Weekend Recap - Oktoberfest (Chicago Style)

This past weekend, BF found a groupon for 1/2 off the local Oktoberfest being hosted just blocks north of him in Lincoln Park. 

Nothing better illustrates Chicago than Oktoberfest (celebration of beer) at a Catholic Church. Churches host the best street festivals and alcoholic endeavors. It's slightly ironic.

Anywho, the groupon got us entry for 3 days, a cool glass stein, and $21 in food/drink tickets. Pretty baller! We only ended up going on Saturday evening which worked out fine. Sixteen Candles (a local Chicago 80's cover band) was playing which was pretty spiffy.

 

 

Got to hang with my SHC girls!

 I even ran into a gentleman I was planning on interviewing next month for a new brand profile here in the Chicago area... completely random and awesome! Can't wait to learn more about the Chicago Belt Company!

A big group of us then made our way to Uncle Julio's for some late night grub, as one of BF's fraternity brother's works there. I'd never been before and was kind of excited. I had managed to wave down a cab to fit like 10 people... apparently that didn't go over well with the cabbie, and BF and I ended up in a rickshaw, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. It was such a nice night out and didn't even start drizzling till we were almost home after grabbing some clutch Mexican at the restaurant.

But I skipped ahead:

BF came out to the burbs on Friday night in the hopes of dropping his car off at the auto center to get looked at (that pesky 'check engine' light has been on... for a while...). Sadly the 'Taurus-guy' (ps how much would it suck to be known as that) wasn't in, so we had to bring in back on Monday. But I had made dinner....

I made BF mini- vegetarian pot-pies 

 and myself a standard home-made chicken pot pie.

I kind of made the recipe from scratch:

- 1 Bag frozen peas

1 Bag frozen corn

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup milk

1 can chicken broth

1 small bag new potatoes

generous dusting of pepper and salt

VEGETARIAN SERVINGS: Separate out small portion and add in vegetarian chicken substitute cubed. Stir and place in small bowls. slice sliver of butter and put on top. Bake at 425 degrees for 25 mins, then place 2 Pillsbury rolls on top and bake for another 10 mins. 

MEAT SERVINGS: Take remaining portion and shred cooked chicken (I used one whole roasted chicken from the grocery store) and stir. Take a greased pie pan and place one pie crust in it. Fill with bowl contents. Sliver butter sporadically on top. Cover with pie crust and slit for air. Bake at 425 degrees for 40-50 mins, until crust is golden brown.

The above content made 2 pies (I froze one) and 4 small pies.

It was super easy, fast and delicious.

Flash forward to Sunday:

BF and I spent a lazy day watching football before heading back to the burbs to make dinner and do laundry. 

All in all, it was a great weekend!

It's finally starting to feel like fall.

Have you tried any new recipes yet? Care to share?