April 8, 2016: National Empanada Day

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 7 DAYS

Empanada Memories

WooHoo It's Friday Baby!!

And guess what? 

Elisa also found out that it is National Empanada Day - how yummy is that?!

Plus it was only just yesterday that I found out about a speciality Empanada shoppe in Burbank, CA that offers Vegan Empanadas!!
​What a co-inky-dink :)

The name of the shop/restaurant is
​World Empanadas and boy do they ever have a huge list of Empanadas to choose from!!!

Anyhow, I can't wait to get over there and try them out for myself!

I can actually remember the very first Empanada I ever ate and where I was - traveling of course...lol

This is going baaaaack to 1995, I was in Miami with visiting a girlfriend and about to go on a snorkeling adventure in the Keys.  We found a little place that offered vegan empanadas - and who could resist a stuffed little dough pocket? Certainly not me! ;)
And thus began my love affair with the empanada! 

While finding vegan empanadas is not the easiest thing to do - I've had my fair share of yummy luck!  

From Happy Chicks in Cincinnati, Ohio

From Gracias Madre in Los Angeles, CA

From Seabirds Kitchen in Costa Mesa, CA

From Seabirds Kitchen in Costa Mesa, CA

Okay, now tell me that all of those don't look amazing! Mmm mmm...now I'm totally in the mood for empanadas. I hope that I can find one to celebrate National Empanada Day!

And not only that...being that the origin of the empanada is from Portugal (see all about empanadas in Elisa's column) I'm hoping that we find some amazing empanada delights while we are there visiting next month!!!

Check out how our trip is coming together HERE 

So, in other travel news as I mentioned yesterday I've posted a new Travel Article 11 Las Vegas Must Dos for the First Timer

And for travel mishap news...
I happened to be looking up the distance between our hotel in Monterey and where the starting line for our ride in the Sea Otter Classic is located.
Luckily Dave asked this question, because otherwise I really had no purpose to look up the reservation. Everything was all set and ready to go. All we had to do was show up!

Well actually NO. What I found was a HUGE error!! Somehow my reservation had a check in date of 1/15/16 rather than 4/15/16 - WTH???
So I further inquired and it showed that my reservation had been completed! WHAT?!?!?

I immediately got on the phone and called to straighten out matters and luckily found that we had not been charged. What an idiot move!

So now I've got to get on with rebooking. The only thing is that, now I'm not sure I really want to stay at the original place I booked or choose other accomodations.

In more local news, while heading out to do some shopping yesterday, a nearby parking lot had been super flooded, the pedestrians were up to their knees in water! As I sat in traffic I saw a HUGE geyser spouting into the air!

We are talking a minimum of 30+ feet here. It was kinda crazy!
Later on I found out that a young driver had turned the corner and flipped the vehicle twice, going over a fire hydrant and causing this mess.
Luckily no one was hurt.

As for today, although it is kinda rainy out I'll be taking Cosette to see Dream. And we will be prepping for this weekend, which is full of events and performances for the kids.
Tomorrow they will be performing at the Aquarium of the Pacific for Children's Day.

And Sunday they will be performing for JHV (Justice for Homicide Victims). That'll be a tough one - very emotional.

Lots to do, I'll catch y'all tomorrow. Go eat some empanadas!
​-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT TOUR: 4 DAYS

Empanadas from Around the World

HELLO MY FRIENDS!

Well, we are just having the craziest weather here in New York.  It's super cold one day; then it's windy as all heck the next; now they are predicting snow over the weekend - WTH?  

Winter is just not going out quietly!

Today is National EMPANADA Day!

And this is quite apropos considering it is Foodie Friday here on Travelin' Cousins.

If you are not familiar with these yummy stuffed delights, they are pastry dough stuffed with a filling, then fried or baked.

Empanadas are most commonly found in Latin Europe, Latin America, the Southwestern United States, and parts of Southeast Asia.
 
The name comes from the Spanish verb empanar, meaning to wrap or coat in bread. Depending on the country or region, the way in which they are made will vary.

Spanish empanadas are usually pie-shaped, made with a broad variety of fillings (including pork, sausage, cod and sardines) and served in wedges.

Latin American empanadas are typically made in individual, half moon-shaped portions and filled with minced, seasoned meat.

In some Mexican restaurants, dessert empanadas and “gourmet” empanadas are created by fine chefs.

Gourmet Empanadas (credit: pinterest)

Empanadas trace back their origins to Portugal, and the northwest region of Spain, called Galicia.

They first appeared in Portugal around the time of the beginning of trade routes to India and the establishment of the Portuguese Colony at Goa.

It is believed that empanadas were derived from the Indian Gujia or Samosa, known in Lisbon as the "Chamuça da Goa." 

They first appeared in medieval Iberia during the time of the Moorish invasions. Interestingly, a cookbook published in Catalan in 1520, Libre del Coch by Ruperto de Nola, mentions empanadas filled with seafood in the recipes for Catalan, Italian, French, and Arabian food. 

These wonderful photos show the variety of Empanada from various places and cultures around the world including Argentina, Belize, Cape Verde, the Philippines and Sicily.

Depending on the geographical location, the outer "bread" and inner "fillings" will differ.  

For instance, in Argentina, the empanada dough is made with wheat flour and meat drippings and depending on the region, the fillings will differ from province to province.

These fillings can include chicken, beef,onion, boiled egg, olives, raisins, spinach or even sweet, dessert fruit fillings.

Home made empanadas from Córdoba, Argentina (credit: wikipedia)

Argentine version of fatayer called “arabian” empanadas.

In Belize empanadas are known as panades. They are made with masa (corn dough) and typically stuffed with fish, chicken, or beans. 

​They are usually deep fried and served with a cabbage or salsa topping.

Belize Empanada or panades

Cape Verdean pastéis or empanadas, are often filled with spicy tuna fish. One particular variety, the pastel com o diabo dentro (literally: Pastel with the devil within), is particularly spicy, and is made with a dough made from sweet potatoes and cornmeal.

In the Phiippines, empanadas are fried and stuffed with ground beef, potatoes, carrots, cheese, and raisins in a thin, crisp crust

Philippine Empanadas

Sicily also has its own version of the empanada, called the 'Mpanatigghi.  They are stuffed, and filled with a mixture of almonds, walnuts, chocolate, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and minced beef.  

These are common in the province of Ragusa, Sicily and are also known as impanatiglie or dolce di carne ("pastry of meat") 

'Mpanatigghi - from Sicily

I don't know about you, but my mouth is watering!!

Check out Tanya's blog to read about some great vegan empanadas from a few of her food excursions!!
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Okay guys, I'm starting to wonder if I have been struck with the "Bronx Curse".  

My plan was to drop the kids off at school and  head into Manhattan this morning with my Aunt Ro, where we were meeting up with our tour guide, Alexandra, from Bronx Historical Tours.

From Grand Central, we were to continue up to the Bronx to begin our "Historical Grand Concourse" Walking Tour.

Well, that is just not the case anymore!!
I had a little family emergency that cropped up late last night and will require my attention today.

This is actually getting stupid already and I am frustrated as heck.  But, we will once again reschedule and I'm hoping, three times a charm.

I'll be coming to you tomorrow from Eastern Long Island, as it's riding day for the girls.

Hope you have a yummy day!!

-E
xoxo