Heston Family Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner

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THE MAIN COURSE
TURKEY
Cook according to instructions on the turkey wrapping. Be sure to buy a few days ahead of time in order to let it thaw. Use a roasting bag and foil pan. Cut open the roasting bag about an hour prior to serving. Using the roasting bag can cut down the cooking time by an hour or two.
GRAVY
Use the gravy packets from the store, not juice from the turkey.
STUFFING
Use Stove Top stuffing; do not stuff the bird but cook on top of stove.
CRANBERRIES
Get 2 cans of whole berry cranberry sauce

VEGETABLES
MASHED POTATOES
First, bake the potatoes, then mash and mix with whipped cream (not yet whipped). Keep warm in the oven.
BROCCOLI / PEAS
Steam using the microwave. Birds Eye Steamfresh brand works well.

SALADS
4 BEAN SALAD
  • 1 can each of: garbanzo beans, kidney beans, green beans, yellow beans
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 small shallot
  • a small bunch of green onions
  • 1-cup cider vinegar
  • 1-cup honey
Drain and rinse all beans. Combine with diced onion and shallot. Cut up the white part of the green onions, and mix this in. Blend vinegar and honey thoroughly and pour over vegetables. Stir slowly to blend all ingredients thoroughly. Refrigerate overnight. Do not use a metal bowl.
AMBROSIA
  • 4 oz. sour cream
  • 1-1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
  • 1-1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
  • 1 can (12 oz) of pinapple chunks, drained
  • 1 small can mandarin oranges, drained
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 2 medium sweet red apples, cored, cut in 1/2-inch dices
  • 2 medium firm bananas cut in 1/3-inch slices
On Wednesday night, mix sour cream, coconut and marshmallows in bowl, stir well, cover and refrigerate. Put mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks in the refrigerator.
On Thursday, just before serving, drain mandarin oranges and pineapple chunks and add to sour cream mixture. Dice the apples and slice bananas and place in separate nonmetallic bowl. Cover the apples and bananas with lemon juice. Add the sour cream mixture. Sprinkle top with small amount of coconut. Serve immediately.

SIDE DISHES & MISCELLANEOUS
ROLLS
Follow instructions on the pre-made roll package.
RASPBERRY JAM
On Wednesday or earlier, add a pound of sugar (or preferably the equivalent of Splenda) to a pound of fruit. Boil the fruit half an hour. Mix in 1 packet of gelatine while cooking and then a second packet when you take the jam off of the stove. Poor into jars, then refrigerate. Raspberry jam requires less sugar because of its natural sweetness.
TANGERINES
SMART BALANCE MARGARINE, SALT, PEPPER

DESSERT
PUMKIN PIE
Make according to the recipe on the can or use recipe here. Use pre-made piecrusts and deep-dish glass pans. Make at least 2 pies for 6 people (1/3rd of a pie per person).
Mix Together:
  • 30 oz can of pumpkin pie mix or a 30-oz can of pure pumpkin 
  • 2 cans (24 oz in total) condensed milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbsp of pumpkin pie spice ( = 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp nutmeg)
  • If you get a can of pure pumkin only (not the pie mix) you may want to add:
    • 1-1/2 cups of sugar
    • 2 more eggs (for a total of 4)
Pour into two deep dish, unbaked pastry pie shells (pre-crusted aluminum deep dish pans work great). Bake for 15 minutes at 425 F, then reduce temperature to 350 F and continue baking for an additional 35 to 45 minutes until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
WHIPPED CREAM
Buy the cartons, not pre-whipped. Add 1-tbsp of sugar, 1/2-tsp of vanilla, and 1 tsp of cream of tartar to one carton of the whipped cream. Whip just before dinner and put in freezer. By the end of dinner it should be well chilled, but not frozen.
ROOT BEER FLOATS

BEVERAGES
SPARKLING JUICE
Get the non-alcoholic sparkling juice that is in the champagne bottle. To save money, make your own by mixing sparkling water with frozen juice concentrate.
MILK
For the kids to drink
SPARKLING WATER
Get a couple of liters of sparkling water
WINE
Get Merlot & Chardonay. Smoking Loon brand is good. Boxed wine OK if expecting large number of guests.
COFFEE
French roast is best.
BEER
Budweiser or similar light ale is always appropriate. Keg beer is best if possible.
ROOT BEER
Thomas Kemper, 1/6 keg, if available, otherwise get diet root beer in the can

PRAYERS
The traditional blessing for the meal is a prayer Haiku.

PRAYER HAIKU FOR THANKSGIVING 2012We say our prayersto express our gratitudefor what's been given.
PRAYER HAIKU FOR THANKSGIVING 2011
Everyone is home
With laughter comes our friendship
This is Thanksgiving.
 PRAYER HAIKU FOR THANKSGIVING 2010 - n/a (in UAE)
PRAYER HAIKU FOR THANKSGIVING 2009
All things must change – yet
Our gratitude is constant.
Thank You, God. Thank You. 

PRAYER HAIKU FOR THANKSGIVING 2008
On this Thanksgiving
May we always remember
To love one another. 

PRAYER HAIKU FOR THANKSGIVING 2007
On this Thanksgiving
Let us remember to give
from our heart and soul.  

PRAYER HAIKU FOR THANKSGIVING 2006
Father in Heaven
Thank you for everything
You have given us. 

PRAYER HAIKU FOR THANKSGIVING 2005
On this Thanksgiving
May we always be grateful
For all our blessings. 

PRAYER HAIKU FOR THANKSGIVING 2004
Thanks and gratitude
We give you O Lord our God
For eternity. 

PRAYER HAIKU FOR THANKSGIVING 2003
Oh great God above
Thank you for our family
And all your blessings. 

PRAYER HAIKU FOR THANKSGIVING 2002
We thank you Father
for bringing us together.
We are truly blest.

TOASTS
The traditional toast is one that recognizes that we show our gratitude through our actions.
THANKSGIVING TOAST 2012To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch heaven. - Johannes A. Gaertner

THANKSGIVING TOAST 2011
A grateful life, not just words, will bear witness to the glory of God. - Matthew 8:4

THANKSGIVING TOAST 2010 - we were in the UAE, family Thanksgiving consisted of Turkey sub sandwiches. 
THANKSGIVING TOAST 2009
All the blessings we enjoy are Divine deposits, committed to our trust on this condition: that they should be dispensed for the benefit of our neighbors. - John Calvin
THANKSGIVING TOAST 2008
By our words and our actions, we give Thanks the whole year through. – Traditional Irish Saying
THANKSGIVING TOAST 2007
If the only prayer you said in your whole life was thank you, that would be enough. – Meister Eckhart
THANKSGIVING TOAST 2006
May your heart be filled with gratitude, your days filled with laughter, and your life filled with service to others. - Irish Blessing
THANKSGIVING TOAST 2005
Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action. - Cameron
THANKSGIVING TOAST 2004
Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. - Theodore Roosevelt, 1901
THANKSGIVING TOAST 2003
Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving. -WT Purkiser
THANKSGIVING TOAST 2002
As we express our gratitude, let us never forget
that the highest appreciation is not to utter words,
but to live by them. - JFK

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
MUSIC
Soft background music: Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart or similar
TABLE SETTINGS
  • Centerpiece, Candles
  • Tablecloth
  • Cloth Napkins
CAMERA 
GAMES
Have group family games on hand such as Mad Libs and playing cards. 

 DISCUSSION TOPICS
Think about possible discussion topics of special interest to your guests. If at a loss for words, discussing college football is always appropriate--especially years when the Washington Huskies have had a winning season. If it is a down year for the Huskies, then bring up the fantastic 2002 Apple Cup win over the Cougars at Martin Stadium, or the great 2003 Apple Cup win at Husky Stadium. Prepare a few jokes or humorous stories ahead of time.

TIME TABLE
  • A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THANKSGIVING
    Invite guests to dinner. Last minute invitations are always okay as well. Arrange your work schedule to get the time off. Get some Rotary potatoes. Order beer and root beer kegs. Get mail-order items.
  • SUNDAY
    Double check your supplies to make sure you have everything. If not, go shopping. Depending upon the size of your turkey, you may need to take the turkey out of the freezer and put in the refrigerator. Allow about 24 hours of thawing time in the refrigerator per 5 lbs of turkey. 
  • TUESDAY
    As much as possible, finish up all of your work duties so you can have time at Thanksgiving to share with your family.
  • WEDNESDAY
    • Make the 4 bean salad
    • Make the raspberry jam
    • Prepare the ambrosia salad: refrigerate the fruits (except for the bananas) and the sour cream mix (1.5 cups coconut, 2 cups mini marshmallows, 4 oz sour cream). 
    • Put white wine in the fridge if expecting guests
    • Have a glass of wine or beer or whatever and play some family games.
  • THURSDAY
    • AM:
      • 9:00 - cook the pumpkin pies
      • 10:30 - put the turkey in the oven in plenty of time to be ready by 3:30
      • Put the potatoes in the oven
      • Set the table
      • Memorize the toast & prayer
      • Relax and play some card games
    • PM:
      • 2:30 -
        • take the potatoes out of the oven and mash them; put the mashed potatoes back into the oven in the covered serving dish.
        • open the turkey's roasting bag for the last hour of cooking
      • 3:00 - shortly before meal time, in order:
        • put the cranberries in a dish on the table
        • whip the cream and put in the freezer; by dessert, the whipped cream should be chilled but not frozen.
        • cook the stuffing
        • cook the gravy
        • mash the potatoes
        • steam the vegetables (brocolli, peas)
        • finish making the ambrosia and put it on the table
        • put the 4 bean salad on the table
        • bake the rolls
      • 3:30 - Dinner Time
      • At the end of the meal, while serving dessert, make the coffee
      TIPS
      • As much as possible, cleanup as you cook. As soon as you are done with a cooking utensil, put it directly into the dishwasher or sink.
      • Get everyone involved in preparation and cleanup. Many hands make light work!
      • Make it a point to fill your home with music and laughter. Have some music ready to play, learn some good jokes ahead of time, and have some fun stories to tell.
      • Whenever possible, substitute Splenda or Stevia for sugar
SHOPPING LIST
  • Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
    • 2 medium bananas
    • 1 Lemon
    • 2 medium red delicious apples
    • At least a dozen Idaho potatoes
    • Tangerines or oranges
    • 1 small shallot
    • A small bunch of green onions (scallions)
    • A medium sized onion
  • Turkey Items
    • Buy a frozen whole turkey. In general, buy the biggest turkey possible so you can have lots of leftovers (20+ lbs).
    • Roasting bag
    • Foil cooking pan
    • Gravy (powdered; just add water; get 2 or more packets)
    • Stuffing (2 or more boxes of Stove Top)
  • Canned Goods
    • 1 can of whole berry cranberry sauce
    • 1 can of garbanzo beans
    • 1 can of kidney beans
    • 1 can of green beans
    • 1 can of yellow (wax) beans
    • 1 can of pineapple chunks (12 oz)
    • 1 can of mandarin oranges
    • 1 jar of mayonnaise (for leftover turkey sandwiches)
    • 1 jar of mustard (for leftover turkey sandwiches)
    • 3 cans of pumpkin pie mix
    • 6 cans of evaporated milk
  • Baking Goods
    • Cider vinegar
    • Sweetened shredded coconut
    • Splenda / Stevia / sugar
    • Flour
    • Smart Balance margarine
    • Miniature marshmallows
    • Pumpkin pie spice
    • Cream of Tartar
    • Vanilla
    • 12 oz honey (a honey bear works great)
  • Dairy Section
    • Whipped cream (4 to 6 cartons minimum)
    • Milk (at least 2 gallons)
    • 2 dozen eggs
    • Vanilla ice cream
    • Sour Cream
    • Ready-to-bake grand dinner rolls, 3 or more packages (enough for 4 per person)
    • 4 pre-made pie crusts. Get the frozen pie crusts in a deep dish aluminum pie pan.
  • Frozen Foods
    • 2 lbs of frozen raspberries
    • 2 cartons of vanilla ice cream
    • Birdseye Steamfresh frozen vegetables
  • Beverages (in addition to milk)
    • Sparkling juice
    • Sparkling water
    • French roast coffee
    • Wine
      • Smoking Loon Merlot - 2 bottles
      • Optional: boxed light red or chardonnay
    • Root beer (Thomas Kemper 1/6 Keg or bottled)
    • Beer (Sam Adams 1/6 Keg)
  • Miscellaneous
    • Salt & Pepper
    • loaf of bread or two (for leftover turkey sandwiches)
    • Foil
    • Camera
    • Deck of cards
    • Table settings: centerpiece, napkins, candles
    • Cleaning supplies: Basic H, Basic G
    • Mail Order: Mona Vie

IN 2010 WE SHARED THANKSGIVING IN THE UAE WITH:
  • Tom Heston
  • Mary  Heston
  • Cecilia Heston
  • Alexander Heston
  • Mike was in Spokane, Matt was in Klamath Falls
IN 2009 WE SHARED THANKSGIVING IN IDAHO WITH:
  • Tom Heston
  • Mary Heston
  • Mike Heston
  • Cecilia Heston
  • Alexander Heston
  • .... and our pets Dozer and Zilla
  • Matt was in Portland
IN 2008 WE SHARED THANKSGIVING IN DELAWARE WITH:
  • Tom Heston
  • Mary Heston
  • Matt Heston
  • Mike Heston
  • Cecilia Heston
  • Alexander Heston
  • Andrea Pardoe
  • Dave Pardoe
  • Matt Pardoe
  • Ian Pardoe
  • ... and our pets Dozer Heston and Steeler Pardoe
IN 2007 WE SHARED THANKSGIVING IN IDAHO WITH:
  • Alex Heston
  • Cecilia Heston
  • Mike Heston
  • Matt Heston
  • Mary Heston
  • Tom Heston
  • ... and our pets Dozer and Lightning
IN 2006 WE SHARED THANKSGIVING IN IDAHO WITH:
  • Mary Heston
  • Tom Heston
  • Matt Heston
  • Mike Heston
  • Cecilia Heston
  • Alex Heston
  • Fred Wade
  • Gail Wade
  • Scot Wade
  • Barbara Mollison
  • Robert Coucher
  • Mary Coucher
  • Margaret Coucher
  • Joe Coucher
IN 2005 WE SHARED THANKSGIVING IN SEATTLE WITH:
  • Mary & Tom Heston (parents) and their children
    • Matt Heston
    • Mike Heston
    • Cecilia Heston
    • Alex Heston
  • Julie & Rod Younker (aunt and uncle), and their son Ryan (cousin)
  • Connie & Jerry Heston (grandparents)
  • Dave, Dave & Suzy (friends)
IN 2004 WE SHARED THANKSGIVING WITH:
  • Mary & Tom Heston (parents) and their children
    • Matt Heston
    • Mike Heston
    • Cecilia Heston
    • Alex Heston
IN 2003 WE SHARED THANKSGIVING WITH:
  • Mary & Tom Heston (parents) and their children
    • Matt Heston
    • Mike Heston
    • Cecilia Heston
    • Alex Heston
  • Fred & Gail Wade (grandparents)
IN 2002 WE SHARED THANKSGIVING WITH:
  • Mary & Tom Heston (parents) and their children
    • Matt Heston
    • Mike Heston
    • Cecilia Heston
    • Alex Heston
  • Fred & Gail Wade (grandparents)
IN 2001 WE SHARED THANKSGIVING WITH:
  • Mary & Tom Heston (parents) and their children
    • Matt Heston
    • Mike Heston
    • Cecilia Heston
    • Alex Heston
  • Jerry & Connie Heston (grandparents)
IN 2000 WE SHARED THANKSGIVING WITH:
  • Mary & Tom Heston (parents) and their children
    • Matt Heston
    • Mike Heston
    • Cecilia Heston
    • Alex Heston
  • Jerry & Connie Heston (grandparents)

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