Empanada Craziness

This is getting to be pretty typical, another disaster turned miracle.  Last night I attempted to make Turkey Empanadas.  Now the recipe is for beef empanadas, but we rarely buy red meat for the home, so I used half a pound of turkey meat (the other half was used in my Spinach Lasagna Roll Up Sauce)  So I got super ambitious and decided to make her homemade dough recipe (She called it easy, and boy it was).  So I get so excited to make some dough that I get out the Hamilton Beach stand mixer Mom got me for x-mas (it's no Kitchen Aid, but it'll do till one of you get it for us for our wedding :)).  Anyways, I get this huge thing out of the closet and out of the box and set it all up with dough rings and everything and get everything started, I put in the dry ingredients (flour, salt, paprika) then after the butter is all melted in the water I turn to the directions and read "work the dough with your hand". I DIDN'T EVEN NEED THE STUPID MIXER! I was so disappointed! Anyways, so I do follow the instructions and get this cute little thing:  



Mad Props to Caleb for taking all my pictures (I think he is getting as excited about this blog as me!)


So I had to do this during my lunch break, but it needed to refrigerate for at least two hours.  So I throw it in the fridge (and onto a plate, per Caleb's idea) and run back to work.

So after work I return and get strait back into empanada mode and start the filing and everything.  And it turns out delicious and I am super super excited about it. 


Now this is the point where disaster strikes... The stupid dough would not create the perfect pocket of dough like in the picture on the website! I rolled it out the way it said (after dividing it into ten balls) granted, I was using a ice cream scoop to roll... This is when Caleb came out with his great idea to use the cooking spray can (aka Pam).  Now this is why I love him, he is such a genius! So after using the Pam spray to roll out my dough it becomes a little easier. But those first two empanadas, man are they ugly. (Hence why I will NOT post a picture of them).  So like the cooking genius I am, I add an egg wash to the outside of the empanadas so they will become more golden.  Now, while basking in my stroke of genius, I forget to put the Mexican cheese inside! This is disaster number two! Errr... stupid pride got in the way again... 

Well Caleb's geniusness strikes again and he tells me to put it on top after the dough is cooked, and VOILA! cheesey empanada goodness.  We enjoyed these babies with a nice Italian salad (I know, I know it makes no sense, but what is Mexican salad dressing? Do they even eat salad's in Mexico? "I think the taco salad is an American thing," said Caleb.) So yes we had salad with italian dressing (well I had Age Parmesan Peppercorn ... hehe I poured the last little bit in my dressing before Caleb came to the table). 

So see our meal, and of course Hercules trying to sneak some since they were so delicious. Notice Caleb's salad is basking in shininess because he likes his salad to be washed so the "salad dressing doesn't stick to the lettuce like glue".  

Now if only I had a salad spinner (also on the registry) I would be able to wash his salad with much more ease! Now if you are wondering what a salad spinner is... like Kristian and Stephanie had just asked, it is pictured to the left.  What the point of this little baby is you wash your salad then put it in and press the green button on top so that you salad is moist and not soaked! Genius, huh? Well never-the-less, I want one of these, please :)

 
Now we did eat more than one of those delicious babies, (Caleb had three, fatty) But we did have left overs and like the nice little roommate that I am, I brought some home to my beautiful roomies (in their PJ's)

Now, not to toot my own horn, but Haley and Kristian LOVED them. And per my request, added salsa to eat with it... YUM! 


Well, I don't think I'll be making these again any time soon... However, the dough was delicious and SO EASY! So next time I make pot pie's I'll probably use this dough recipe rather than buy store bought especially since it is basically free (i mean flour, salt, butter, and water)... How can you say no!?


So I'm off, tonight will be a left over night and we've got big Tennessee plans for the weekend (GO Men's Basketball!) We'll see what turns up when I plan the weekend/week grocery list later today. (I get so much done at work! :)). Also, happy Friday aka PAYDAY! WAHOO! This means I can now go buy groceries!