Thanksgiving is a time to be with family and friends and to enjoy that time together.  Memories are shared and made and good food is enjoyed by all.   In order to get the most out of your time, maybe leave the cooking to someone else and just pick up Thanksgiving! 

There are a number of places that offer a full Thanksgiving meal - most are fully cooked where you just have to warm up - and some require a little bit of cooking.  But, all are sure to save time and hassles - allowing for more quality time with family and friends.  Check out these places for your "Thanksgiving to go."

Publix's Holiday Turkey dinner comes with a fully-cooked Turkey and four delicious sides: Cornbread dressing, homestyle mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry orange relish.  You can order the regular sized dinner which serves 7 to 10 people or the large which serves 14-18.  All you need to do is heat this meal up and dinner is served!  Other sides are available as well.  Call or stop by your local Publix to order!  The Atlantic Beach Publix is 249-0822; the Jacksonville Beach Publix on Beach is 249-1072; and the Marsh Landing Publix is 273-7600; the Sawgrass Publix is 285-5767.

The Fresh Market also offers fully prepared holiday meals in both a traditional and deluxe size.  The traditional meal serves 6 to 8 and includes a regular or smoked turkey, herb stuffing, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, home-style turkey gravy, cranberry relish and yeast rolls. The Deluxe meal serves 8 to 10 and includes all of the above plus a spiral ham, corn soufflé and green beans amandine.  Call the Atlantic Boulevard location at 221-6286 or the Ponte Vedra Beach location at 273-8450.

Winn Dixie offers a variety of fully cooked holiday meals included rotisserie, Butterball or a Smithfield ham with a Paula Deen glaze.  Each dinner comes with a Savannah Classics side along with gravy and rolls.  The Savannah Classics sides are:  Cornbread dressing, broccoli rice and cheese casserole, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, Au gratin potatoes or bread pudding.  Call the Neptune Beach location at 241-4368 or the Ponte Vedra Beach location at 543-8668 or check out your local store.

All three groceries also offer a wide variety of pies and desserts too!

To go organic - or to please a vegan or vegetarian diet or guest, check out the fully prepared soups, entrées and sides at Turtle Island Natural Foods in Atlantic Beach.  They have a whole holiday menu to choose from including organic turkeys and hams, butternut squash soup, mushroom risotto, roasted Brussels sprouts and so much more!  Give them a call to place your order early - 247-6400.

For something that requires some cooking but will really wow your family and friends - try a boneless stuffed chicken from Gumbo Ya-Ya's.  The chickens are completely deboned and are stuffed with dirty rice, jambalaya, red beans and rice or mixed gumbo.  This specialty is from New Orleans and will take about an hour and a half to cook.  Owners, Robert and Lauren, are happy to take your orders for these deliciously different entrées!!  Stop by or give them a call at 223-0202.

To learn how to make your own boneless chicken, tune in tomorrow (Tuesday, 11/24) to see Robert from Gumbo Ya-ya's on Good Morning Jacksonville on cable channel 5 and 11 between 5 and 7 a.m. 

Whatever you decide to place on your Thanksgiving table - just be sure to pull up to it with many thanks for all of your blessings!   I am thankful to you - all of my readers!