Cherry-Braised Short Ribs

I found this recipe in the October 2012 issue of Rachel Ray Magazine. I thought the short ribs looked great and  having never made them before, I had to try them. The recipe served them with bok choy and soba noodles which I also made, but I can't recommend them because I did not particularly care for them. If you have never had bok choy, it isn't extremely terrible, the taste is similar to cabbage, but I like cabbage better. Instead of the soba noodles I would try lo mein noodles or go potato with mashed cheesy potatoes or mashed sweet potatoes. I think it is safe to say that I won't be purchasing bok choy or soba noodles ever again. The noodles were slimy, however, the bok choy was very tasty raw. Unfortunately, my cut of short ribs were very fatty, but the taste was still good when you cut around the fat.

Season the ribs with salt and pepper. Go light on the salt because you are also using soy sauce. In a large dutch oven, heat 1 tbsp. oil over over high heat. In 2 batches, brown all of the sides of the ribs, adding more oil if needed, about 5 minutes per batch. 

 Transfer to a plate. 

Lower the heat to medium and add the sesame seeds and toast for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Pour in the wine and vinegar, stirring to scrape up the browned bits. Add the beef broth, hoisin (tastes like BBQ sauce), cherry juice and soy sauce and bring to a simmer.

Return the ribs to the pot, making sure to keep the meat submerged. Partially cover the pot and simmer until the meat is tender and falling away from the bone, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

Transfer the short ribs to a plate. Increase the heat to high, add the bok choy (if using) to the pot and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Using the slotted spoon, transfer the bok choy to the plate with the meat. Add the cooked soba to the braising sauce in the pot and bring to a boil; cook until heated through, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to the plates using tongs. I left out the dried cherries because a small container of them at my store was $8 and I just couldn't bring myself to pay that. Add the cherries to the sauce and boil until the mixture is thickened and the cherries are soft, about 10 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the meat, greens and noodles. Top with the scallions.

The original recipe...

http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipe/cherry-braised-short-ribs-with-bok-choy-soba-noodles/

Ingredients

• 3 pounds beef flanken short ribs (about 1-inch thick), sliced across the bones and halved crosswise
• salt and pepper
• 1 - 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 2 teaspoons grated garlic
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup hoisin sauce
• 1/2 cup bottled pure cherry juice
• 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 1/2 pounds bok choy, well rinsed
• 1 8.8 ounce package  soba noodles, cooked and rinsed
• 1/2 cup dried cherries
• 3 tablespoons sliced scallion greens

Directions

1. Season the ribs with 1/2 tsp. salt. In a large dutch oven, heat 1 tbsp. oil over high heat. In 2 batches, brown the ribs, adding more oil if needed, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer to a plate. Lower the heat to medium, add the sesame seeds and toast for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
2. Pour in the wine and vinegar, stirring to scrape up the browned bits. Add the beef broth, hoisin, cherry juice and soy sauce and bring to a simmer. Return the ribs to the pot, making sure to keep the meat submerged.
3. Partially cover the pot and simmer until the meat is tender and falling away from the bone, about 2 hours (as shown above).
4. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the short ribs to 4 plates. Increase the heat to high, add the bok choy to the pot and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Using the slotted spoon, transfer the bok choy to the plates with the meat. Add the cooked soba to the braising sauce in the pot and bring to a boil; cook until heated through, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to the plates using tongs. Add the cherries to the sauce and boil until the mixture is thickened and the cherries are soft, about 10 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Pour the sauce over the meat, greens and noodles. Top with the scallions.

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Chicken Fricassee

I found this recipe in the October 2012 issue of Food Network magazine. It was really great because it gave step by step instructions for cooking the dish. It is a French dish which can be a bit intimidating, but it was very easy and very delicious! The recipe called for one whole chicken, but drumsticks were on sale so that is what I used. I think next time I make this, before serving, I will take the chicken off of the bone and serve it more like a soup because the broth is very tasty. I may even throw a few spaghetti noodles in there. I think this dish would also be good with pork, however, if you are not a meat eater, this one isn't for you. I don't think seafood would be all that great in this one. You could also serve this dish over rice or creamy mashed potatoes. You will want some good bread to sop up the sauce! This took approximately an hour and a half start to finish.

Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper. Preheat Dutch oven or other large heavy pot over medium high heat. Add 2 tbsp butter and the oil to pot. 

When butter melts and foam subsides, add half the chicken, skin side down, in a single layer, do not crowd pot (like I did). If butter begins to blacken, lower heat. Fry chicken turning once, until golden brown on both sides (about 10 minutes total). Transfer chicken to a plate, repeat if there is any remaining chicken. 

Reduce heat to medium, add onion, carrot, and celery to pot. Scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. 

Saute mixture, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown in places (8-10 minutes).

Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they become dark and glossy and begin to release liquid (4-5 minutes). 

 Stir in flour and cook until it is absorbed by vegetables and is no longer visible (1 minute).

Add wine to pot and bring to a boil stirring until liquid just thickens (45 seconds). I didn't have white wine so I used 2/3 cup of vermouth. 

Add 4 cups chicken broth broth and stir. 

Place chicken, skin side up, in a single layer on top of the veggies, pour any juices from the plate into the pot. Tie parsley, thyme, and bay leaf together with chicken twine, add to pot. I did not have any kitchen twine on hand so it is perfectly fine to let the herbs loose in the pot! Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Cover partially. Cook until chicken is no longer pink (about 30 minutes). 

Transfer chicken to a clean plate. Simmer liquid uncovered until reduced slightly (5 minutes). Discard herbs.

Make a sauce thickener - whisk together egg yolks and cream in a medium bowl or large measuring bowl. Whisking constantly, pour 1/2 cup cooking liquid, 1 tbsp at a time, into cream and egg mixture to temper it. Stir tempered mixture into pot.

Return chicken to pot, add tarragon, lemon juice, and remaining tbsp butter. Bring to a simmer. Stir gently to combine and serve.

I was so excited to taste this dish that I did not take a photo of it on my plate! The sauce was rich and creamy and really delicious. I will most definitely be making this again! 

Chicken Fricassee - from October 2012 Food Network magazine

1 whole chicken 3 1/2 - 4 lbs.

Kosher salt and black pepper

3 tbsp unsalted butter

1 tbsp EVOO

1 small yellow onion, diced

1 carrot chopped

1 celery stalk chopped

8 oz. mushrooms

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

2/3 cup dry white wine

4 cups chicken broth

2 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley

2 sprigs fresh thyme

1 bay leaf

2 large egg yolks, room temperature

1/4 cup heavy cream

2-3 tbsp roughly chopped fresh tarragon leaves

2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Preheat Dutch oven or other large heavy pot over medium high heat. Add 2 tbsp butter and the oil to pot. When butter melts and form subsides, add half the chicken, skin side down, in a single later, do not crowd pot. If butter begins to blacken, lower heat. Fry chicken turning once, until golden brown on both sides (about 10 minutes total). Transfer chicken to a plate, repeat if there is any remaining chicken. 

Reduce heat to medium, add onion, carrot, and celery to pot. Scrape up any browned bits with a wooden spoon. Saute mixture, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown in places (8-10 minutes).

Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until they become dark and glossy and begin to release liquid (4-5 minutes). Stir in flour and cook until it is absorbed by vegetables and is no longer visible (1 minute).

Add wine to pot and bring to a boil stirring until liquid just thickens (45 seconds). Add broth and stir.

Place chicken, skin side up, in a single layer on top of the veggies, pour any juices from the plate into the pot. Tie parsley, thyme, and bay leaf together with chicken twine, add to pot. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Cover partially. Cook until chicken is no longer pink (about 30 minutes). Transfer chicken to a clean plate. Simmer liquid uncovered until reduced slightly (5 minutes). Discard herbs.

Make a sauce thickener - whisk together egg yolks and cream in a bowl or large measuring bowl. Whisking constantly, pour 1/2 cup cooking liquid, 1 tbsp at a tome, into cream and egg mixture to temper it. Stir tempered mixture into pot.

Return chicken to pot, add tarragon, lemon juice, and remaining tbsp butter. Bring to a simmer. Stir gently to combine and serve.

This meal can be made one day ahead. leave out the tarragon until you are ready to serve the meal. Let fricassee cool completely in the pot and then refrigerate it. Before serving, simmer the fricassee over medium heat, uncovered, until hot, then stir in tarragon.

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Chocolate, Lime, Coconut Ice Box Butter Cookies

I didn't do a super great job of taking photos as I went with this one. I was too busy thinking about eating the finished product! The cookie dough needs to chill for 8 hours (or overnight) before you can make the cookies so you have to have a little patience. The dough will harden and is much easier to work with. It was a bit of an experiment. I had never made this before. This recipe will make about 3 to 4 dozen cookies depending on the size of your cookie. This can be doubled or cut in half! 

Beat together 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar, and 1/2 tbsp vanilla. This can be done in your stand mixer of with your hand mixer. 

Mix until incorporated. Add one egg and mix just until blended.

In a small bowl, add just under 2 cups flour, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp baking powder. Slowly incorporate this into your butter mixture beating just until blended with each addition.

Here, you have a choice, you can add in your goodies at this point, or you can add them in later. The dough will need to sit in the fridge for 8 hours (or overnight) from here. I added my goodies in the next day. I put my dough into a Ziploc bag, set it in the fridge, and the next day, I took it out, put it back in my mixer, added the zest of one lime, two squares of Ghirardelli milk chocolate, two squares of Ghirardelli white chocolate, 1/4 cup coconut, and 1/4 cup macadamia nuts. Mix together with the paddle attachment. With slightly wet hands, form the dough into cookies on a parchment paper covered baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. 

Before the oven

 Let cookies cool completely before packing them up. 

After the oven

Eat me!

If you don't like my goodies, you could do chocolate chunks and peanuts, roasted peanuts and chocolate chunks, lemon zest and fresh basil, instant coffee and chocolate covered toffee, roasted pecans and toffee, peanut butter chips and milk chocolate chips, I can go one and on with the combinations. 

Chocolate, Lime, Coconut Ice Box Butter Cookies

1/2 cup softened butter
1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 tbsp vanilla
1 egg
Just under 2 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder

Beat together 1/2 cup softened butter, 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar, and 1/2 tbsp vanilla. This can be done in your stand mixer of with your hand mixer. Mix until incorporated. Add one egg and mix just until blended. In a small bowl, add just under 2 cups flour, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp baking powder. Slowly incorporate this into your butter mixture beating just until blended with each addition. Put dough into a ziplock bag or wrap with saran wrap and let chill for 8 hours or overnight. Add any goodies you like to the dough and mix together with hands or with the paddle attachment of a stand mixer. I would use about 1/4 cup of each extra something that you add to this recipe. With slightly wet hands, form the dough into cookies on a parchment paper covered baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. Try not to eat them all! 

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Smothered Pork Chops with Roasted Vegetables

I am trying to switch my taste buds over from summer produce to fall produce. It is no easy task, but I do love roasted veggies. My love affair began one Thanksgiving when my step mom made them with our diner. What she did to those vegetables was magical so I like to copycat her idea and add in different items. My husband loves these pork chops, but he is not a big fan of the veg, but I think they compliment one another really well. Many people either think they hate Brussels sprouts, or think they have to cook them for an hour or more. When cooked right (and they don't take long), they can be so tasty and add a different level of flavor to a roasted veg dish. 

There are a few different ways of doing these veggies. You could leave the tater raw, peel the skin off of it, dice it, and put it along with the other chopped veggies into a baking pan and drizzle with EVOO, salt and pepper, and bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes. The potato generally takes longer than the other veggies, so I like to start with cooking the tater first. You could bake the tater, roast the other veggies, slice the tater in half, and top it with the cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and red onion. The canvas is yours. Paint it any way you like. 

This is what I did...place baking potato on a baking pan (puncture it with a fork to make several holes around it, put a light coat of EVOO on the skin and sprinkle Kosher salt on it). Slice up 1/2 head of cauliflower, cut 2 handfulls of Brussels sprouts in half, thinly slice 1/2 red onion. Coat vegetables with a light coating of EVOO and salt/pepper. Bake at 400 degrees. The cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and red onion will be ready to come out after 20 minutes, the potato will need to cook for an hour or until tender when lightly squeezed. When the tater is done, peel off the skin and cut it in bite sized pieces. 

Add all veggies into a medium sized bowl and stir. I topped mine with balsamic vinaigrette and Parmesan cheese. 

Moving to the chops - Drizzle a few rounds of EVOO to the bottom of a large skillet and put it on medium high heat. Season chops with salt, pepper, and season all. Dredge chops in flour, tap off the excess, and add to the skillet. Cook 2-3 minutes per side (you are not cooking the pork chops completely at this time). Set aside on a plate. 

Lower heat just a tad, add butter, onion, and thyme to same skillet, add a small pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden brown (about 8 minutes).

Add 2 tbsp if the reserved flour to the skillet and stir into the onion mixture for 1 minute. 

Add the chicken broth, bring liquid to a boil, and let reduce by 1/3 (about 2 minutes).

Add buttermilk to the skillet and return the chops. 

Bring sauce to a simmer, turn heat to medium and cook until sauce thickens and the chops are cooked through (about 10-12 minutes). 

Let's eat!

Smothered Pork Chops

4 bone-in chops

Kosher salt

1/2 tsp Season All

3/4 cup flour

2 tbsp EVOO

1 tbsp unsalted butter

1/2 onion

1 tsp fresh thyme

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

2/3 cup buttermilk

Drizzle EVOO in a skillet and turn on medium high heat. Sprinkle pork chops with salt, season all seasoning, and pepper on both sides. In a shallow bowl, add the flour and coat both sides of the pork chops in the flour tapping off the excess. Reserve the remaining flour. Add chops to skillet and cook 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate when finished (you are not cooking them all the way through at this point). 

Add butter, onion, thyme, and a pinch of salt to the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden brown (about 8 minutes).  Add 2 tbsp of the reserved flour to the skillet and stir into the onion mixture for 1 minute. Add the chicken broth, bring liquid to a boil, and let reduce by 1/3 (about 2 minutes).

Add buttermilk to the skillet and return the chops. Bring sauce to a simmer, turn heat to medium and cook until sauce thickens and the chops are cooked through (about 10-12 minutes). 

Roasted Vegetables

1 baked potato

1 1/2 cups chopped cauliflower

1 cup sliced Brussels sprouts

1/2 red onion

EVOO

Kosher salt

Pepper

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees, poke several holes in potato with a fork, drizzle potato with EVOO and rub with Kosher salt, place on a baking pan, bake potato for 1 hour or until tender.

Cut up cauliflower, slice Brussels sprouts in half, slice red onion in long thin layers. Drizzle EVOO over, lighly salt and pepper, mix together to coat all pieces, and bake on baking sheet at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. 

Cut up potato into bite sized pieces and add all ingredients to a medium sized bowl. Stir. Top with balsamic vinaigrette and Parmesan cheese if desired. 

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Veal Marsala

I love the taste and tenderness of veal. I found a recipe on Food Network from Giada. Everything she cooks is always amazing so I decided to tackle it. I did double the sauce part of this recipe because I like to spoon it over pasta. The end result was fantastic! This is an extremely quick and easy recipe and is done in about 30 minutes. If you are not a veal eater, chicken can be used, and if you are not a meat eater, I have never tried this, but I think that shrimp with seafood broth instead of chicken broth would be tasty too.

Melt a tbsp of butter and EVOO in a skillet over high heat. While the butter is melting, sprinkle the veal with salt and pepper, cut up a scallion, and smash 3 garlic cloves. When the skillet is hot, add the veal. Cook for about 1-2 minutes, turning when the veal has browned nicely. If you are serving pasta with this meal, start your pasta now too. 

My veal

Time to turn over

When the veal is cooked through, set it aside on a plate, and add a drizzle of EVOO to the same pan, then toss in the scallions and garlic. Cook for about 1 minute. 

Add the Marsala wine and let it reduce by half. Then, add the chicken broth and rosemary leaves and let this reduce by half. Add the veal back to the skillet with another tbsp of butter. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

I like my veal Marsala over pasta because the juice is great. 

The original link to Giada's recipe is...

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/veal-marsala-recipe/index.html

Ingredients

• 8 veal cutlets (about 3 ounces each)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 to 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large shallot, finely chopped
• 2 to 4 garlic cloves, smashed
• 2 ounces assorted mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 cup sweet Marsala
• 3/4 cup low-salt chicken broth
• Leaves from 1 fresh rosemary sprig

Directions

Sprinkle the veal with salt and pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 veal cutlets and cook until golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer the veal to a plate. Add another tablespoon of butter and oil, if necessary. Repeat with the remaining 4 cutlets. Set the cutlets aside.

Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add the shallot and garlic. Saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add a tablespoon of theolive oil, if necessary. Add the mushrooms and saute until tender and the juices evaporate, about 3 minutes. Season with salt. Add the Marsala. Simmer until the Marsala reduces by half, about 2 minutes. Add the broth and the rosemary leaves. Simmer until reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Return the veal to the skillet. Pour in all of the pan juices. Cook just until heated through, turning to coat, about 1 minute. Stir the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter into the sauce. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, to taste.

Using tongs, transfer the veal to plates. Spoon the sauce over the veal and serve.

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Icy Cold Gazpacho

I am doing this one for my dear friend Laureen. When I heard that I was going to be eating cold soup, I was a bit disgusted, but I will always taste new food and thank goodness I did. I really love this soup. I didn't take step by step photos with this one because I didn't want to bore you with photos of cut veggies. This is extremely delicious and extremely easy. With no need for the oven, it's a great summer treat. Allow yourself a good 40-45 minutes for the preparation process, but all that cutting is well worth it. This recipe is from my cooking teacher, Art, the kitchen guru. 

I do not measure everything out perfectly, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of cucumber, I use the whole cucumber, if it asks for 1/2 cup of bell pepper, I use a whole bell pepper. I hate to waste good veggies. There is no rule for cutting the veggies up, just remember that this is a soup and all of these ingredients are going to be in your mouth, so don't cut off more than you can chew :)

1 egg

2 cups chopped fresh plum tomatoes

1/2 cup green or yellow pepper

1 cup chopped cucumber, seeds removed (or a seedless English cucumber)

1/2 cup finely chopped red onion

1/2 cup olive oil

Juice of 1 lemon

2 cups beef broth, optional (I leave this out)

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup finely minced parsley

1 tsp dried oregano

2 tbsp Worcestershire

Pepper, coarsely and freshly ground

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Salt

1 46 oz can tomato juice

1/2 cup fresh plain bread crumbs

Tabasco, to taste

Garnishes: Chopped parsley, minced red onion, chopped green onions

Place egg in a small pot of cold water, bring to boil, and let simmer for 1 minute, take off heat and let stand in water until water cools.

In a pot or large bowl, combine tomatoes, pepper, cucumber, red onion, olive oil, lemon juice, cold beef broth (if using), red wine vinegar, parsley, oregano, Worcestershire, and coarsely ground black pepper to taste. Stir.

Sprinkle garlic with a pinch of salt and set in bowl.

When egg is finished cooking, run under cold water, remove shell, add to garlic and salt mixture, and smash together with a fork.

Pour tomato juice into large pot or bowl with veggies and add garlic, egg, and salt mixture. Add bread crumbs and stir so that they dissolve into liquid.

Taste for seasoning and salt and pepper, and Tabasco to taste. Chill for at least 4 hours and serve. Garnish with chopped parsley, minced red onion, and chopped green olives if desired.

I think the olives are the best garnish for this dish. They give it such a great kick.

Enjoy!!!

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Potato, Pepper, and Lamb Empanadas

We made empanadas in my cooking class a few months back and I am finally getting around to trying them on my own. The recipe is my cooking teacher, Art's. It is really delicious and I love the crust in this one. This is a great weekend recipe because it does take awhile to prepare, but it can be frozen and it is really delicious. This recipe is totally versatile. Usually empanadas are made with Chorizo sausage, but I don't really care for the taste of it so I decided to give ground lamb a try. You could do this with Italian sausage or Andouille sausage, or ground beef or chicken. You could leave the meat out all together and add different veggies like broccoli or asparagus or even feta cheese. You could go in a different direction and use pepperoni and cheese and make a hot pocket with the dough recipe. You just want to make sure all ingredients are finely chopped so they will fit into the crust. You are the boss here, recipes are only guides. You do not have to stick to them by the ingredient. 

I used my food processor for the dough, but if you do not have one, you can still make it. The recipe for that is at the bottom of this post with the complete recipe. The best way to cut your butter is to put it in the freezer for about 20 minutes. Cut long ways into thirds, flip it and cut that side into thirds, then chop the short end into small cubes. Add flour, salt, and butter into processor and pulse until mixture has pea-size butter lumps. Beat together egg, water, and vinegar in a small bowl with a fork. Pour into flour mixture and pulse until dough has come together into a ball. Turn out mixture onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently with the heel of your hand once or twice, just enough to bring dough together. Form dough into a flat rectangle and chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, at least 1 hour.

Making the dough

For the filling, brown whatever meat you decide to use in a skillet until cooked through. Drain the grease from the meat in a colander once meat is finished cooking.

Ground lamb cooking

Add your finely chopped onions to the same skillet with a few drizzles of EVOO and cook until yellow and tender, about 15 minutes.

Onions cooking

When onions are yellow and tender, add bell pepper (whatever color you like), two bay leaves, salt, garlic, and oregano. When you add the oregano, put it in the palm of your hand and rub it together with your other hand and let it drop in the pot. This will 'wake it up'. Cook until peppers are tender, about 15 minutes. Add more EVOO if needed.

Onions, bell pepper, garlic, salt, oregano, and bay leaves

For my salt, I had made some basil salt the other day so I used this. All you do is add 1/4 cup Kosher salt and 1/4 cup packed, fresh basil leaves in a food processor, process until basil leaves are shredded, put mixture in a 350 degree F oven for 40 minutes, stirring once half way through or until salt and basil are dry. Let cool then store in a salt shaker.

Basil Salt

When peppers are tender, add your finely diced potatoes to the onion mixture and cook over moderately low heat stirring frequently until potatoes are just barely tender (10-12 minutes). 

Potatoes, onions, bell pepper, garlic, salt, oregano, and bay leaves 

Add potato mixture and cooked lamb to a large mixing bowl and stir to combine. Cool filling to room temperature and discard bay leaves.

Cooling filling to room temp

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces (the best that you can, it does not have to be perfect) and form each into a disk. 

Diving dough

Keeping remaining pieces covered, roll out 1 piece on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 5" round (about 1/8" thick) disk.

Rolling a single disk

Spoon about 2 tbsp filling onto center and fold dough in half, enclosing filling. Empanadas should look like little half moons, but I like to leave mine more rectangled because I like the extra crust it makes on the ends.  

Adding the filling

Press edges together, then crimp decoratively with your fingers or tines of a fork. Transfer empanada to a baking sheet. Make 11 more empanadas in the same manner.

Crimping the edges of a filled empanada 

If you want to freeze your empanadas, stop here and put them in a freezer baggie. When you want to eat them, brush them with egg wash and put into the oven. Lightly brush empanadas with some of egg wash and bake in oven, turning baking sheet once half way through, until golden brown (about 25 minutes). 

All empanadas egg washed courtesy of one hungry husband 

Transfer empanadas to a rack to cool at least 5 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Fresh out of the oven!

Finally time to eat! 

Empanada Dough
2 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 stick (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter cut into 1/2" cubes
1 large egg
1/3 cup ice water
1 tbsp distilled white vinegar

Sift flour with salt into a large bowl and blend in butter with your fingertips or a pastry blender until mixture resembles course meal with some roughly pea-size butter lumps. This can also be done in a food processor with the dough blade.
Beat together egg, water, and vinegar in a small bowl with a fork. Add to flour mixture, stirring with fork until just incorporated. (mixture will look shaggy.) If using food processor, dump mixture into flour and pulse until dough has come together.
Turn out mixture onto a lightly floured surface and gather together, then knead gently with the heel of your hand once or twice, just enough to bring dough together. Form dough into a flat rectangle and chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, at least 1 hour.

Empanada Filling
1 lb ground Lamb
2 tbsp EVOO
1 onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 bell pepper, finely chopped
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp dried oregano, crumbled
2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, finely chopped
1 egg lightly beaten with 1 tbsp water (this is for the egg wash)

Make filling:
Cook lamb in a skillet over medium heat until it is no longer pink. When cooked through, transfer to a collander and drain grease. Add onions and EVOO to skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until golden and very soft (about 15 minutes). Add garlic, bell pepper, bay leaves, salt, and oregano and cook, stirring frequently, until peppers are very soft (about 15 minutes). Peel potato and cut into 1/2" pieces, then stir into onion mixture and cook over moderately low heat stirring frequently until potatoes are just barely tender (10-12 minutes). Add potato mixture and cooked lamb to a large mixing bowl and stir to combine. Cool filling to room temperature and discard bay leaves.
Form and bake empanadas:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Divide dough into 12 equal pieces and form each into a disk. Keeping remaining pieces covered, roll out 1 piece on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 5" round (about 1/8" thick) disk.
Spoon about 2 tbsp filling onto center and fold dough in half, enclosing filling. Press edges together, then crimp decoratively with your fingers or tines of a fork. Transfer empanada to a baking sheet. Make 11 more empanadas in the same manner.
Lightly brush empanadas with some of the egg wash and bake in oven, turning baking sheet once half way through, until golden brown (about 25 minutes). Transfer empanadas to a rack to cool at least 5 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.Pin It