Abuelita’s Empanadas de Navidad

As a child, the holidays and Christmas specifically meant time together with family. The majority of my family is still abroad, but when I was under 12, my grandmother on my father’s side was still here with us, and cooking for the family was a love language for my abuelita Lola. Sabajón (and a non-alcoholic version for the kids), empanadas, and squares of just dough because my sister loved the flavor. As an adult, I realize the labor of love that is preparing dough from scratch and hand making individual empanadas, as I’ve practiced enough to know how time consuming it can be and yet how incredible the reward is after.