Natalie Morris
| Special to the State Journal-Register
The 5 healthiest Christmas foods
A lot of Christmas foods are actually full of important vitamins and nutrients. Here are 5 of the healthiest Christmas foods.
unbranded – Lifestyle
Want more time to fa la la la la this holiday season and less time in the kitchen? The following compilation of local businesses offering Christmas dining and catering specials will keep you on the nice list without being tied to the oven all December.
Interfaith Holiday Breakfast
The 19th Annual Interfaith Holiday Breakfast will be served at Temple B’rith Sholom Christmas Day from 8:30 a.m. to noon with all proceeds going to SPARC.
Breakfast selections are scrambled eggs, pancakes, turkey sausage, assorted pastries, fruit, orange juice, tea and coffee. Cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children age 5 to 12. Kids four and younger eat for free.
The Temple B’rith Sholom and Temple Israel are jointly hosting the event that will take place at Temple B’rith Sholom located at 1004 S. Fourth St. SPARC, a non-profit, works to enrich the lives of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities by enabling them to successfully live, learn, work and socialize in the community.
Sgt. Pepper’s Cafe
Sgt. Pepper’s Cafe is open Christmas Day for its regular free holiday meal.
Ziyad and Souad Samara – owners of Sgt. Pepper’s Cafe – are again inviting the public to spend the holiday meal with them at the 3141 Baker Drive cafe.
The meal, served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m, includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, a vegetable, bread and dessert.
Take out meals are limited to two per person and must be called in advance between 10 and 11 a.m. Phone: 217-525-5939.
The Samaras have served the free holiday meal since 2001.
Feast Buffet
Feast Buffet is adding steak and crab legs to its all-you-can-eat spread on Christmas Day, as well as a meet-and-greet with the Jolly ol’ Elf himself Dec. 20.
The Christmas Day buffet will be served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The endless buffet costs $18.99.
Free photos with Santa Claus Dec. 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. Feast Buffet is at 3125 S. MacArthur Blvd.
Chatham Cafe
Chatham Cafe is open Christmas Day serving up three special entrees.
Christmas dinner specials include prime rib, baked ham with sweet potatoes and lasagna. The featured dinners come with a choice of potato, soup or salad, vegetable and dessert.
The cafe will be open Christmas Day from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Selections from the regular menu also will be available.
The Chatham Cafe is at 414 N. Main St. in Chatham. Reservations requested for parties of 5 or larger. Phone: 217/697-1101.
Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel is closed Christmas Day, but the Tennessee-based chain is taking preorders on holiday heat-and-serve meals to ensure you don’t spend the whole day in the kitchen.
The Holiday Family Package features a spiral sliced sugar cured ham, cornbread dressing, cranberry relish, macaroni and cheese, green beans, rolls and gravy. The package costs $124.99 and feeds 4-6.
The Holiday Feast Package builds on the Holiday Family Package menu, adding mashed potatoes and two pies – apple streusel and pecan. The package costs $184.99 and feeds up to 10 people.
The Prime Rib heat and serve family dinner costs $149.99 and serves up to 6. The meal comes with au jus and horseradish sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, macaroni and cheese, green beans and yeast rolls.
Add to your spread with a line up of a la carte selections. Extra meat selections include turkey breast ($44.99) and ham ($69.99). Side dishes range from Cracker Barrel signatures like fried apples and hashbrown casserole to broccoli cheese casserole and French toast bake. Sides can be purchased in two quantities that serve up to 6 and up to 10 individuals. Prices range from $15.99 to $31.49.
Pie selections include pumpkin, apple-streusel, pecan, chocolate-pecan and cinnamon roll pie. Cost $13.99.
All of these heat-and-serve meals are available for sale from Dec. 21-28 with 24hour advance notice. All Cracker Barrels are closed Christmas Day, but open Christmas Eve until 2 p.m. Place orders online at crackerbarrel.com/about-heat-n-serve.
Golden Corral
Celebrating your Christmas meal early? Golden Corral Buffet & Grill is highlighting its traditional holiday feast buffet lineup that expands the regular spread throughout December.
The 1038 Lejune Drive business is closed Christmas Day, but won’t leave you slaving in the kitchen. There are two ways to take Golden Corral’s holiday spread home: heat-and-serve or ready-to-eat. The family feast feeds 6 to 8 people with prices starting at $109.
Customize with choice of turkey, ham or roast beef. The meal also comes with mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, a side dish of choice, cranberry sauce, a dozen yeast rolls and choice of dessert.
Additional a la carte items can be added for an additional fee. Orders should be placed online at goldencorral.com under the holiday meal tab 48 hours before desired pickup time. Golden Corral will be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve.
Harvest Market
The Harvest Market deli isn’t offering a heat-and-serve catered meal this Christmas season, but the grocery’s in-house restaurant Farmhouse Restaurant has added holiday-themed entrees to its grab-and-go dinners throughout December.
Ham, turkey and roast beef have been added as entree to the regular line up for the single serve meals. The prepackaged meals include a protein, starch and vegetable for $11.99. Bone-in wings in a variety of sauces also join the lineup with 10 jumbo wings for $11.99.
Holiday-themed side dishes also have been added such as au gratin potatoes, green beans and glazed carrots. Sides are sold in a variety of quantities that serve anywhere from 5-10 individuals. A variety of prepackaged soups – ranging from tomato bisque to butternut squash – also are available by the cup, bowl or quart. Prices range from $4 to $14.
These grab-and-go options are located outside the Farmhouse Restaurant entrance by the deli during regular store hours. Harvest Market is at 3001 Veterans Parkway.
Mimi’s Kitchen
Getting your photo with the big guy in the red suit too traditional? How about grabbing pancakes with the Grinch instead?
You don’t have to travel to Mount Crumpit for the occasion. Mimi’s Kitchen in Divernon is hosting an event featuring everyone’s favorite green grump Dec. 21 and 22. Three seatings are available each day at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon. Call 217-705-4573 to reserve a seat by Dec. 14.
The buffet meal includes green pancakes, scrambled eggs, hash browns, Tater tots, ham, biscuits and gravy, sausage patties, omelets, fresh fruit and assorted scratch desserts. Cost is $18.99 for adults, $8.99 for children 12 or younger. Price includes photo ops with the Grinch.
Golden Hour Bake House
Pre order your holiday sweets at Golden Hour Bake House in downtown Springfield.
Featured selections include Christmas cake donuts, layered cakes, pies and cookies. Orders due Dec. 17 for pickups Dec. 21.
Holiday cake donuts come in three flavors (white chocolate-peppermint, sugared orange-cranberry and double chocolate sprinkles) and are available in regular ($15/half dozen) or gluten free ($20/half dozen).
Featured cakes are white chocolate-raspberry, spark chocolate-peppermint and Winter Wonderland (a white cake with blue buttercream and decorated with snowflakes). Cost for the 6-inch, three layer cakes range from $50 to $60. Pies come in cherry, crumble apple, toast S’mores, peppermint French silk and whipped gingerbread. Cost range from $28 to $32.
Christmas cookie flavors include iced sugar cookies, chocolate chip, Bourbon snickerdoodle, chocolate-hazelnut thumbprint, holiday M&M sugar and “Ninjabread” men. Cookies are available by the dozen for $30 to $32. Or opt for an assorted cookie platter for $48 for a dozen. Place orders online at goldenhourbakehouse.com under the Christmas preorder tab.
Incredibly Delicious
Incredibly Delicious has your holiday shopping – as well as noshing – all wrapped up.
Pre-order packages for the French bakery range from hot cocoa and cookies for two ($16.95) to Santa’s brunch box ($20) to Mrs. Claus’ cake box ($42). And don’t forget the Elves macaron box with the cloud-like cookies in flavors like candy cane, gingerbread and chocolate-cherry-rum ($15 for half dozen, $30 for a dozen).
Orders must be placed by midnight Dec. 16. Orders should be placed online only at incrediblydelicious.com. A direct link to the order site is under the Christmas tab. Pick up available at the 925 S. Seventh St. bakery Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Incredibly Delicious also has its signature holiday Buche de Noel cakes. Selections this year feature chocolate-blood orange and spiced apple-cookie butter ($48.95 small/$64.95 large).
Holiday cakes flavors unveiled this season are chocolate-peppermint, coconut snowball, gingerbread-hot cocoa, red velvet, snowman and winter wonderland. The 8-inch iced layer cakes range in price from $51.11 to $57.36.
Want to roll up your own sleeves this holiday season? Try the DIY cookie kits that come in two options: Christmas cookie or gingerbread men. Kits include 10 cookies, icing and sprinkles ($27). Or there is the DIY hot cocoa kit with Belgian hot cocoa, marshmallows, sprinkles, crushed candy cane and festive trimmings. ($25, serves 6).
The pastry shop has Christmas eclairs, peppermint mouse, lemon meringue tarts, cheesecake brownies and Paris-Brest – puff pastry shell filled with hazelnut cream and caramel. Prices range from $21-$23 for a box of 4.
Don’t have sugar plums dancing in your head? Try the bulk chicken salad $14.25/pint, $25.95/quart) or the quiche selections ($29/half pie, $54/whole pie).
Also available for preorder, stuffing mix, dinner rolls and breads. Featured selections include French, multigrain, brioche, baguette, rye, Kalamata Olive, pepper Parmesan, and the traditional Italian holiday sweet bread, Panettone. Prices range from $3.75 to $12.95.
Pease’s at BUNN Gourmet
Pease’s at BUNN Gourmet in The Gables Shopping Center has holiday-themed cakes, cheesecakes, cookies and mini tarts to deck your Christmas table.
Cheesecake selections include peppermint, gingerbread, Raggedy Ann and New York-style. The 10-inch cheesecakes range in rice from $59.99 to $62.99. The 10-inch Hot Cocoa layer cake is $52.99.
Smaller bites include decorated sugar cookies or decorated gingerbread cookies ($3.49 each) or mini lemon-gingerbread tarts or mini eggnog tarts ($1.99 each).
All selections come decorated for the holidays unless otherwise specified. Call 217/793-1840 to place orders, which are due by Dec. 19.
Apple Barn
The Apple Barn in Chatham is taking orders for holiday pies, cookies and candy trays for holiday festivities.
A variety of 10-inch pies are available with prices ranging from $12 to $14. Choose pies either pre-baked or scratch-made, frozen pies that can be baked at home.
Selections include apple or apple crumb, cherry or cherry crumb, chocolate cream, coconut cream, lemon meringue, peach or peach crumb, pumpkin, pecan and strawberry rhubarb. Cream pies are available with a choice of cream topping or meringue.
Assorted cookie and candy trays come in three sizes: small for $27, medium for $47 and large for $67. Or, opt for a bulk candy order. Selections include peppermint bark ($5.50 for 5 ounces), buckeyes or pecan clusters ($7 for 7 ounces) or peanut brittle ($14.95 for 12 ounces).
All items are in stock at the Chatham store, but 48-hours advance notice suggested for large orders.
Natalie Morris is a freelance correspondent.