Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Empanadas

I'm not really an outdoorsy kind of person—least during the winter time. I’m quite content living in my garden; day and night, but that’s a different story during our long cold days. And it’s been so cold here lately—icy cold, with gray clouds during the day, and if it isn’t snowing; it’s raining. From blustery cold mornings to afternoon rain tickling the windows to cold nights accompanied by high winds... snow, wind, drizzling rain, sun for a moment, more wind and an occasionally glorious sky, then more rain... that’s how it’s been around here.

Thus, my favorite pastime these days has been curling up on the sofa with my favorite Romantic Country and Cottage Style books and magazines, my coffee and a few warm snuggly blankets.

Today is French Vanilla coffee in a teacup… I love it!

Do you prefer your coffee in a coffee mug or a teacup?

One of my favorite winter pastimes is baking… Can you imagine?—Inactivity and baking! Put both together and puff! ;)

So I’ve been wanting to bake some empanadas.

Almost every country in the world has some version of empanada or turnover; some kind of meat, poultry, fish, cheese, vegetable or combination thereof, wrapped up in a small packet of dough.

Empanadas are versatile and delicious, but the tastiness of your empanada will rise and fall on the quality of the dough.

Your guests may rave about the scrumptious fillings, but you’ll know the secret to a great empanada is the dough!

What do you like to do on cold winter days? Please do share, and keep yourself warm and cozy!

24 comments:

  1. Your photos are beautiful and all of your pretty flowers and lace would be sure to warm anyone's heart on a cold winter day. I'm a "mug" girl and I like them big and fat. Otherwise, I'd be getting up often to refill. The empanadas look yummy.
    One of your newest followers...
    Fran

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  2. I have the same issue here. Baking bread and goodies and then not getting my walks in. Our weather is fine but I just get lazy about it in the winter. Not a good combo here either.

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  3. I adore drinking from a china tea cup...but most often drink from mugs. Absolutely hate styrafoam . I call myself a coffee connoisseur, my husband says "can you tell the best cup of coffee?" I say no , but I can tell a bad cup right away.:):):)Smiles, Susie

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  4. Weather has not been to bad here but today is wet,windy and gray.I love tea and coffee in a mug or cup but it has got to be pretty.I have lots of pretty cups and should use them more but dont want them to get broken.Empanadas look very tasty.I like to snuggle up with a good book,lots of lovely blogging and sewing on a cold winters afternoon.Love Jill xx

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  5. I don't drink coffee -- only tea (different kinds, black, herbal, English Breakfast, Lady Grey, chai, herbal . . . ).

    Generally speaking, in the mornings I drink from a "proper" cup with a saucer. In the afternoons (while reading or piddling on the computer), I will use a favorite seasonal mug.

    Our weather has been up and down -- one day cold and dreary, the next bright sunshine, then up in the 60's. Sunday we were up to 70 degrees, then had tornado watches and warnings through the night. Yesterday back cold again.

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  6. I keep a twin sized velveteen electric blanket in a basket by my favorite chair. The chair sits by the window that overlooks the Bay. I surround myself with decorating books and magazines (or my computer) and brew a pot of coffee and sit, sip and savor the day. Love this post~ xo Diana

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  7. During the long and cold winter months I love to look at gardening magazines. This can lead to more restlessness if I start too early. It can even get down right painful! Sigh...

    Just hang on, not much longer!! ;)

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  8. hello fellow empanada lover: hola amiga. i love to stay indoors and light the fireplace and watch the rain come down. i also enjoy just lieing down and reading a book or watching a good re-run of masterpiece theatre.

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  9. I love sitting by the fire and reading my garden and decorating books on cold, rainy, gray days. I usually drink my coffee from a mug (holds more and lasts longer!).
    Your photos are beautiful.

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  10. Mmmmm they look lovely!
    I must admit, I love to bake in the cooler months as well and yes... 'poof". LOL

    ((Hugs))
    Laura

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  11. mhhhhh wunderfull pictures again, I try to loose some weight from last Christmas :-)
    Angie

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  12. I counter the January blahs with reading cookbooks and seed catalogues. It's all about comfort food and planning for the sunshine of spring. I pinned your beautiful tablescape! ~ Maureen

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  13. The empanadas look heavenly. Yes, you are so RIGHT, that the quality of the empanada rises and falls with the dough..literally and figuratively :) :) Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather ;)

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  15. Do you have a favorite empanadas recipe? I have never had one, and they look fun! Pretty blog!

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  16. Your pictures are always so pretty and this was no exception....and the music so peaceful

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  17. Your pictures are always so pretty and this was no exception....and the music so peaceful

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  18. Your pictures are always so pretty and this was no exception....and the music so peaceful

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  19. you always make your photos look sooooo glamorous and beautiful.
    I have never had an empanada, but they sure look delicious.
    and yes...I'd get puffy.

    I love to read on cold days.

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  20. hola bella Cielo!!! siempre un gran placer pasearme por tu mundo tan hermoso!!

    ... paciencia, ya queda poco de tu invierno y pronto volverán tus rosas a alegrar tu vida.

    abrazos grandes

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  21. It's not that cold here, but cold enough that there isn't much to do outside except think about being inside.

    I never drink coffee but love hot tea (and iced tea) I'm making a cup of vanilla chai now.

    Your little spot looks so cozy.

    I have a book Artisan bread in 5 minutes a day-still haven't tried any recipes from it but think I will today.

    My great-grandmother used to dry apples every fall. Then she would make the best fried apple pies ever.

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  22. It's not that cold here, but cold enough that there isn't much to do outside except think about being inside.

    I never drink coffee but love hot tea (and iced tea) I'm making a cup of vanilla chai now.

    Your little spot looks so cozy.

    I have a book Artisan bread in 5 minutes a day-still haven't tried any recipes from it but think I will today.

    My great-grandmother used to dry apples every fall. Then she would make the best fried apple pies ever.

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  23. That all looks so pretty, please can I come to tea?

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  24. Hi Cielo, I haven't had a lot of time to cozy up with coffee and books but this looks so inspiring. (coffee always in a mug!.)

    As for the empanadas, I admire you for making them! I'd love to learn. My husband is from Chile and when we visit his family there I always eat a ton of empanadas. There the main varieties are cheese and a lovely version with ground beef, cinnamon, raisins and olives.

    Wishing you a lovely weekend!

    – g

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