Pumpkin and apple empanadas (turnovers)

I have always wanted to know how to make empanadas ("ehm-pah-nad-ahs")  but being that my mom was a busy working woman and not the cooking type I never got a recipe, everything I learned from her is simple and quick..

I googled how to make empanadas even did it in Spanish (como hacer empanadas)  I had too many answers and nothing I liked.. I still like simplicity but I wanted something somewhat authentic..  I found things ranging from using frozen pie crust, to ready made from  the brand Goya to overly complicated doughs involving yeast, which to tell you the truth horrifies and scares me.. maybe it's that I love Lucy episode where she added too much yeast to homemade bread and then ended up getting attacked my it  ha ha.. I know silly huh?

Anyway I took things from here and there and experimented..  they came out great, and there is ways to make it easier, tired of pumpkin pie? Scrape the filling and add it to the empanadas..  I did make my pumpkin ones with the same method to make the pumpkin pie filling (minus the clove I think clove is too strong for my palate I never was keen on it.)  and the apple ones were super easy!.

The beautiful part of this.. is that empanadas can handle anything, pineapple pumpkin, sweet potatoes, yams, apple, figs! pretty much any fruit AND on top of that you can make dinner ones not necessarily dessert, you can make "picadillo" (ground beef w/veggies), ham and cheese, chicken, beans and cheese etc.. I truly love dishes that you can make your own... this recipe is a raw one, please feel free to add or take away or to make it different.. if you have a different way please share, I would love to perfect my method.. and  seriously go play with this recipe and share! have fun! I dare you! ;)

You start off  by making the dough of course, you will need:

4 cups of flour
2 TBS of butter COLD
12 TBS of Vegetable Shortening  (about 3/4 of those crisco sticks) COLD
4 TBS of sugar
3 tsp of salt
2 egg YOLKS
1 cup of water

mix the dry ingredients first, flour salt , sugar
add the butter and lard and mix it in with a fork just keep cutting it in with the fork as much as you can.

Whisk the egg yolks and water together and add it little by little while kneading the dough. The dough is going to look a bit like drying play dough don't worry make a big ball with it and saran wrap it and throw it in the fridge, let it cool for at least an hour.

flour the surface you will work on with a rolling pin stretch out balls of dough on the table to about 1/4 inch thick. cut them with a large cup or circular container depending on the size you want them.

Add the filling to the very center do not let the filling extend to the edges or it wont close.  For pumpkin you can use the canned pumpkin pie filling or make your own.  I made half pumpkin and the next day made apple ones..  2 apples chopped into small chunks boiled for 5 minutes then sauteed in a saucepan with 1 TBSP butter, 1/8 cup of sugar and a whole lot of Cinnamon ;).  I tell you, I love easy! <3

close them and mark them with a fork...

Pop them in the oven 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until dough is firm, sprinkle them with Cinnamon and sugar and enjoy!

post by
Tanya E.

Smore Brownies

Who doesn't love smores?  The gooey marshmallows, melty chocolate and crispy graham crackers all mashed together into sticky ooey-gooey yumminess.  Makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
The only thing that could make a smore better, add some brownie to it, YUM!

There are actually 3 different techniques to making this, I will list all 3.  The photo shows technique #2

What you will need:
1 box of a Family size (9x13 pan) Brownie Mix, any variety you like is fine
The ingredients listed on the Brownie Mix box-usually eggs, oil and water
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup (or 1 bag, depending upon technique) mini marshmallows
3-8 graham crackers (depending upon technique)

Step 1: Prep the Brownie Batter-
Mix brownies according to package directions.  I have yet to find a "from scratch" brownie recipe that I really like (I have tried a few) so I still use boxed.  Once I find one I will post it and link it here.
If using techniques 1 or 2 then bake the brownies (see below). 

Step 2: "Assemble" Smore Brownies-
Here is where the techniques come in.  For the first 2 you need the brownies already baked, for the 3rd you need the batter:

Technique 1-
Once brownies are done baking remove from oven and immediately add 1 bag of marshmallows, 3/4 cup chocolate chips on top of brownies.
Take about 6-8 graham crackers and layer them on top of the marshmallows/chocolate chips so that they create a solid flat layer.
Place brownies back in oven and bake about 5 minutes at whatever temp the box called for.  This allows the marshmallows and chocolate chips to melt and become nice and gooey.
Can serve warm or cold
This is how I made them the very first time and I thought they were AMAZING, Hubby requested less of the toppings however.

Technique 2-
Break 3-4 graham crackers up into large pieces using your hands
Once brownies are done baking remove from oven.
Add 1 cup of marshmallows, 3/4 cup chocolate chips and the crushed graham crackers to the top
Place back in oven and bake another 5 minutes or so at whatever temp the box called for.  They are done when marshmallows appear all gooey and melty.
Can serve warm or cold.
With Hubby's request for less toppings I have started making them like this.

Technique 3-
I have yet to try this technique yet but plan to very soon.  I have been told it works and its like an upside down version of the 2 techniques above.
Prep brownie batter but DO NOT BAKE yet
In a 9x13 pan layer 6-8 graham crackers to cover the bottom.
On top of the graham crackers add 1 cup (or whole bag) of marshmallows and 3/4 cup chocolate chips.
Pour batter on top of everything and spread to cover.
Bake according to directions on the box.
As soon as I try this version I will come back and post how it turned out.  If you try it before (or after) me feel free to leave a comment on how yours worked out.  Or write a review for our Reviewers Challenge




These would be great for a backyard camp out or even an indoor one in the winter time.  Also great to take to potluck meals, they will be a big hit I assure you.  The pan will come back to you practically licked clean.
This is also a fun dish to let little ones be your helpers.  My 4 yr old son loves to help stir the batter and add all of the toppings

Have fun baking!


Love,
Christy

Tye Dye Cupcakes.

Cupcakes.  They seem to be a pretty popular thing in the moment.  There seems to be a new cupcake themed TLC or Food Network show each month.  People are putting all sorts of delicious things in cupcakes now, even replacing big cakes at wedding and parties for cupcakes.  I am definitely a fan, and my 4 year old is too, though he still has the palate of a 4 year old, so instead of the funky flavors, we went for the funky colors.  Super simple, the worst part was all the bowls and the dishwasher handled them.


Tye Dye Cupcakes are perfect for getting in the kitchen with your favorite little ones. Whether that is your kid or grandkid or neice/nephew or even the little girl you babysit!

There really isn't a recipe fot this, more like directions.


Here is the line up of ingredients you need.. not including whatever your particular cake mix calls for, probably the usual suspects, water, eggs, and vegetable oil.

Mix up your cake mix as directed and add a little pudding to thicken it up.  I didn't measure it, just think thicker then it is, but not cookie thick, more like muffin thick. The pudding is key...it helps thicken the cake batter so it isn't super runny.  Your little helper can help by mixing.

Split up your cake batter into smaller bowls.  The number of bowls depends on how many colors you plan on using in your cupcakes.  I think 4 is good to start.  Mardi Gras "go cups" are perfect for this!!  What?.. You don't have Mardi Gras "go cups"? Well seems to me like you need to get your behind to New Orleans and experience a parade!  Or you could just use bowls, or regular cups, heck, go crazy and use tupperware........its up to you :o)

Add the food coloring until you are happy with the color.  It darkens a bit after cooked.

Now spoon small scoops of different color batters into the lined cupcake pan. We just went for it, no real pattern or anything.

Bake as directed on the cake mix box. And when they are finished you have these!

A dollop of frosting and some sprinkles, or in my house they are known as "jimmies" and put it on a cool character plate and you might be as delighted as my 4 year old was!

XOXO
Jess