Chicken Empanadas

2 Chicken breasts; boned and skinless (8-ounce)
1 Small Onion; quartered
1 Bay leaf
Salt
Water to cover
1 Tablespoon Butter
3 Cup Plus 1 tablespoon flour
1 Cup Plus 3/4 cup milk
1/2 Cup Minced onions
2 Teaspoon Chopped garlic
2 Tablespoon Chopped green onions; (green part only)
2 Teaspoon Finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 Dash Hot sauce
1-1/2 Teaspoon Salt
3/4 Teaspoon Baking powder
6 Tablespoon Lard
1 Egg
Solid vegetable shortening for deep-frying
18 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates

Preheat the fryer. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place the
chicken in a shallow saucepan, over medium heat. Add the onions and bay
leaf. Cover with water. Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat to
medium low and simmer for about 15 minutes or until tender. Remove and
discard the liquid. Cool the chicken. In a small saute pan, over medium
heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the flour and
cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the 1 cup of the milk. Season with salt and
pepper. Cook until the mixture thickens, about 4 minutes. Remove from the
heat and cool. Dice the chicken into small pieces. In a food processor,
fitted with a metal blade, add the diced chicken, minced onions, garlic,
green onions and parsley. Process until the mixture is mixed well. Add
enough of the milk sauce until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Season with
hot sauce, salt and pepper. Set aside. Sift the remaining 3 cups flour,
salt, and baking powder into a mixing bowl. Cut in the lard unit it
resembles coarse meal. In a small bowl, beat the egg with the remaining 3/4
cup milk. Gradually add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, working it to
make a thick dough. Divide the dough into 24 equal portions. On a lightly
floured surface, roll the dough pieces into thin rounds, about 3 inches in
diameter. Put about 1 tablespoon of the mixture in the center of each round,
fold over and crimp the edges with a fork. Heat the shortening a deep pot or
an electric deep-fryer to 360 degrees F. Fry the pies, 2 to 3 at a time,
until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.

Yield: 24 hand pies