Chicken Empanadas & SITS Loving

These came from Paula Deen & when paired with the soup/chili from yesterday it was a perfect meal. I find that the Food Network recipes & sometimes Paula's are way off in measurements so I always make sure to read the reviews. I wasn't susprised to see that the mixture was enough to fill rounds from 4 pie crusts.

For more delicious Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, please go visit Blessed with Grace.

3 cups chopped, cooked chicken (I used Rotisserie)
1 (8-oz) pkg shredded Colby & Jack cheese blend
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper, closer to diced
1 jalapeno, seeded & diced
1 tblsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 (15-oz) pkg refrigerated pie crusts
Water

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet. In a large bowl, combine the chicken & next 7 ingredients. Unroll 1 piecrust onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 15-inch circle. Cut out rounds, using a 3-inch cookie cutter. Re-roll dough as needed. Repeat procedure with remaining piecrusts. Recipe stated this would yield 12-15 total but I was able to get 16-18 out of the dough. There was also enough mixture leftover to make another 16 or so. You might want to purchase another pkg of pie crust to use up mixture.

Arrange 1 round on a clean, flat surface. Lightly brush the edges of crust with water. Place 1 heaping teaspoon of chicken mixture down the center of the round. Fold the dough over the filling, pressing the edges with your fingers. Repeat with the remaining rounds & chicken mixture. (Up to this point, the recipe can be made ahead and frozen for up to 1 month). Arrange empanadas on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.

My Thoughts:
My first batch took just about 15 minutes. However, when I made more 2 days later I made them a few hours ahead & put them in the fridge. They took a little longer to cook & I also placed them under the broiler.

Click Here for Printable Recipe

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SITS BLOGATHON

Today also marks the SITS Blogathon. The SITS sistas have introduced me to so many wonderful people & have taken this community to another whole level of camraderie & unity, in a time of life when we need it the most. They do this by encouraging comment love & featuring a blogger each day.

There are so many I could & want to mention but these are some of the lovely ladies I have been so lucky to meet in the past few months.

Lula - Her wit & cultural intelligence amaze me & she has incredible persuasive skills. If it was not for her I would have never read Twilight. Rhea - her writing is creative & many times I have to close out the comment box, ponder, than go back before I know what to say. Tattooed Minivan Mom - she's one of the fairly newer ones & she cracks me up. I love that she is not afraid to show all of her sides, one side is crazy but all sides very cool! And Sassy Stephanie - it was bloggy love at first comment. She's sassy, I try to be sassy. She's just one fun, cool lady!!!!!

Also, Seven Clown Circus - Angie is just a heart full of joy. She's someone I respect & truly admire. I share a lot of her perspective & I love how she looks at life. Deanna's Corner Cooking - I simply love her simple recipes. I have made many so far & they're all home runs! Hello Dahrlin - Angie is a huge cook but even more she is an awesome person. We sometimes go back & forth on the side to gab. We have quite a bit in common & I know we would be girlfriends who sipped martinis if we lived closer.

Thanks SITS for all that you have done to bring women closer together!!!!!