A Night in Colombia!

Several weeks ago, my grand uncle's wife, Rosa, invited me over for dinner and a cooking lesson!  Rosa is from Colombia, and decided to show me how to make Empanadillas de Maiz (corn turnovers) and hot chocolate...Colombian style.  Here's a peek into my 'Night in Colombia'...enjoy!

-Empanadillas -

The stuffing

Ok here you'll find the mixture of potatoes and tomatoes.  Unfortunately this was already prepared before I arrived.  I believe she also mixed in achiote for coloring, and water that had been boiled with a few cubes of chicken stock.

White Corn Meal

Water achiote and chicken cube mix

Here's the white corn meal and the boiled water with achiote and chicken cubes.  You have to mix the two in order to get the masa to make the empanadilla.

Mix it up!

Once you have the right consistency for the masa (not too thick, not too thin), you roll it in a ball and place it on a piece of plastic wrap (Rosa cuts Ziploc bags open and uses those).

The ball

Then using your (clean) hands you press the ball down to make a wide and even circle.  Keep a bowl of water close as you may need to add a bit on your fingertips to help the masa spread better.

Press down

Now you add the stuffing (note: you can put whatever you want in these empanadillas...chicken, beef, veggies...I'm toying with the idea of fresh fruit inside with sugar added to the masa and making a chocolate dip mmmm)

Filling time!

Now, here is where the plastic wrap comes in...you have to fold one side onto the other.  You also have to make sure that you pack it tightly as to create a perfect crescent and to keep any air out of the plastic opening.

Perfect shape!

The empanadillas are ready to be fried!  Fill an iron pot with corn oil.  How do you know if the oil is hot enough?  Well, you take a baby ball of masa and throw it in the oil.  When it rises, the oil is hot enough to insert the empanadillas.

Oil's ready!

Empanadillas frying!

Fry until golden brown...

¡Mmmm Empanadillas de Maiz!

*Hot Chocolate*

It starts with a chocolate bar.  Rosa says this is a Colombian brand that she found here in Puerto Rico.

Chocolate Bar mmm!

You take a few pieces of chocolate and put it in a metal pitcher with a few cups of water.

Water and Chocolate

Then you add about a cup or so of milk.

Milk does a body good!

Add heat and cover for about 15 minutes or until warm.

Once the milk begins to boil, you lower the flame and mix it.  Rosa has a special wooden mixer from Colombia.  It was awesome to use...you have to balance the handle between your palms and mix!

Now, its time to prepare the cups...this is going to sound weird but just go with it...cut a few cubes of queso blanco (spanish white cheese) and place them in the cup.  Then, pour in the hot chocolate and enjoy!

Cheese!

Eat before, during and/or after!

Empanadillas and hot chocolate!

That was my 'Night in Colombia'...I look forward to more....maybe even, one day, a REAL night in Colombia ;)