CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Thanksgiving dinner has its staples, the tried-and-true roasted turkey with stuffing and sweet potatoes. But whether it’s the preparation of those dishes or recipes unique to each individual family, no two Thanksgivings are exactly alike.

We asked the on-air radio personalities of the Charlottesville Media Group what has to be on their Turkey Day table to make Thursday truly Thanksgiving.

Here’s what they said:

 

Sherry Taylor (Z95.1)

“I always look forward to my mom’s fried apples and rolls. A little butter on that soft roll with her homemade fried apples, and I am in heaven. I’m not the only one either because that is usually the one dish with no leftovers!”

 

Tawne Hayes, Big Greasy Breakfast (3WV)

“I love my mum’s stuffing at Thanksgiving because it’s the one dish that tastes like pure comfort and childhood in a single bite. The sausage gives it this rich, savory depth that nothing else on the table can touch. Then you hit a sliced almond and get that perfect little crunch that makes every forkful interesting. It smells like home the second it comes out of the oven. No matter how many versions I try, nothing ever comes close to hers.”

 

Fievel, The Morning Mixtape (The Corner)

“Two things have to be on the table or else it ain’t Thanksgiving: Pepperidge Farm stuffing (made as is with nothing added) and canned cranberry sauce. PF stuffing has been part of our tradition since I was a little kid in the 70s in Lenox, MA. Is it kinda dry? Yes. Is it a lot like eating seasoned packing peanuts? Also yes. Is it, despite all that, awesome? YES. And I know a lot of you purists like your homemade cranberry sauce. Bah! I say, and also humbug! Give me a gelatinous tube of cranberry mixture every time. All I’m going to do with it anyway is mash my turkey in it like a dip. Come at me, bro.”

 

Rob Schilling, The Schilling Show (WINA)

“The gravy makes the meal. I use it on turkey (of course!), but also on mashed potatoes and on stuffing. And, please, nothing from a bottle or can. Proper gravy is made from turkey drippings, black pepper, and corn starch, cooked over high heat on the stovetop.”

 

Uncle Pauly (Cville Country)

“The stuffing! My mother-in-law’s recipe calls for celery and onion, but don’t let that fool you…the real magic comes from breakfast sausage! Sounds crazy but if you’re not putting sausage in your stuffing, you are doing it wrong!”

 

Adam Hawes, Cville Right Now Live (WINA)

“I’m not sure how it happened exactly but it’s not Thanksgiving for me unless I have some green bean casserole. Somehow the combination of the green beans, the mushroom soup, and, the most critical piece, the crunchy onions on top always makes me think of the holiday. My mom even gave me the assignment of making it myself and bringing it to this year’s family meal. I also get to have fill because after 20 years of growing up with it every year I came to find out my Dad doesn’t even like it.”

 

Samantha Federico (The Corner)

“Every Thanksgiving I look forward to my mom’s creamed spinach. It’s something we’ve had every year for Thanksgiving or Christmas, and I’m usually met with a surprise face whenever I tell people it’s my favorite side dish. It may not be a typical side dish, but my mom makes it just perfectly and the holidays haven’t begun until I have creamed spinach on my plate.”