CHICKEN EMPANADAS

Steps:

• FILLING:.
• Sift the flour into a bowl. Stir in the salt and the sugar.
• Blend the butter and shortening into the flour mixture with a pastry cutter or with two knives, until fairly well blended.
• Whisk the egg yolks with 3/4 cups water. Stir in the 1/2 cup of water/egg mixture, a little at a time until the dough starts to come together smoothly. Keep kneading the dough, adding more water/egg a little bit at a time as necessary (you made need a few tablespoons extra of water), until the dough is smooth. The dough will seem a bit shaggy until it has thoroughly chilled.
• Cover the dough with saran wrap and refrigerate for about an hour. (Dough can also be kept overnight (or a couple of days) in the refrigerator) Dough should be soft and smooth, and not elastic - if you poke a hole in it with your finger, the indentation should remain.
• FILLING.
• Prepare empanada dough and chill.
• Poach the chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a pot with the bouillon and bay leaf, and cover with water or chicken broth.
• Bring to a boil, and simmer over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. Let cool in the broth.
• Shred chicken into small pieces, and moisten with 1 or 2 tablespoons of the broth. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a skillet. Add chopped onions, paprika, cumin, chile powder, sugar, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Cook over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until onions are soft and clear, and mixture is golden brown.
• Remove from heat and stir in the chicken. For best flavor, refrigerate filling until the next day.
• Stir chopped hard boiled egg and olives into filling mixture.
• Separate empanada dough into golf ball size pieces, and roll each one into a smooth ball. Let rest 5 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 220°C.
• On a floured surface, roll each ball of dough into a circle about 6 inches in diameter.
• Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of filling in the middle of the circle. Brush the edges of the dough along the bottom half of the circle lightly with water.
• Fold the top half of the circle of dough over the filling to form a semicircle, and press edges together firmly to seal.
• Brush the pressed edge with a little bit of water, and fold the edge over itself, pinching and crimping as you go to make a braid-like effect. Place empanadas on a baking sheet.
• Mix egg yolk with water and brush mixture lightly over entire surface of each empanada.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden brown and slightly puffed.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.