Tina Vasquez

Eddie Garza of Dallas, Texas, is a cookbook author who wrote and developed 150 vegan Mexican recipes to honor the 150 pounds he lost. These silky black bean tamales are one of his family's favorite recipes for Thanksgiving.

Southerners always find a way to take care of their people, and food is often at the core.

Kim Pineda of Lubbock, Texas, says Thanksgiving feels like an extension of Dia de los Muertos for him. "I guess my theme is a different kind of Thanksgiving, one where the food is an extension of my culture." There is always pie.

Nandita Godbole of Atlanta, Georgia, is originally from India, and she wanted to create her own version of Thanksgiving for her family. No matter the menu, this cranberry-cherry chutney is always on the table.

Gabrielle Eitienne of Holly Springs, North Carolina, says part of keeping tradition alive in her town is shelling peas. "The bowls on our laps reflect our laughter and hold our history." This is one of the recipes she makes with those peas.

Angie Willoughby of West Palm Beach, Florida, has a varied palate due to her Afro-Caribbean family. But if there's one recipe that says the holidays to her, it's her aunt Nancy's potato salad.

Darlene Ivey of Statesville, North Carolina, says Thanksgiving is a time that she's proud to be Lumbee (a tribe of North Carolina). This recipe for collard greens is a part of her heritage.

Johnisha Levi of Nashville, Tennessee, is looking to create new Thanksgiving traditions with her husband. This sweet potato pie is a start.

Ronald Cerdas of Nashville, Tennessee, comes from a large Latin family from Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Even though most of his family isn't vegan, everyone love this butternut squash mac and cheese for Thanksgiving.

Latria Graham of Spartanburg, South Carolina, comes from a family of farmers. This cake is equal parts her parents: her mother’s whimsical nature and her father’s ties to the land.

Ann Taylor Pittman of Birmingham, Alabama, has strong feelings about cornbread dressing. "If someone brings cornbread dressing to Thanksgiving dinner and it’s made with sweetened cornbread, I can’t even look at it." Here's the recipe that gets it right.