Whiteside offers cakes, breads for Oktoc event

By MATT CRANE
life@starkvilledailynews.com [2]

Sallie Whiteside is no stranger to the annual Oktoc Country Store.
Whiteside said she has been involved in the preparation for the yearly community event for over 20 years after she moved out to Oktoc 26 years ago.

"We lived in Starkville, but we had always wanted to move to the Oktoc," she said. "I grew up in Starkville so I knew the history of the community and went to school with many children from that community."

Whiteside said she and her family had always wanted to be a part of the Oktoc community.

"We bought a house that was originally part of the Hartness Dairy Farm property," she said. "We have just loved it here."

Whiteside said she will once again contribute her original culinary creations to the Oktoc Country Store for sale Saturday at the Oktoc Community Club.

"I contribute baked goods to the store, and this year I will be taking my fig cakes that are made from scratch with the fig preserves we get from our fig tree," she said. "Last year I took apple cider that we made from our kitchen by the cup."

Whiteside said she primarily bakes for her family and will be featuring another family favorite for this year's store.

"I'll also be taking strawberry bread which is something my mother used to make growing up and our family enjoyed it, but a lot people didn't know about it," she said. "Banana and poppy seed breads are pretty common, but the strawberry bread didn't seem to be well known because it's different."

Whiteside said she is looking forward to this year's Oktoc Country Store and the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful fall weather.

"We'll have tables outside and it's such a wonderful time to kick off the season and let the community come together," she said. "The items available for sale are perfect for buying and freezing prior to the holiday season, and it's just a fun time of year."

The annual Oktoc Country Store begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Oktoc Community Club and is hosted by the Oktoc Garden Club.