Thursday, 5th February 2009

Helau!!!

First of all I have to admit: I do not like carnival nor do I like to wear fancy dresses.
Here in my personal environment people don’t harm such a confession. In Cologne, the centre of carnival, it would be definitely different.
People here tolerate this aversion of mine but in spite of this fact it still happens sometimes that I am forced by soft pressure to participate at a fancy dress party during this special time of the year.
The fancy dress party of my friend Isabell is such an occasion where I can not avoid to participate.
The motto “Hollywood” is a challenge for the creativity of the invited guests.
Ok , I have decided to go, so I have no other  choice – I have to masquerade myself.
As I do not know yet which Hollywood star I am going to copy I started from upside down and purchased at first different kind of wigs. A red one with long hair and a Bob wig with black hair. Now I have only to decide which Hollywood star is matching with my wigs. ”Don´t get panic, lady” I said to myself, you still have one and a half week left for this very important decision. My first idea which hit my mind was to copy Mia Wallace the star of Pulp Fiction. Of course I do not remember exactly how does she look like, but I am sure the internet will help me.

For this kind of parties it´s entirely important that the food which you are going to offer matches the special demand.
Extraordinary tasty snacks and finger food presented appetizingly might be a welcome solution.
Have you ever heard about Empanadas? It is a typical kind of food from South America and as I think, it´s a good idea to add them to the buffet. I am presenting you the recipe below.

Ingredients for 12 Empanadas:

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 210°C.
2. Combine flour, dry yeast, oil, salt and ¾ of the milk. Gradually mixing
   together until a dough forms, knead for a couple of minutes. At this stage
   if too dry add some more milk, if too wet add some more flour, until you get
   a nice dough consistency. Lightly dust with some flour and then place a tea
   towel over your dough and let it rest.
3. Making of the filling: In a saucepan heat oil up on a medium heat, sautee off
   the bacon and the diced onions until translucent, add garlic and then minced meat.
4. Cut boiled eggs into small pieces.
5. Pour hot water over sultanas, decant water after one minute.
6. Add olives, sultanas, garlic and egg to the minced meat and mix it carefully.
7. Season it with salt and pepper. Add paprika, cumin and chili and mix it again.
8. Roll dough out with a rolling pin and cut out circles (15 cm diameter).
9. Place about 2 tbspn of the cold mince mixture in the centre.
10. Brush a bit of egg wash on half the dough and fold the dough over like a pastie.
    Then twist and fold the edges together.
11. Place it on the tray and baste with some egg wash.
12. Bake for about 15-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
13. Serve empanadas hot or cold.