Meaty Empanadas

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• 3/4 lb ground beef
• 1/4 lb mild italian sausage
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 1/2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cajun seasoning
• 1/2 cup shredded monterey jack cheese
• 3 (7 1/2 ounce) cans refrigerated biscuits
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• vegetable oil, for frying

Recipe

• 1 cook ground beef and sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring until mixture crumbles and is no longer pink.
• 2 drain and set aside, reserving 2 tbs. of drippings in skillet.
• 3 saute onion in hot drippings 5 minute or until tender. add mushrooms and saute for 2 minute.
• 4 return beef mixture to skillet and stir in tomato sauce and cajun seasoning.
• 5 simmer, stirring occasionally, 8 minute or until the liquid has evaporated.
• 6 cool completely and stir in cheese. cover and chill while rolling out the biscuits.
• 7 roll biscuits into 4" circles on a lightly floured surface.
• 8 spoon 1 tbs. of beef mixture in center of biscuit, brush edges with egg. fold edges over, pressing with a fork to seal.
• 9 place on a baking sheet and cover with a damp towel. they can be chilled for up to 2 hours at this point.
• 10 pour oil to a depth of 1/2" into a dutch oven. fry empanadas in hot oil, in batches for 30 sec on each side or until golden.
• 11 drain on paper towels. serve with your favorite toppings (i.e. salsa, sour cream, guacamole, etc.).