EMPANADAS
Abuela Della's Restaurant Recipe
Canola oil for frying
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup shortening
cooked meat or dried fruit (your preference)
Preheat oil or heat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together all dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or fork, add the shortening into the dry mixture. Mix well. Roll dough out on a lightly floured board and knead the dough as you would for sopapillas. Cut the dough into 4 inch rounds. Place 2 tablespoons cooked meat or fruit in the center of each round and fold in half. Seal the edges together by pinching. Bake or fry until brown. Baking may take a little longer – maybe 30 minutes or more.