Happy Independence Day Chile!! 9/18

Independence Day in Chile is much more celebrated than our 4th of July here. It may be up to one week of celebration, and certainly never ever just one day. My sister Monica was beginning to feel a little down about missing out on all that party, good food and friends and family, so we decided to do the most Chilean thing possible, make empanadas, a Chilean signature dish. We've invited a few (20+) friends over to help us celebrate tonight.
Now you must know that neither one of us have made empanadas in our lives, we both grew up watching our wonderful Mami making them and all the women in our family through the years, lending a hand here and there, but never the entire product our selves. EEEeeeeeeeekK!! Last night as we began the process we all, including Bill, had a bit of a panic attack about it, what are we thinking?! Our determination, or our craving for the wonderful meat turn overs got the best of us and we proceeded with confidence. El Pino turned out good, a bit spicy but good, and today we make the masa (dough) and assemble and bake. I pray they turn out good.