One of my favorite aspects of Pearl River County is how tight-knit and family centered the community is.

We are quickly approaching the Thanksgiving holiday, a time I truly relish every year because of the family atmosphere it provides.

There is nothing better than gathering with your family and appreciating what you have by eating, talking and watching football all day.

In my family, regardless of where you live, everyone always makes it home for that Thursday holiday. It’s always nice to see how everyone is doing and being able to count on that time as a perpetual tradition.

The Thanksgiving meal includes my favorite foods to eat all year. So, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I will lay out my list of best Thanksgiving foods.

1. Stuffing-although it is a side dish, it makes the entire meal and is the most delicious. My family makes sausage stuffing with soft bread cubes and diced celery. The result is a hot, buttery delicious MVP of the meal.
2. Turkey-It’s not Thanksgiving without a turkey. You absolutely cannot have it overcooked. Turkey is a close second to stuffing.
3. Green bean casserole—I don’t know if they eat this in the South, but this dish is amazing. It is made with green beans, obviously, cream of mushroom soup and topped with fried onions. I was hesitant the first time I tried it back when I was in elementary school, but once I tried it, it has remained a favorite.
4. Mashed white potatoes—when these have the perfect combination of butter, salt and fluffiness, they are a necessary component.
5. Mashed sweet potatoes/cranberry sauce (tie)—they add a nice balance of sweet to the meal before dessert. Both are kind of afterthoughts when I have the foods I listed earlier on my plate.
6. Pumpkin Pie—throw some whipped cream on there and it’s a perfect dessert.

After the meal, its nice to just unwind on the couch and watch the NFL. Not to be forgotten are the sandwiches you can make from the leftovers.