Visions of Sugar Plums

Be on the look out for a blog Christmas party called Visions of Sugar Plums by my wonderful friend Mika from Mika's Pantry and her friend Lori from Choux-Choux.  They will be sharing recipes, traditions, Christmas creations and how to's.  Don't miss it it's going to be fun!

Thanks for reading,
 

New Recipe of the week 14-Empanadas

I love to eat homemade empanadas but hate how long it takes to make each and everyone of those yummy pieces of goodness.  My friend Mika gave me a Lattice Pocket Pie Mold from Williams-Sonoma and now it's going to be easy peasy to make my empanadas. Oh, before I forget you need to head over to Mika's Pantry she has a giveaway and it's a pocket pie mold (just like mine) plus a mini dicer and she's posted 5 easy weeknight dinners...I LOVE the loose meat sandwiches they are totally yummy!

Notice how I stole some pics from Mika's blog...they have her watermark on them. You should never do this unless it's one of your BFF's and you are SURE she will forgive you plus I fessed up and totally linked back to her!  Isn't her button cute?  She's a cartoon cooking princess now!
Anyway, back to the empanada recipe...I used to use this recipe to make the dough like this

3 c. flour

3 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tbsp. shortening

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. milk

Mix dough ingredients well.

But now I use this

 or this 

when I can find it!  They are both quick and simple to use.

Next I cut out circles with a round cookie cutter or a glass, I do this until all the dough is gone.

Then add your filling (filling recipes are at bottom of the page), a spoonful will do if your circle is small like mine is.

Get a small bowl of water and using clean hands dip your finger in the water and then run it all the way around your dough circle then fold in half.

Now use a fork to seal the dough together

Place on an oven stone or on a greased cookie sheet, I then add an egg to a cup of water to make an egg wash and brush the egg wash over each empanada, pop them into a pre-heated 400 degree oven and bake for 12-15 minutes.  You can also fry them but our family tries not to make very much fried food.

They turn out golden brown! 

Fillings

The possibilities are endless, you can make meat fillings or fruit fillings no matter which one you decide on they are all yummy!

I usually make a batch of chicken for the kids and myself (Kevin is allergic to chicken) and a beef batch for all of us.

1 lb. browned ground beef or cooked shredded chicken
1/2 medium onion, diced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1/8 c. chopped fresh cilantro
1/8 c. sliced green olives
salt and pepper, to taste
1/4-1/2 jalapeno, minced (optional)
1 tbsp. tomato paste

and some people like to put raisins in theirs but my family doesn't really like it.






For fruit empanadas just add any type of fruit filling like apple, pineapple, or pumpkin.

Mika's pantry blog

One of my besties of all times, Mika,  has started a cooking blog called Mika's Pantry and I just wanted to share with all of my readers because she has some great recipes!!!  Leave her a comment and let her know you stopped by!

Her and her husband adopted Bailey at the same time that we adopted Makenzie.  Everytime we go visit them in OKC they try out new meals or their favorites at the time on us and EVERYTHING is always so delicious!!!

This is a pic of Mika and Bay and Makenzie and I at the Dillon Family Picnic 2001