Make Krystal a part of your family holiday traditions!

As many of you might know, we read a variety of Krystal-related stories, quotes and tidbits that are posted on Facebook, Twitter and even your own personal blogs. And from time to time, we share those fun items here on Krystalist for all Krystal fans to enjoy. Below is one of those excerpts from the “Land of Loving” blog.

This post is one of those posts I write so that my kids will have a recap in 20 years. So, bear with me a moment as I recap the Loving family Christmas of 2009:

Christmas WIN:
Sending out Christmas cards.

Christmas FAIL:
Sending out Christmas cards on December 23rd.

Christmas WIN:
Keeping our Christmas Eve tradition alive. Per the usual, we had a sack of Krystal burgers in a picnic on the floor while watching cheesy Christmas movies. It’s why the girls call Krystal burgers “Christmas burgers.” And it is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.

I think we just found a new Christmas Eve tradition for ourselves – or we’ll be stealing one that is. Christmas Burgers are genius. Why didn’t we think of this before? With all the big turkey and ham dinners surrounding the holidays, Krystal Burgers are the perfect way to inject a little something different into the routine. The kids obviously love it, and there are no dishes for the adults to clean up afterward. Now that’s a Christmas WIN!

It’s too bad we have to wait another year. But until then, we’ll be here featuring more of your great Krystal moments, so be sure to keep on sharing.

Download Krystal's printable ornaments to decorate with the family and hang on the tree!

Deck the halls with Christmas Decorations made easy by Krystal. And don’t forget to submit your photos to Krystal’s Holiday Decorations Contest to win a $50 gift card. Tips and details below…

1. Krystal’s Downloadable Ornaments: Visit FamousKrystal.com/holiday2009 where you can print, color and cut out the ornaments to help decorate the tree. Simply punch out the hole at the top of the ornament, tie a 12″ string through the hole and hang.
2. Krystal Gift Boxes: If you’re looking for inexpensive ways to help decorate the house, grab a few empty Krystal boxes and wrap with your favorite Christmas wrapping paper and tie with a bow. The small boxes can be stacked on top of each other for layered effect and placed throughout the house as decor. Or you can place ornament hook through the bow to hang on tree as ornament – see example photos below.
3. Krystal Centerpiece: Start with one Krystal Box and simply insert another into the previous Krystal box while continually angling each new box in the same direction so that if forms a complete circle. See Krystal box-stacking video below for visual reference of circular design. Place large candle in middle of centerpiece and decorate space between Krystal boxes and candle with pine cones, etc. You’ll need about 12 – 24 Krystal Boxes, depending on size of circle.
4. Krystal Wreath: Arrange Krystal Boxes in the same circular pattern as stated above, then wrap with thin layer of garland around the wreath so that Krystal box design still shows through the background.
5. Edible Mini-Christmas Snowmen: You will need (3) 12-count orders of Sweet Bites (36 total), vanilla/white icing, stick pretzels and candy sprinkles. Simply take 3 Sweet Bites, coat each with icing and stack one on top of the other (tip: if icing doesn’t make them stick together, use toothpick through the center, but be sure to warn guests for safety). Use stick pretzels for arms and candy sprinkles to make eyes, nose, mouth and buttons. You can even use gumdrops or chocolate kisses as a hat. You can also coat serving dish with icing to help snowmen stand up on plate. Recipe makes 12 mini-snowmen. Another Food Tip: Use Christmas cookie cutter shapes and press into Krystal Burgers to create fun holiday-themed burger designs.

Krystal will accept photo entries via email, Flickr and Twitter for its Holiday Decorations Contest. For photo submission details, click here. The deadline is noon on Dec. 23., and winners will be announced here on Krystalist.com on December 24. And remember, creativity counts so just have fun with it!

Wrap Krystal Boxes and hang on tree as ornaments!

Place wrapped Krystal Boxes around the house and use as holiday decor.

Give yourself the gift of Krystal's Christmas Cheer this holiday season!

For anyone who missed Krystal’s Holiday Greeting email on Friday, below is a little snapshot of Christmas cheer that was shared with guests. The Krystal Karoling video features two Krystal Lovers setting their disagreement over sharing Crispy Onion Krystals to the popular Christmas carol “Silver Bells.”

If you want to join in the Krystal Christmas spirit, don’t forget you can send in photos for the Holiday Decorations Contest to win a $50 Krystal Gift Card. We’ll be giving you decorating tips here on Krystalist.com tomorrow, so be sure to check back for Krystal ornament ideas and more for your photo submissions.

Visit FamousKrystal.com/holiday2009 for more holiday fun, and sign up here to receive Krystal’s e-newsletter with exclusive news and special offers for guests.

Santa is making his list and checking it twice, so you better find out if you've been Naughty or Nice!

Just when you thought the wacky holidays had come to an end for 2009 we pull out one more – Santa’s List Day. Always on December 4, Santa’s List Day answers the year-long question: Have you been Naughty or Nice? And of course, Santa knows.

Our research shows that this day was created at the North Pole by Santa and the aid of his magical elves. We hear that the gang works tirelessly to make sure the first draft of Santa’s Naughty and Nice list is done by this day, only making small revisions here and there up until Christmas Eve. Hint, Hint – if you’ve been bad, you still have time to redeem yourself.

So, if you’re in the market for a new gadget, pair of shoes, bottle of cologne, Krystal Gift Card or whatever your wish, think real hard about your behavior over the last year. Could be worth doing a few extra chores or nice gestures around the house. After all, Santa doesn’t miss much and no body wants a stick of coal in their stocking.

Krystal teamed up with Santa this holiday season to bring you a free $5 gift card with any $20 Krystal gift card purchase!

With Christmas and Hanukkah right around the corner, the holiday shopping madness is already in full swing. And while many Black Friday deals will end soon, Krystal is giving you the most bang for your buck all season long.

Starting Monday, Nov. 30th, all Krystal guests who purchase a $20 Krystal Gift Card in-store will receive a bonus $5 Gift Card absolutely free. That’s two gifts for the price of one!

Perfect for stocking stuffers, the Krystal gift cards come wrapped in holiday-themed sleeves that add a festive touch and allow for personalization. Krystal’s Holiday Gift Cards are also a convenient cashless payment option for busy customers eating on-the-go. Available in $10 increments, the reloadable gift cards never expire and can be used quickly and easily to purchase Krystal menu items year-round.

For more information, visit Krystal.com.

Get rewarded this holiday season simply for eating your favorite Krystal meal!

‘Tis the season to give and receive, and Krystal is embracing the holiday spirit by bestowing its guests with the gift that keeps on giving for 30 days straight. Starting Wed., Nov. 25 – the day before Thanksgiving – Krystal will giveaway one $10 gift card every two hours until the evening of Thurs., Dec. 24 on Christmas Eve.

Let us repeat: Krystal will reward 12 fans one $10 gift card each per day for 30 days this November and December. And to break it down even further, that means exactly 360 Krystal guests will walk away with their own $10 gift card.

All you have to do is take the code from the bottom of your Krystal receipt and enter it on Krystal.com for the chance to win. The more times you visit Krystal, the greater your chances to win. Just a little tip from us: You have to eat three meals a day anyway, so why not stop by Krystal for breakfast, lunch and dinner to make the most out of this holiday giveaway.

Winners will be announced on Krystalist, Facebook and Twitter, so be sure to check in daily. For more information, visit Krystal.com.

Krystal's Eggnog MilkQuake is available in restaurants today!

Notice all the Christmas decorations popping up in stores ever since Halloween passed? Well Krystal has a little merry cheer all its own, and it comes in the form of one premature holiday treat that even Scrooge would appreciate.

Back by popular demand, Krystal’s creamy, dreamy Eggnog MilkQuake is now available in all Krystal restaurants. A Yuletide favorite among Krystal Lovers, The Eggnog MilkQuake features real, premium ice cream and Monin Eggnog flavoring made with 100% pure cane sugar. That’s right – Krystal makes only the best for its guests.

So, whether you’re looking to start your own Eggnog-filled holiday tradition to share with family and friends during this holiday season or you just have a sweet tooth that won’t be satisfied with anything else, be sure to grab an Eggnog MilkQuake for the ultimate comfort food experience. But hurry, this heavenly goodness is available for a limited time only, so start celebrating early this year and grab one today!

In case you haven’t heard, leaving milk and cookies out for Santa Claus is so 2007. Plain ole eggnog, not good enough. Nope, this year, the big man in red is craving a Krystal Eggnog MilkQuake for his late night treat.

Featuring real, premium ice cream and Monin Eggnog flavoring made with 100% pure cane sugar, the Eggnog MilkQuake has quickly become a Yuletide favorite across Krystal country, and from what we hear, and by “hear” we mean “are making up as we type,” the tasty treat is all the rage in the North Pole.

So give us Santa what we he really wants tonight. Head to your nearest Krystal restaurant and pick up an Eggnog Milkquake for Saint Nick. Trust us, he’ll thank you for it.

And for you last minute, literally, Christmas shoppers, don’t forget that Krystal has Holiday-themed Gift Cards that make perfect stocking stuffers. Purchase a $20 one and you’ll also get a free stuffed Krystal Penguin while supplies last.

For oh-so-tempting photos of the Eggnog MilkQuake, click here.

Take a look at the video below of competitive eating greats Joey Chestnut, Sonya Thomas, Eric “Badlands” Booker and more chowing down at Artie’s Deli’s annual turkey-eating contest in 2005 in New York City.

At only 100 pounds, Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas beat out seven men for the title. Now that’s some stuffing!

Of course, we prefer watching these expert eaters compete at the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, but on Thanksgiving – turkey trumps beef.

I wonder what these guys will eat for Christmas…

Thanksgiving Turkey Eat-Off

Want to see more competitive eating footage?  Check out the Krystal Square Off competitive eating videos.