it into meal.

Thanksgiving, Mother was able to make her dressing recipe. Earlier that day, she had put a band aid on a fingernail that was threatening to come off.

Horrors! Upon baking the dish, she finds the fingernail and band aid missing! During the entire meal, she was in a panic thinking someone would find it.

Not to worry, Nick found it the next day, when going after leftovers. The recipe has been dupped Fingernail Dressing ever since.

Ashleigh, her great granddaughter, used the recipe, sans the fingernail, to entertain State Troopers when they were stationed in Pecos, who also could not go home for the holiday.

Recipe:

4 cups cooked cornmeal with baking soda (we use 4 packages of cornbread mix) crumbled in a 11×14 baking dish.
4 cans chicken broth added to cornbread
1 large cut up onion
Several stalks of celery from the center of the celery
3 boiled eggs, mashed
Salt, poultry seasoning, and sage to taste.

Cook 325 degrees for about 30 minutes.
Fingernail optional