Baked Empanadas

This is a combination of a couple of different empanada recipes that I pulled from The Friend magazine (the children's magazine published by the LDS Church). Someday, I really must learn how to make authentic empanadas. Until that day comes, my kids are quite happy with these. You can fry them or bake them. I generally bake.

NOTE (2021): We tried a different recipe recently. Kristina said she likes the crust better from these other beef empanadas. But she likes the filling in this recipe, although she'd like to try it with the potatoes added in.

Filling

1 pound hamburger
1 medium onion, diced fine
1 green pepper, diced fine (or a small grated carrot)
1 tablespoon flour
1 small can tomato sauce
Salt
Red pepper
*Consider also adding cumin, paprika, chili powder and black pepper, garlic, raisins, and hard-boiled eggs to the mix. We also like adding one large potato, peeled and cut into 1/4" cubes, then boiled for 3-4 minutes until tender. 

To prepare filling, brown the hamburger with the onions and peppers or grated carrot. Add the seasonings and potato (if using). When cooked, thicken with one tablespoon flour and stir in the tomato sauce. You can also prepare meat filling the night before it is to be used and leave it in the refrigerator overnight. 

Crust

4 cups flour
1/2 cup shortening
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup milk, heated

1. Mix flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl.
2. In a small pan, heat milk and shortening til warm.
3. Add milk mixture to flour mixture and stir, then knead until well mixed.
4. Divide dough into portions about the size of a small potato or golf ball and roll portions into circles about 2" in diameter.
5. Place a tablespoon or so of the filling on half of each dough circle. (Note: the recipe says here to add 2 olives, 4 raisins and 1 slice of hard-boiled egg on top of the meat mixture, but I've never done that.)
6. Fold the other half of the dough over the filling and press with your fingers all around to seal, folding the edges upwards to give the shape of a half moon.
7. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.