Lynchburg Living

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By Miranda Canady

Holidays have you a little stressed out? Between finding a parking spot, shopping for gifts, mailing cards, visiting family, decorating and cleaning the house there is little time left over to truly enjoy the season. In fact, a survey by Mental Health America revealed that 34 percent of holiday stress comes from simply having too many activities.

This year, local businesses are helping provide delicious entrees, side dishes and desserts in hopes of eliminating at least one contributor of stress this season, no matter your situation.

Scenario 1: Last year’s extra crispy macaroni and cheese made you the laughing stock at the family Christmas party. To top it off, you’ve been burdened with a reminder of your novice cooking skills the whole year through.

Fear not! Make & Take Gourmet in Forest offers several pre-packaged items that come with step-by-step instructions easy enough for even the most inexperienced chefs. Redeem yourself with the Baked Four Cheese Macaroni & Cheese or try out a new side, such as the Sweet Potato Bake with Apple Butter, Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes with Bacon or some Old Fashion Stuffing. They even offer 8- to 11-pound boneless turkey breasts. Plus, Make & Take’s desserts are pre-made so you are guaranteed to “wow” guests with their well-known pumpkin rolls with cream cheese.

To reserve your holiday dishes and to look at the full list of offerings, visit the Make & Take website at www.mtgroumet.com. Fill out the 2011 Thanksgiving Dinner order form by e-mailing it to mtgourmet@aol.com or by printing the order form and dropping it off on site. Make & Take Gourmet is located at 12805 Forest Rd. #221.

Scenario 2: Your in-laws from up north are spending the holidays at your house and you really want them to experience genuine Southern food at its finest.

Look no further than Magnolia Foods, known for its local charm and wide selection of Virginia-made products. Under new ownership but offering the same staff, menu and pricing that regulars have come to know and love, owner Adi McCauley says she plans to continue the legacy created by Magnolia’s original owner, Lucy Cook.

When it comes to holiday meals, you can create your own menu by choosing from several classic side dishes–mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar pecan crust, cranberry relish, turkey gravy, mushroom and cornbread stuffing, corn pudding, green beans with almonds and Willie’s buttery yeast rolls. End the meal a sweet potato cheesecake, chocolate Kahlua pecan pie or a very berry tart. Prices range from $7 to $26 each depending on serving size. For a complete list, call Magnolia Foods at (434) 528-5442. All orders are on a “first come” basis.

If you are looking to really go over-the-top to impress out-of-towners with local favorites, consider a “Made in Virginia Basket,” which includes Virginia wine, Virginia Diner Peanuts, a Virginia Bed and Breakfast cookbook, a 6 oz. bag of Carriage House pecan cheese biscuits, Gunther’s salsa, Nana Cucina chips, Virginia Chutney, Ann’s apple butter, Magnolia brownies and toffee pretzels, all for $135. For smaller, gift-size packages, opt for the “Made in VA MINI” for $38, which includes Virginia wine, Carriage House cheese straws, apple butter, Gunther’s salsa and a large bag of Route 11 chips. Also, don’t forget to give them a true taste of Lynchburg with Magnolia Foods’ famous brownies, complete in their own custom made box for $24.

Scenario 3: Your ever-expanding extended family is growing too large to fit into your one story house, so you’ve opted for a larger location that doesn’t come equipped with a kitchen.

Charley’s to the rescue! The long-loved local restaurant also offers off-site catering and customizable menus–perfect for those who are hosting a large party. They offer a holiday meal that features carved turkey with gravy, baked ham, garlic mashed red potatoes, country style green beans, tossed salad, rolls and butter. Prices start at $14.95 plus tax and service fees. Make your new location feel like home by taking advantage of Charley’s service offering of china, glassware, silverware, table cloths, napkins, champagne flutes and other specialized items, priced individually.

If you are feeling adventurous, take the non-traditional route by choosing from Charley’s year-round catering menu options. With more than 30 entrees to choose from and twice as many sides, some delectable entree selections include Beef Pot Roast in Au Jus, Baked Cheesy Penne in Marinara, Santa Fe Chicken in Red Pepper Cream, Crawfish Etoufee and Jamaican Jerk Chicken among many others. Pair the entrees with unique side dishes, such as herb baby potatoes in a white wine glaze, yam bake with banana or sweet and spicy black beans. Finish the course with an assortment of cakes, pies, pastries, cheesecakes or cobblers. For a full list of items, visit the Charley’s website at www.charleyslynchburg.com or call (434) 237-5988.

Scenario 4: You, unfortunately, have to put in a full day at work. Preparing and cooking a holiday meal has nearly become an impossible task.

You are in luck. One of the best places to buy an entire pre-made holiday meal, specifically Thanksgiving, is your local Kroger. From the Thanksgiving turkey all the way down to the traditional sides and desserts, Kroger is easily one of the most convenient and affordable options for busy workers with little to no time for cooking. Just take one look at our mouth-watering turkey cover photo. Holiday packages are customizable and include popular items from their Private Selection brand as well as traditional items such as mashed potatoes, golden dinner rolls, stuffing, cranberry sauce and more. Your nearby grocery also carries a large variety of pies and desserts.

Customers are encouraged to stop in to the Forest Kroger at 15069 Forest Rd. or to call the deli department at (434) 534-0020 for more information. Booths will also be set up in select locations for customers to fill out order forms in-store as well as ask questions about any of the menu items.

Scenario 5: Last year’s holiday hoopla had you cleaning gravy out of every crack and crevice long after the meal had come and gone. This year you are determined to keep a spotless kitchen.

Cook’s Alley has a by-order list of offerings for holiday favorites such as stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, ham biscuits, rolls, pies, cranberry sauce, cranberry chutney, green beans and more. All sides are priced according to choice, with rolls affordably priced at $4 per dozen and ham biscuits at $7 per dozen. They also offer a wide-variety of cheeses and dips that change weekly. Order all of your side dishes at Cook’s Alley and it will be easy to convince another family member to bring a turkey–it’s only fair, of course.

To place an order, call (434) 384-1927 or e-mail at cooksalley@msn.com. Also, be sure to check out the weekly menu at cooksalley.com. Items change weekly, but soups are available daily in the winter. Cook’s Alley is also a great source for customizable vegetarian menus.

This holiday season, set yourself and your loved ones up for success and experience a best-case scenario by taking advantage of one of the many holiday offerings from some of our local favorites. Out with messy kitchens, overcooked dishes and the pressure for perfection. In with great tasting entrees, affordable dinners and more time with family. From pre-made turkeys to step-by-step instructed side dishes and over-the-top desserts, this should be a meal to remember.