Every year we celebrate Thanksgiving, sometimes with friends and family, sometimes alone, and we reflect on things in our lives we should be thankful for.

I have many things to be thankful for. I am thankful for having a loving and supportive family. I am thankful for my pets that also provide me with unconditional love. I am thankful, that unlike many others, I do have a roof over my head, electricity, hot water and the ability and comfort of sleeping in my own bed.

I am thankful to have a job that has allowed me to report on issues in our community, both good and bad, sometimes ugly, sometimes humorous. A job that has also allowed to me discover new places and adventures and discuss my all-time favorite topic — FOOD.

Oh, yes I am thankful for food!

This year I’ll be home for Thanksgiving (all alone, all by myself….whimper…whimper), while the rest of my family is in Chattanooga. I don’t plan on cooking an entire meal for myself but I do plan to EAT.

So I am thankful for places that are taking orders for holiday meals.

SO MANY CHOICES

For a traditional Southern fare of mouthwatering turkey, ham, black-eye peas, greens, potato salad, macaroni and cheese followed up with banana pudding and peach cobbler, you must hit Izola’s Country Café.

Wake up people no one does Southern like Izola’s…NO ONE.

As it says on their website, "We can fix you up." And they definitely can. There is a reason the folks who run Izola’s have been in the restaurant business FOREVER!

Taste their famous fried chicken and you will see why they’ve maintained the number one rated eatery in Hinesville for quite some time, according to Trip Advisor. And it is no secret they are my GO-TO place for fried chicken.

They tend to stay busy throughout the holiday season so it is best to call ahead and give them plenty of notice for your order.

WAIT…I need to call them before you guys do…dang do I need to share their number?

Boo…well okay here it is. The diner is located at 809 Willowbrook Circle. For more information call 912-463-4709.

If you are looking for a fried turkey Bojangles in Hinesville is taking orders.

WAIT…WHAT?

Yes, the eatery that is known for their fried chicken is offering up fried turkey and a complete holiday meal. They are offering mashed potatoes, green beans, Bojangles’ Cajun pintos, mac-n-cheese, their dirty rice and of course BISCUITS.

Sounds incredibly delicious. Give them a try. Call 912-332-7304 and place your order or visit the diner at 130 Carter Street.

It’s during the holidays that I crave the foods I grew up with during my youthful days in Miami’s Little Havana. My dad would spend a day and half marinating and roasting a whole pig for the festivities.

Luckily for me, Walthourville Meat Market owner Ronald DeLeon caters to the Latin community here in Liberty County. DeLeon was born in New York from Dominican parents, and grew up in Miami.

At his market he offers whole pigs. They can either be bought raw for folks to cook on their own or he can cook them for you. He’ll even marinate it for you. He can get pigs as small as 20 pounds and as large as 120 pounds. They also offer another Latin favorite, the roasted pork shoulder.

QUE RICO!!

He also does traditional Boston butts and also specializes on Latin side dishes like yucca, plantains, Spanish style rice and beans. For those seeking a Caribbean meal he takes order for lamb and goat as well.

Goodness my mouth is watering. It is all SO GOOD.

DeLeon has also expanded to offering seafood and cooks up a mean Lowcountry boil. He has a small platter that can feed two people easily (or just me). His large Lowcountry boil can feed an entire family (or just me).

I’ve had his Lowcountry boil. It’s amazing with just the right amount of heat and loaded with shrimp, crab legs, sausage and corn. Walthourville Meat Market is at 5715 W. Oglethorpe Highway. For more information call 912-369-4933.

If you are seeking something WAY different why not give the folks at Ludowici’s Majestic Meat Market a visit. They can get you frog legs, rabbit, deer and even alligator.

I’ve never had frog legs, but I’ve heard it tastes like chicken. Maybe I’ll give it a try.

The store is family owned, veteran operated by TRULY generous people. For the past four years they’ve helped local organizations feed more than 30 families through the holiday season. Go check them out at 576 S McDonald Street, Ludowici. Or call them at 545-2078.

All this talk about food is making me HUNGRY.

It also makes me thankful that I have the ability to afford this most basic need in life. Others can’t afford to buy food, don’t have shelter or other basic needs.

I am thankful to the many kind souls who have the willingness to GIVE to those in need. I plan to give back this year by volunteering at a food kitchen. I am thankful for the opportunity to do so. If you have the ability to lend a helping hand this holiday season, please do. People will be thankful for it.