Ham And Cheese Empanadas Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Melt butter in saucepan on medium-low heat.
• Whisk flour into butter, and increase heat to medium. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes.
• Whisk milk into flour/butter mixture and bring to boil, stirring. Sauce will thicken slightly.
• Whisk 2 eggs into mixture and cook, stirring, for 1 -2 minutes more or until sauce has thickened.
• Add grated cheese and parmesan and stir until melted. Remove from heat and add cayenne pepper and salt to taste.
• Roll out 1 sheet of puff pastry dough on a floured surface to 12 inches square. With a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut dough into 12 3 x 4 inch rectangles.
• .Mix egg yolk with water, and brush the edges of half of the rectangles with the egg yolk mixture.
• Place a piece of ham in the center of the rectangles brushed with egg yolk. There should be an edge of dough all around the ham. Top ham with 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture.
• Cover the ham and cheese with one of the plain rectangles, and firmly press down around the edges to seal.
• Repeat with other sheet of puff pastry. Pastries may be frozen at this point, or kept in the refrigerator for up to 6 hours before baking.
• Prick the top of the empanadas several times with a fork, and brush tops lightly with the egg yolk mixture.
• Bake 20 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
• Serve hot or at room temperature.

Steps:

• 1. Unroll the pre rolled pie crust onto floured board. Roll out thinner to about a 10 x 14 inch rectangle. Using a 4 inch round biscuit cutter, make 8 - 9 circles of dough from each sheet of dough. (pat dough scraps together and re-roll. Keep repeating until the dough is used up... (save any scraps to fry up). As you make the circles and scraps, place them on a wax paper lined baking sheet.
• 2. Chop up the ham, shred the mozzarella, and put into a bowl. Add the potatoes, ranch dressing, and spices.
• 3. Put about 1 heaping Tablespoon of the Ham mixture in your hand and form into a small log. Place onto a circle of crust, add 1 or 2 pieces of the American cheese. Dip your finger into water and dampen the outer area of the dough circle. Gently fold over the dough circle and seal (try not to poke any holes in the dough). Place on wax paper lined baking sheet. Repeat until all are done.
• 4. *** If you run out of filling and have more circles, you can either open up a can of pie filling, make a different filling by scrambling eggs and adding sausage and cheese. OR.. cut up the dough for frying.
• 5. Freeze on baking sheet. When solid, put in zipper bags and return to freezer. Or... cook them up... or both!
• 6. Heat the oil, fry one or two at a time until light golden brown. Put on paper towel lined dish to drain oil. Serve hot!
• 7. If cooking scraps up... Put them in oil, fry until golden brown, put on paper towels. Coat with sugar and cinnamon mixture.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375º F.
• Roll pie crust into 12-inch circle on lightly floured surface; cut into 8 wedges. Separate wedges, then roll each, 1 at a time, to make 1/2 inch wider on all sides.
• Combine ham and cheese; spoon onto centers of pastry wedges. Roll up each wedge, starting at wide end. Place, point sides down, on parchment-covered baking sheet; top with olives.
• Bake 16 min. or until golden brown.

Steps:

• For the dough: Combine flour & butter in a large bowl.
• Using a pastry blender or a fork, mix until the butter is evenly distributed among the flour.
• Dissolve the salt & sugar in the water & stir into the flour mix.
• On a lightly floured surface, lightly knead dough until it forms a ball, adding more water or flour if needed.
• Cover the bowl with lid or plastic wrap & refrigerate 1 hour.
• Roll dough out on a floured surface about 1/8 inch thick.
• With a circle cookie cutter, cut out a 4-inch circle.
• Continue until you have used all of the dough.
• For filling: Put parsley, ham, breadcrumbs, cheese, sour cream, egg & pepper into a large bowl.
• Mix well.
• Put dough circles on a greased pan.
• Put 2 Tbsp. of filling in center of each circle.
• Fold dough circles in half, press & seal with a fork.
• For egg wash: beat egg & add about 1 Tbsp water.
• Brush egg wash on top of each empanada.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes, or until golden brown.