Frugal Christmas...Chicago 2011!!!

2011 Christmas time in Chicago! I've already seen a couple 'Christmas' commercials with pink elves selling cell phones and car insurance. I guess that means it's that time of year to start thinking about December 25th.

There are so many things to do that are free or frugal in Chicago this season....and I know I have left so many out too! And, for out-of-towners, if you plan a vacation to Chicago this season, you will get to enjoy the many amazing free things to do here in the Windy City! Even many hotels during Christmas season offer great deals to get you in town and shopping on Michigan Avenue! As for dining, remember to check online for extra special deals like these!

Here's my 'must do' list for free Christmas and Winter events for 2011!

1. Magnificent Mile Lights Festival - Be downtown on November 19th at 5:30 PM for the nation's largest evening holiday event! Lights, floats, free music, family fun and Disney characters - it's a great event to bring your whole family!
2. Millennium Park Ice Skating: Bring your skates because there's a free ice-skating rink with a great view of Chicago's iconic skyline!
3. Michigan Avenue: So many shoppers and festivities during the pre-Chistmas season! All the trees along the street are decorated and lit up! It's perfect at night during a light snow flurry strolling with someone you love looking at the lights and decorated windows!
4. Free Christmas Carol Opera - take the kids and family to "The Christmas Carol" at Northeastern Illinois University on Nov 18 & 19th at 7:30 PM, the Classic Story is set to music by Chicagoan Ronald Combs.
5. HOLIDAY CTA TRAIN!!! It's like Christmas on, well, a train! It's bright, cheery and costs the same as your regular train fare. Here's the dates Santa will be on the "el"!
6. Cloud-Gate or "The Bean": Take fun pictures for your Christmas cards at the Bean with snow and mittens! It'll be a great Christmas card picture! Get creative! Located in Millennium Park.
7. The Signature Room in the John Hancock Tower: To see Chicago from a bird eye's view, go up to the Signature Room rather than paying $17 to go to the observation deck (which is actually 2 floors below the Signature Room). Tip: The Women's bathroom has the best view of the city!
8. Eli's Cheesecake Dock Sales: Near O'Hare, Bring your favorite cheesecake to the Holidays to share with friends and family for 50-90% off! With big discount on all their gourmet cheesecakes - you'll want to buy them all! Join their mailing list to stay in touch with their sales! Website
9. Polar Days (at Northerly Island) - (Winter) Free wintertime and snowy fun offered throughout the winter on specific days. Ice Sculptures, free hot cocoa, Siberian Huskies, and more! Check Chicago Park District Page for details on days!
10. Macy's on State Street - The Macy's (aka Marshall Field's) is a delight inside and out! At Christmas it's always decorated to the nines, with marvelous storybook window displays, and of course the designer tree is an annual tradition to see and take pictures; located on Macy's top level in the famed Walnut Room.
11. The Home Alone House is the house of Home Alone character Kevin MacAllister (Macaulay Culkin) to the north of the city at 671 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka (rail: Winnetka, Metra Commuter line from Ogilvie Transportation Center). I'm sure I don't have to remind you that this is a private home and not to disturb the residents.
12. Christkindlmarket, German Christmas Market in Daley Plaza: An outdoor German Christmas Market that features German food, wine, German music (Brass Bands playing Christmas Carols), small houses filled with German ornaments and Christmas traditions. Bring the kids to come see Santa for free! Walk around and absorb the authentic German culture and music in the heart of Chicago,...splurge for the Hot spiced Gluhwein, because you'll probably be freezing. I mean, it's outdoors during December,...it's going to be cold! (Runs for one month, Nov 24 - Dec 24).
13. Klingon Christmas Carol? - A seasonal favorite from Commedia Beauregard? Well, it could be, and you could find out for half price! Runs Nov 16-Dec 31.

You Say "Pierógi, Pyrogy or Perogi"...I Say "Delicious Cheap Eats!"

Every Chicagoan loves pirogies! And no matter how you spell it,....pierógi, pyrogy or perogi....everyone knows that pirogies are delicious filled dumplings! Homemade pierogies are also preeeeeetty cheap to make as well! Pretty much all they require is a couple potatoes, flour, egg and cheese...and a chunk of time for pirogie-making! It goes quicker with 2 or 3 people. (Ask you kids or family members/roommates to help!) My husband and I enjoy making these tasty little dumplings together and then, afterward enjoy eating them and sharing them with friends! Make a double batch and freeze a bunch for easy weeknight dinners, or serve with applesauce and sour cream for an easy delicious and cheap party food!

Ingredients for Pirogi Dough (makes 50 dumplings)

• 4 cups flour

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 large eggs

• 1 cup sour cream

• (also more sour cream to use later with the finished pierogies!)

• 1/2 c. butter, softened and cut into small pieces

Pirogi Dough

To prepare the dough, mix together the flour, salt, beaten egg, sour cream and soft butter and work together in a stand mixer with a dough hook (about 5-7 minutes) until the dough loses most of its stickiness.

Wrap the dough in plastic and let it rest 20 minutes in the fridge (it can rest overnight up to 2 days, but it is much easier to work with the day of). Each batch of dough makes about 50 pierogies (3 inch size).

Potato, Cheese & Onion Filling: (Classic!)

Boil 5 red potatoes until soft. (I didn't peel mine and they turned out fine) While the potatoes are boiling, finely chop 1 large sweet onion and saute it in butter until soft and translucent. If you use a regular onion, add a little teaspoon of sugar to help caramelize it.

Mash the potatoes when fork tender with the onions and add 4-8 oz of grated sharp cheddar cheese (depending on the cheesiness desired). Add salt & pepper. To mash the filling I used an immersion blender, but you can just mash by hand or using an electric hand mixer).

Then let the potato mixture cool, otherwise it is almost impossible to work with (super sticky!!).

Prepare the Pierogies:

Start a large pot of boiling water for later and set out drying racks.

Roll the dough on a floured board or counter top until about 1/8 inch thick. Cut circles with a cookie cutter or other tool, about 3 inches wide. Place a small ball of filling on each dough round and fold the dough over, forming a semi-circle. Press the edges together and finish with the tines of a fork to make the seal and a cute pattern.

THEN - Boil the pierogies, a few at a time, in a large pot of water. They are done with they float to the top (about 8-10 minutes). Scoop them out with a slotted spoon and let dry.

To eat them right away, you can:

Saute the pierogies with chopped onions and fry with butter until lightly crispy. Serve with a side of sour cream for a true pierogi meal. OR My favorite is to bake them on parchment paper or foil in the oven and lightly spray with olive oil to get that cripsy texture! (About 20 minutes at 350 degrees) Serve with sour cream (I like adding applesauce on them as well but some people say that's just me being weird)

For later:

If you don't want to cook all the pierogies right away, you can store them in the fridge after the boiling/drying stage for several days or freeze them for several months in freezer bags.

Total Cost:

• Flour 2 cups: $1.00
• Egg: .16 cents
• Sour Cream: $1.00
• 5 red potatoes: .87 cents
• 8 oz cheese: $1.89
• 1 sweet onion: .60 cents

50 delicious homemade pierogies = $5.52 (about .11 cents/pierogi) These are delicious cheap eats! Yum yum! (compare that to Mrs. T's! Usually $4.99 for 18 pierogies!)