Beef Empañadas

On the weekends, the kids and I like to celebrate no school by making super yummy dinners.  These dinners usually take more time to make, but they are extra delicious and fun for the kids to eat.  This recipe is one of the kids' favorites!  It comes from my sister, Lynae's, cookbook and they are so super good!

Here's what you'll need:

Dough:

4 C. flour

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1/2 C. butter

1 egg, whisked

1 C. water

Filling:

1 lb. ground beef

1 can tomato sauce

1 Tbsp. dried chopped onion OR 1/2 an onion, finely chopped

1 C. salsa

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1 Tbsp. sugar

Salt & Pepper, to taste

Cook the ground beef then add the remaining filling ingredients and allow to simmer.

To make the dough, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.  I used my food processor, but that's not necessary.   Cut the butter into the flour.

Add the whisked egg and slowly add the water until it becomes doughy, much like pie crust dough.

Roll flat and cut into circles.

We used a bowl to cut our circles.

I have this mold that we use, but just folding the dough over and crimping it shut with a fork, or pinching it, works just as well.

Spoon some filling (about 1/4 - 1/2 cup, depending on the size of your circle) on one side of the dough.

Sprinkle with some grated cheese.

Fold the dough over and pinch the seams closed.

Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.

Fry in oil until golden brown.

Place on a paper towel-lined plate.  Serve warm.

There are so many ways you could change these up.  Try a filling with pizza sauce, Italian sausage, olives, and Mozzarella cheese.

Make little dessert Empañadas by using pie filling instead of a meat filling.  Once they've fried, drizzle them with a powdered sugar glaze.

YUMM-O!!!  I hope you enjoy these too!