QUICK EASY MEATPIE / EMPANADA / JAMAICAN PATTIES RECIPE

One of my favorite pastries is meatpie as the britains call them or empanada as spanish call them. I used to make the dough from scratch and I had to find a easy way to make them without going through so much hassle. And the answer is "Pie Crust" YES! Any pie crust from the grocery store would do , I prefer Pillsbury or the Trader Joe's pie crust usually by the freezer or next to the butter aisle.

Ingredients:
1 Pie Crust package
1 lb of ground turkey, chicken or beef
1 1/2 cup of veggie mix -(carrots, peas and corn)
1 potato
2 tbsp of oil
1/2 cube of knnor chicken or flavor god everything seasoning
1 teaspoon of thyme, curry and oregano
dash of black pepper
1 egg beaten with a touch of milk added
 A small bowl  of water set aside


Directions:
1. Peel the potato, cut into cubes and boil in water. Once soft, drain the water out
2. Get your pie crust ready, easy way is to cut into half or 4 depending on how small you want the pie to be. see below.

3.  Add the oil in a frying pan preferably non stick. Make sure your beef/chicken/turkey is completely thawed out. For vegans, you can used only veggies and potato.
4.  Add your protein and saute until slightly brown still pink but not completely cooked because we want them to fully cook in the pastry. Then add the veggies and potato. If your potato is a little big, then feel free to smash it a little to break it up. Then add your spices.

5. Turn off the stove and move the pan away from the heat. Allow to cool down
6. Then add the filling in the center of each crust. see below

7.  Take the bowl of water and with clean hands or a brush, slightly dampen the space where the filling is by the edge with water, why? to seal the edges basically.
8. Fold the crust over and then take a fork to seal again gently see below

9. Once all are sealed with the fork, then slightly pierce the center of the pie, to create holes and the steam to come out. 

10. Then brush the pie with the beaten egg mixture.

Bake for 15-25 minutes at 360. Once baked it will be brown in color. Bon Appetit!

Have fun you can also use them to make sausage rolls, fill them with fruits or anything you wish.

TURKEY SPINACH SAUCE - EFO RIRO STIR FRY

• 10-15 m pieces smoked turkey drums
• 1 m red bell pepper/tatashe
• 4 scotch bonnet pepper/rodo/habanero
• 4 fresh garlic cloves
• Ginger (size of garlic cloves)
• 1 m tomato
• 1 s red onion
• 1 bag fresh spinach OR 2 chopped frozen packs spinach
• 1/2 cup palm oil
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 knorr cube OR 2 maggi cubes
• 1 tbsp curry powder

Boil smoked turkey in a meduim pot with water for about 15 minutes. (I like to boil mine to reduce the salt).
Cut up peppers, add to blender with 1/2 cup water
Add palm oil & vegetable oil to a pot, let heat up over medium heat; blend peppers
7. Once blended, add peppers to hot oil
Add seasonings (curry &  knorr or maggi cubes); let boil 30 minutes over medium heat
Rinse and chop up spinach
Squeeze and drain excess liquid from spinach (if yours is frozen), set aside
If pepper tastes done (see notes for how to know), reduce heat to low, add  turkey drums
Stir turkey into pepper, still over low heat
Add chopped spinach over turkey
Mix chopped spinach into turkey stew thoroughly for even distribution
Let simmer over low-medium heat for about 5 minutes

Serve with Rice, fufu, plaintains, mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

LEFTOVER TURKEY SANDWICH

So I love thanksgiving because I don't have to cook for a week. I try to use the left over turkey in a resourceful way. And boy Am I tired of eating turkey for a week. Wonder what to do with leftover turkey sandwich. try this below:

You can use your favorite bread. We love sourdough bread, which is actually healthier and better than white or wheat.

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped cooked turkey meat
• 1/4 cup chopped white or red onion
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh or canned jalapeño chili pepper (to desired heat)
• 1 Tbsp chopped cilantro or parsley
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder (to taste) or canned chipotle in adobo can
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method

1 Mix chipotle powder into mayonnaise.
2 Put turkey, onion, celery, jalapeño, cilantro into a medium sized bowl. Fold in the seasoned mayonnaise until well mixed. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Serve with avocados and sliced tomatoes, as a salad or in a sandwich.  Makes enough for 2 sandwiches.

MY TURKEY RECIPE! CHRISTMAS IS CLOSEBY!

I am so in love with turkey, I practically bake them every thanksgiving and christmas. Here is my turkey recipe and hope you enjoy.

My Turkey Recipe
Ingredients : 1 (12 pound) whole turkey
5 tablespoons butter - Use unsalted butter/ extra virgin olive oil, if your turkey has been brined with salt
2-3 cups chicken broth - I love swanson less sodium chicken broth -omit if turkey is brined with salt
2 tablespoons dried parsley, thyme,rosemary & powdered sage 
2 tablespoons dried minced onion, garlic powder,  paprika
1 tsp ginger powder
2 tablespoons seasoning salt - optional -Omit if your turkey is brined with salt

Reminder- If you purchase a turkey  - please read ingredients, some already have salt in it. If it has salt, there is no need to add salt or chicken broth, otherwise, your turkey would be too salty.
If your turkey is in the feezer and its cold, Place turkey in bowl in refrigerator at least 2-3 days before Christmas.

Directions
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Rinse and wash turkey. Discard the giblets or you can add these to pan if these are anyone's favorites.
2.Place turkey in a Dutch oven or roasting pan. Separate the skin over the breast to make little pockets. Put 3 tablespoons of the butter on both sides between the skin and breast meat. This makes for very juicy breast meat.And remaining 2 butter all around, rub it in.
Pour 3 cups of chicken broth  and sprinkle in the parsley flakes, minced onion and all the herbs. Pour over the top, sides, cavity of the turkey. Rub it in, every where. Sprinkle seasoning salt over the turkey - omit if turkey is already brined with salt.

Cover with foil and bake in preheated oven for 4 to 5 hours. After 3 hrs, baste your turkey with the drippings, every 30 minutes. For the last 45 minutes-1hr  or so, remove the foil so the turkey will brown nicely.

Hope you try it and enjoy! You can always switch it up, add your own favorite herbs & spices!
Bon Apetit!