Could you share the recipe when you have a chance, Jessica? We've been wanting to try homemade empanadas, and S.'s first try was not a huge success. The dough was too pie-like and dry.

I spent about an hour outside weeding and took the dog for two walks around the block

Nice!

It was from Gourmet - I just found it on Epicurious.

Here's the dough: [link]

Here's the filling: [link]

Oddly, the online versions don't link to each other - the empanadas link to a different dough, and the dough links to a different small pie! But the version I clipped out of the magazine 10 years ago definitely says to use Rough Puff Pastry Dough.

The Beef & Guinness Pies that they say go with this pastry dough recipe ARE also very awesome. It's worth seeking out brined green peppercorns.

Thank you!

But the "beef and guiness stew" the dough does link to sounds pretty darn good too! Possibly I"m just hungry.

Weekend festival, boss lady continues to demonstrate how useless she is: unless you give her a directive, she'll occupy herself with the most unhelpful thing possible. Greatest flaws: crap at management, unwillinging to ask for direction. And those two things seem to point towards someone who shouldn't be a director or part of a team. She's a one woman army of . . . something mostly useless.

I've broken 2 french press carafes in the past 2 months. And then I sliced my thumb open on a plastic tub of spinach and kale dip. I think I need bubblewrap.

Ouch on the thumb slicing! The carafes - that's why my french presses are stainless steel or lexan. The big one may be glass, but I don't use it very often so it's relatively easy to be super careful with it.

I went to a fundraiser for the teen shelter I used to work at. My friend who still works there as an art therapist scored me a free ticket, so surprise evening outing! It was fun; most of my friends were there, and about 10 area restaurants served soup (the fundraiser was called Art Soup) and there was wine and teeny cupcakes.

I had a very good gumbo, a snail soup, a delicious carrot soup and a squash and asparagus soup. And sparking almond wine, which was fine. And beautiful, wonderful mini cupcakes!

I had the last one for almost decade until I broke it in January (thermal issue- I'd just washed it next door and apparently setting it on the railing in 10°f was too much of a differential.) This one I cracked on another dish in the sink. I may go for stainless if I break this one because this is ridiculous, but that isn't available at Target at 8 on a Sunday.