Preparation ideas:

Turkey—There are several brands of white meat turkey chunks in a "tuna fish" sized can. Hormel makes a Roasted Turkey Spam which slices pretty easily (about 10 thin slices per can). The sliced Spam with a few of the turkey chunks is almost like the white and dark meat.

Stuffing—Stovetop makes both Turkey and Cornbread (about 6 servings per box). If you are sending multiple boxes, "Mrs. Cubbisson" has a good herbed dressing that softens fairly easily with liquid. There are two bags inside one box. I tried just adding water and it was a little bland, so here are a few "canned additions" which make it much better:

    1  can of Campbell's "Chunky" chicken with vegetable soup* (18.8oz can)
    1 can of mushrooms (pieces and stems—6.5 oz.)

Put one package of stuffing mix in container. Dump half of the soup over the bread crumbs and using a fork mash the vegetables. Put in half of the mushrooms and liquid. Mix and add additional water as necessary.

The 1 can of soup and 1 can of mushrooms can be used for two small boxes of the stovetop or one double box of Mrs. Cubbisons.)

*Note: Dinty Moore makes a Chicken Stew which could be used as well.

Green Bean Casserole—I have seen canned green bean casserole or it can be made: 

    2 or 3 cans of French cut green beans
    1 can of mushroom soup (I found a reduced sodium one since all of this stuff has so much sodium)
    1 or 2 cans of French fried onion rings (2 cans might be a bit overwhelming if you use only 2 cans of green beans).

Drain the beans and mix in the soup, then top with onion rings.

Candied Yams—Several companies make candied Yams—S&W is one. They are fairly sweet and could be mixed with a can of plain yams.

Gravy—Canned turkey gravy

Cranberries-- Jellied and whole cranberries.

Dessert--I'm looking for some creative ideas. One suggestion was a cinnamon-apple bar.  There are several brands with the breakfast bars or if you are sending multiple boxes "Apple Bars" from the cookies section could also work. Feel free to send me suggestions.

Microwave cooking notes: Some of the soldiers have more cooking containers than others. With so many pre-packaged food these days, microwave containers are not as easy to find. Glad makes "Gladware" in an 8X8 pan which is oven proof and microwavable. There is also a 9X12 size which does not fit as easily into the flat rate box. The 8X8 size may also fit more microwave ovens. Rubbermaid also makes some microwave safe plastic containers called "TakeAlongs".

With so many cans to open , send a few extra can-openers if there is room.

Christmas right around the corner, so a Christmas ornament would be a great thing to slip into one of the boxes. I just found some very inexpensive ($0.99) ornaments using "Patriotic Christmas Ornaments" on Ebay.

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SHIPPING: USPS flat rate Priority Boxes for $8.95 are a good deal. The  dinner fits into two boxes (one of each size—11"X 8-12" X 5-12" and 11-7/8" X 3-3/8" X 13-5/8") Should you be "packing challenged", you may request a Packing Diagram.  (Please note that the diagrams are rough sketches at the present time.) If you haven’t done this before, be sure to  keep track of your items for the customs form. Contact your local Post Office for forms and instructions.

Two Box Packing Example:

Box One: 11"X 8-1/2" X 5-1/2"
3 Turkey Spams
1 Stovetop Cornbread Stuffing
1 can French cut green beans
1 mushroom soup
1 mushroom stems and pieces
1 whole cranberry sauce
2 candied yams
1 fried onion rings

Box Two: 11-7/8" X 3-3/8" X 13-5/8
3 turkey chunks
1 Stovetop Turkey Stuffing
1 Campbell Chunky Chicken with Vegetable Soup
2  French cut green beans
1 jellied cranberry sauce
1 candied yams
2 turkey gravy
1 can opener
1 package of Thanksgiving napkins

Tip: Drop in some Apple Strudel Snack Bars for Dessert!

COST: With postage and food costs, this is not an inexpensive project. The two box dinner, excluding napkins and can opener is about approximately $65.50 (Postage $17.90 and food  $47.60). Click here for some cost cutting variations or to do a one box dinner.

Additional packing ideas: With the Thanksgiving Dinners,  include a packing slip indicating "Thanksgiving Dinner Box 1 of 2" or "Box 2 of 2" and the contents of all of the boxes.

If you are sending multiple boxes, try to mix the items so that all of the green beans or all of the cans of gravy aren't in the same package. That way if a box is lost or delayed, most the foods will be there (even if the quantities are smaller).

Label everything "Save for Thanksgiving Dinner" so that if the food is stored in a common area and your soldiers are trying to segregate it, it will be easier and no one will mistakenly munch on a key ingredient. To print labels, click here or see link on Documents page.

Send cooking instructions with the ‘recipes’ from above. Some of the soldiers have indicated "no cooking skills"!  Create your own letter from the information above or see Thanksgiving Food Preparation for Word or PDF format documents.

Note on portions: With one group that may be as many as 35 Americans, I am sending portion sizes, The shipment is 7 or 8 boxes but not huge portions by any means. I am including measuring cups (1/2 cup size for the yams dressing and casserole) so that if they need to stretch portions, they aren’t out of stuffing by soldier 26! If there are seconds, great! Also this is where 1 Spam=10 slices (approximately 5 small servings) could be very helpful to them.

If your budget permits, white socks make a wonderful packing material and most of the soldiers ask for them on wishlists. If you are sending to groups that include female soldiers, women's sizes are greatly appreciated.

SHOPPING: You may have other stores, depending on where you are located. I am in Northern California and these are some of the  best sources of food deals:

Safeway-- Check for sales on "Turkey Spam"  and cranberries.

Albertsons--has good prices on "Turkey Spam" and was also a good source for canned Egg Nog last year.

Big Lots—frequently has canned foods at discounted prices. 

The Dollar Tree—canned foods, can openers, measuring cups (I got multiple sets and pulled out the ½ cups.) Other "dollar stores" may have similar items.

Grocery Outlet—canned foods and other items.

Trader Joes—large cans of turkey chunks.

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CREATED ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2005
UPDATED JULY 9, 2007