Secret Mission Empanadas

These gooey and savory Empanadas may seem to have a mystery filling to your guests, but once they try these treats it won't be a mystery at all why your parties are the best. Make that Secret Mission super good for the guests with a fabulous buffet of goodies.

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup butter, softened
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt

Filling 1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 tbs bacon drippings
1 10-ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1 cup cottage cheese
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

1 egg, beaten

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter till smooth. (Use a stand mixer, since the mixture is heavy.) Gradually add in the flour and salt. Lightly knead the dough by hand. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours.

In a medium skillet, cook the onion and garlic in the bacon drippings until the onion is tender but not brown. Mix in the bacon, spinach, cottage cheese, pepper, and nutmeg; let the mixture cool.

Preheat the oven to 450 F. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to a thickness of 1/8 inch. Cut 3-inch circles in the pastry, place 1 teaspoon of the filling in each circle, just to one side of the center. Moisten the edge of the circle with the egg, fold the dough in half over the filling to make a semicircular empanada. Seal the edges with fork tines, and poke the top of each pastry with a fork to make a vent. Put the empanadas on an ungreased cookie sheet, brush their tops with egg, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden.

Don't let your life go by without trying an Empanada! I couldn't believe what I had been missing when I first tried these!