THANKFUL FOR EMPANADAS - IT'S TRADITION, WITH A TWIST.

This is the time of year to hang around the fire pit, and depending on the state of your fantasy football team, rejoice with friends and family. It's also a time for giving thanks. This Thanksgiving, we're thankful for these Argentinian-inspired turkey empanadas that are just perfect for the holiday. Filling a classic Argentinian staple with traditional Thanksgiving ingredients is a delicious way to fuse two celebrated cultures. Impress everyone at the table with something different for the feast while staying true to your Thanksgiving roots. This is what you’ll need: 

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, diced

1 pound ground turkey

2 sweet potatoes, diced

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon cumin

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Premade empanada discs

1 egg, beaten

Heat oil in skillet and cook the onion over medium heat until soft. Add turkey, and cook for 5 minutes. Add sweet potatoes, paprika, cumin and some salt and pepper. Cook until potatoes are tender and turkey has browned. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place a tablespoon of the turkey-sweet potato mixture in the center of each empanada disc and fold in half. Crimp the edges to seal, then brush with beaten egg. Arrange on parchment-lined baking sheets and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

Serve these empanadas with a super-simple cranberry relish. Just chop up some fresh cranberries in a food processor with a little sugar and orange juice. Last but not least, a full-bodied Malbec with dark fruit flavors and welcoming spice notes is the ideal accompaniment to this celebration of Argentinian and American cultures.

So go ahead, and sneak a plate of them into the living room while you're watching the big game. If your fantasy football team tanks, at least you’ll always have your empanadas to be thankful for.