Pumpkin and Goat Cheese Hand Pies

(adapted from givemeflour.com)

Ingredients


Dough:
1cup bread flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/3 cups unsalted butter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1egg beaten
3 tbs heavy cream

Filling:
1 small winter squash
1/2 sweet potato
1/2 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tbs olive oil
1/2 tbs fresh sage, chopped
1/2 tbs fresh rosemary, chopped
4 ounces of goat cheese
1 cup spinach, chopped small
1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds

Step 1: Make Dough

1. Place flour, salt and butter in a big bowl. Work with your fingertips or with a pastry blender ‘til the mixture resembles coarse meal.  You want to keep some visible pieces of butter

2. Beat together egg and 3 tbsp of cream. Pour the mixture into the dry ingredients.

3. Using your fingertips, mix them smoothly by making circular movements. Don’t knead the dough.

4. Keep mixing. The dough should get together quickly and if it doesn’t happen, add one more tbsp of cream.

5. Don’t worry about spots, visible pieces of butter and stripes of cream; they are a good sign.  Press to form a ball, cover with plastic film and keep on the fridge for at least 15 minutes.

Step 2: Make Filling

1.  Sautee onion and garlic in olive oil.  Let cool.

2. Slice squash in half and remove seeds.  Cut sweet potato in half.  Coat exposed surfaces with olive oil. Bake in a preheated oven at 425 degrees until easily pierced with a fork (30-40 minutes).  Squash might cook slower than the sweet potato.

3.  When cooled, remove skins and add insides to a mixing bowl.  Add goat cheese, sage, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion mixture, spinach, and rosemary.

4.  Lower oven heat to 350.

Step 3: Make Pockets

1.  Roll out dough on floured surface.

2.  Using a cutter with about a 3-inch diameter, create circles to use as the shape for your pockets.  I used a drinking glass.  

3.  Add 1-2 tbs of mixture into each pocket and fold over dough to make a semi-circle.  Crimp edges with a fork and place on a greased cookie sheet. 

4.  Continue to roll out dough until it is all used up, repeating steps 2-3.  You may have some leftover filling.  

5.  Coat each pocket with egg wash and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. 

Step 4: Bake 'Em!

Bake in preheated oven (350 degrees) for about 30 minutes or until golden!

Let cool on a baking rack.

** note: while these guys may LOOK great, the exterior was not what I was expecting.  It was more of a pastry shell, similar to a pie crust.  I'd recommend finding a recipe for empanada dough instead, it would make these MUCH more enjoyable!  This recipe looks good: Empanada Dough Recipe