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I love the holidays. The lights, the love, the sights, the smells. The right scent will take you back to a special moment in life, so I firmly believe in choosing a signature scent for the home during the holidays. This year I’m setting the mood with Glade® and their Holiday Collection, a set of scents inspired by nature and the beautiful smells of a season that inspires so much alegría (joy). Some of my greatest joys during the holidays are creating new memories with my son, spending time with my family, and learning about my Salvadoran heritage, and Glade® has the perfect scent for each of these.

One of my favorites from the collection is Glade® Jar Candles in Be at Peace™, a balsam & fir inspired scent that makes me nostalgic for the first time my son and I shopped for a real Christmas tree in a real tree lot, and a scent I’ll bring back year after year so he’ll know and connect it to the joy of putting up our tree and truly kicking off the holiday season.

I love shopping at Target, and this year, they’re carrying the exclusive scent Spread Cheer™, and if we’ve learned nothing else from Buddy the Elf, we’ve learned that “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” En mi familia, singing and playing music for each other is as much a part of the holidays as trees and lights. From the baladas and cumbias con la guitarra to current pop and favorite Christmas tunes on the karaoke machine, we create cheer for each other by sharing ourselves through song.

Share the Spirit™ is a brightly sweet scent, with notes of pomegranate, vanilla, and sweet citrus zest, and it’s my favorite scent for gatherings and a bit of holiday frivolity. To my mind, any party needs food. Like so much food. Delicious, Central American comfort food sits at the core of our family gatherings, and now that my cousins and I are getting older and starting our own families, we’re expected share in the responsibilities of learning and passing down our traditional family recipes.

You know that expression about the best way to a man’s heart? It’s true, but it’s an incomplete truth. The best way to ANY person’s heart is through their stomach. Passing along the alegría by sharing a few of my favorite recipes is one of my favorite ways to share the holiday spirit.

And let me tell you, there is such a thrill in learning my Abuelita’s recipes, taking part in my family’s history and heritage. It’s like these recipes are a connection to the past, to El Salvador itself, and to the very spirit of our family. I’m thrilled to share one of these with you, but beware! The ingredients may be simple (like absurdly simple), but these take a powerful blender, a bit of patience, and willingness to get your hands a little messy.

Empanaditas de Frijoles

December 10, 2015

by Resa

Category Recipes The Abode The Kitchen

Persons

30

Prep Time

1 hour

Cook Time

15 minutes

Ingredients

• 3-4 Plantanos (large Plantains)
• 1 stick of Cinnamon
• 3-4 quarts of Water
• 16 oz Refried Black Beans (check the ingredients list and make sure there aren’t added flavors like jalapeño, onion, or garlic)
• ¼ of a disc of Mexican Style Chocolate (como Abuelita o Ibarra)
• 1 cup of Cooking Oil
• ¼ cup Granulated Sugar*
• ¼ cup Powdered Sugar*
• 2 tbsp Cinnamon*
• *Optional for dusting the empanaditas.

Instructions

1. Cut off and discard the ends of each plantain, then cut each plantain into 3-4 pieces.
2. Add the cut plantains and cinnamon into a large pot of water, then boil on medium-high heat until the plantains are soft. This should take about 30-40 minutes.

3. While the plantains boil, use a cheese grater to shave the Mexican chocolate into the refried beans. Mix well, then heat on medium for about 5-8 minutes. Remove from heat.
4. Once the bananas are soft, peel them by slicing the skin lengthwise and pushing the meat of the banana right into the blender.
5. Blend the bananas well - this should make a substantial dough. DO NOT ADD WATER. This will make your batter runny and it won’t stick together. If your dough is still too runny, add pancake mix 1 tablespoon at a time to thicken it. Once you’ve reached a cookie dough or play-doh consistency, you’re golden. Allow your dough to cool before handling it.

6. This is the hard part, so I’ve made a short video to illustrate it, too. The gist, though, is that you’ll lay out a sheet of plastic wrap and pour on a thin layer of cooking oil so the dough doesn’t stick. I like to put it on my hands as well, to make it easier to handle the dough.
7. Spoon about 3 tbsp of plantain batter onto your sheet of plastic wrap, then fold the plastic wrap over it and pat it flat. I recommend shaping it into a square if you can at this stage.
8. Pull the plastic wrap back and put a dollop (about 2 tsp) of refried beans on the center of the plantain dough square.
9. Fold the plastic wrap back over the dough, but this time, make sure your fold is at the center of the dough itself - you’re now closing the dough around the frijoles. I like to do this diagonally to make sure the filling is well sealed. Shape the empanadita by cupping your hand around the edges, giving it the signature half moon empanada shape.

10. Warm cooking oil in a frying pan at medium-high heat (about a 6.5/10). Make sure there is at least ¼ inch of cooking oil covering the bottom.
11. Place shaped empanaditas in the cooking oil and fry until golden brown on each side (about 3-4 minutes each side). A tip for your flip: warm and “seal” the edges before you flip each empanadita by using the end of the spatula to push (without splashing!) hot oil over each edge.
12. Remove cooked empanaditas from oil and onto a paper towel or a linen hand towel.
13. *Optional: Mix granulated sugar, powdered sugar, and cinnamon on a plate, then sprinkle the mix over each empanadita.

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This is such a delicious treat, and a lovely way to share alegría during the holidays.

You can feel the joy this holiday with Glade® by getting a great deal on Holiday Collection products here: http://cbi.as/15fu7 and by joining the conversation with #sienteglade at Siente Glade Social Hub or the Glade Latino Facebook Page. Finally, don’t forget to enter the Glade Latina Holiday Sweepstakes! Glade Latina Holiday Sweepstakes

How will you share the joy this holiday season?