Empanadas

This is a little time consuming, but super easy! You will need a rotisserie chicken, a bottle of green taco sauce, shredded cheese, and 4 uncooked pie crusts. Shred the chicken and mix it with the entire bottle of taco sauce. Cut out circles in the pie crusts. Place the chicken mixture and cheese in the middle of each circle. Use your fingertip to wet around the edges, fold and seal, then crimp with a wet fork. Bake at 400 degrees on a greased cookie sheet, for about 25 minutes.

Buttermilk Pie

This is a traditional Southern custard pie, my dad's special birthday request.

-4 eggs
-1 c sugar
-2 tbs all-purpose flour
-1/2 c melted butter
-1 1/2 c buttermilk
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-1/2 tsp lemon extract
-1/2 tsp salt
-Wondra flour
-Superfine sugar (save your money and just throw regular sugar in the food processor for a minute or two)

In your stand mixer or with a hand beater, whisk the eggs on high for 2 minutes. Slowly add the sugar and flour, and mix for another two minutes. Add the butter, buttermilk, salt and flavor extracts, beat on medium speed for 5 minutes.

Dust the bottom of an uncooked pie crust with a few teaspoons of the Wondra flour, then pour in the custard. Mix together a few teaspoons of the Wondra flour and superfine sugar, then sprinkle over the top. This helps form that yummy nummy crust on top, which sort of has a creme brulee thing going on.

Baked Stuffed Artichokes

The cellphone photo definitely does not do this dish justice!

-2 artichokes, stems and leaves trimmed

-1 whole lemon, quartered

-2 bay leaves

-1/2 c shredded "Italian blend" cheese (whatever you can find in your local grocery store is fine)

-1 tsp dried basil

-1/2 tsp dried rosemary

-1/2 tsp dried thyme

-1/4 c bread crumbs

-olive oil

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil, add artichokes, lemon quarters and bay leaves. Boil for 25 minutes, drain water. Discard lemon and bay leaves.

Cut off the top third of the artichoke, and use a spoon to create a pit in the center. In a small bowl, combine the cheese, herbs and bread crumbs. Spoon into the center of the artichokes, then drizzle with olive oil.

Arrange them in a baking dish so that they will stay upright, and bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 25 minutes.