POTATO AND BEEF EMPANADAS

Steps:

• In large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Cut in butter, using pastry blender or fork, until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Stir in buttermilk until dough comes together.
• Knead dough 10 to 20 times or until smooth. Divide dough in half; shape into flattened rounds. Wrap each flattened round in plastic wrap, and refrigerate about 45 minutes or until dough is firm and cold yet pliable.
• Heat nonstick 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat; add beef, potato, onion, garlic and jalapeño, stirring to break up beef. Cook 8 to 10 minutes or until beef is thoroughly cooked and potatoes are tender when pierced with tip of a knife. Remove from heat; drain, and pour beef mixture into ungreased 2-quart baking dish or shallow pan with sides. Stir in tomatoes, pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon salt. Refrigerate uncovered 10 minutes to cool.
• Heat oven to 400°F. Using floured rolling pin on work surface sprinkled lightly with flour, roll one round of chilled pastry 1/8-inch thick. Using 5-inch round cutter, cut out circles. Refrigerate any leftover dough scraps to use for later rolling.
• On center of each dough circle, place 2 tablespoons cooled beef filling. Top with 1 teaspoon cheese. Brush egg all around edge of circle.
• Fold dough in half over filling, gently stretching dough to cover filling. Press to seal edges of empanada with fork. Place on cooking parchment paper-lined large cookie sheet. Brush top of empanada with egg.
• Bake 22 to 26 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet; remove to cooling rack.
• Meanwhile, repeat steps on assembling and baking empanadas with second half of refrigerated dough and refrigerated leftover dough.