In an effort to be adventurous in the kitchen my love affair with all things Dave Lieberman continues. I have yet to make a recipe from Dave’s collection that I didn’t find thoroughly delicious, and these Chicken and Black Bean Empanadas were no exception. The chicken mixture is spicy, smoky, and surprisingly hearty, and I’ve said it before but it definitely bares repeating — I honestly believe that puff pastry is the world’s perfect food! The twist on this dish is the great Tomato and Pineapple Salsa Fresca that is served on the side. I loved the tanginess of the pineapple, jalapeño, tomato, and scallion mixture. I actually was extremely shocked that these flavors worked so well together. I even ate the leftover salsa the next day at lunch. Obviously that held up much better on day two than the empanadas, which I definitely do not recommend as a leftover meal. Freshly baked is definitely best in this case as they became quite soggy overnight.

Everything Starts With Onions	Let’s Add Some Heat
Add the Chicken & Beans	Cool the Filling
Stir in Chopped Cilantro	Dice, Slice, and Mix Up the Salsa
Roll Out the Pastry Dough	Divide Into Equal Parts
Layer With Chicken & Bean Mixture	Dampen the Edges, Fold Over, and Seal
Brush With Oil and Bake Until Golden	Now Where’s My Margarita?

I was given the following Sweet Potato Chili recipe by Hänni. Per her description the “lime and cocoa” give this dish a very “exotic flair” and after preparing it, I’d have to thoroughly agree. Vegetarian chilies are definitely one of my favorite hearty dinner options, although I did alter the recipe by adding some chicken stock to the chili in an effort to thin it out slightly. You could of course use vegetable stock, or leave it out entirely. I always like to pair my spicy dishes with Sweet Corn Cakes. Yes, I’m not ashamed to admit that I serve corn bread from a mix.

Prep	Slice
Saute	Add the Sweet Potato
Combine the Spices	Pour in the Tomatoes
Add the Beans & Jalapeño	Stir & Bring to a Simmer
Cover	Slice & Chop
One Last Stir	Dinner is Served