Empanadas Con Queso

• 1/2 lb steak, diced into 1/4-inch bite-size chunks or 1/2 lb ground beef
• 1/2 teaspoon cajun spices (I use Old Bay)
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 cup onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup green bell pepper, diced
• 2 serrano peppers, minced (optional)
• 1/4 cup salsa
• 2 tablespoons beef broth (I use beef boullion granules)
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste (I keep a tube of sun-dried tomato paste in the fridge for stuff like this)
• 1 cup monterey jack cheese, shredded
• 2 puff pastry sheets, thawed
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• Queso Cheese Sauce
• 1 tablespoon butter, unsalted
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup monterey jack cheese, shredded
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• salt and pepper, to taste

1. Toss meat with cajun spices, oregano, cumin, salt and black pepper. Set aside.
2. In a medium skillet, saute onions, peppers and garlic in oil until soft. Add seasoned steak and saute until cooked through.
3. In a small bowl, combine salsa, broth, and tomato paste. Pour over filling mixture in skillet, simmering for a minute or until slightly thickened.
4. Add cheese to filling, then transfer filling mixture to a bowl and chill in the fridge while you get to work on cutting the puff pastry.
5. Cut 18 squares from pastry sheets (you'll get 9 squares out of each sheet by cutting it into thirds at the two creases and cutting each strip into three squares). At this point, I like to sprinkle a little flour on each square and make them a bit bigger using a rolling pin.
6. Retreive filling from fridge and spoon 1 or 2 tablespoons of filling onto each square or circle. Moisten the edges with water and fold over meat mixture, creating a triangle. Make sure to stuff all the filling in and press the edges together well with your fingers. Then seal the dough by pressing down on the edges with a fork. Repeat with remaining filling and pastry.
7. Place empanadas on a baking sheet coated with nonstick cooking spray. Brush each empanada with melted butter and pierce the top with a fork to vent steam. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
8. While empanadas are baking, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Wisk in flour and cook for about 1 minute. Wisk in milk gradually until incorporated. Gradually stir in cheese until melted and thickened. Season with cumin, salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle over empanadas.

ground beef, cajun spices, oregano, cumin, salt, black pepper, olive oil, onion, garlic, green bell pepper, serrano peppers, salsa, beef broth, tomato paste, cheese, pastry sheets, butter, queso cheese sauce, butter, flour, milk, cheese, cumin, salt

Taken from www.food.com/recipe/empanadas-con-queso-251992 (may not work)