Cajun Meat Pies

Cajun Meat Pies 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 pound ground beef 1 pound pork sausage 1 bunch green onions, finely chopped 1 small bell pepper, finely chopped 1 large garlic clove, crushed 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes Salt and black pepper to taste 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for preparing surface 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 cup shortening 2 eggs, beaten 1 cup milk Pour vegetable oil in a large frying pan set over medium high heat; brown meat in oil. Add onion and bell pepper; cook, stirring frequently until vegetables are soft, approximately 5 minutes; add garlic and sauté for 1 minute longer. Add red pepper flakes and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside until ready to use. Sift flour, salt and baking powder together into a large bowl; cut in shortening by hand until it looks like cornmeal. Whisk eggs and milk together; slowly stir into flour mixture; mix well to form a soft dough. Divide dough into 16 equal portions. Dust a clean dry surface with flour. Roll-out each dough portion on floured surface, one at a time, into circle about 6 – 8” in diameter. Spoon approximately 2 heaping tablespoons of meat mixture onto one side of circle, leaving a 1” clean edge all around. Brush edges with a little warm water. Fold circle over meat mixture matching edges, forming a semi-circle. Fold edges in half up towards meat leaving a 1/2" edge. Press edge with tines of a fork to crimp. Repeat with the remaining meat and dough. Heat deep fryer oil or pour enough oil into a medium size frying pan to come up to a 1” depth in the pan; heat over medium high heat. When oil is hot and shimmering place 1 – 2 pies in pan; fry to a golden brown on each, approximately 3 minutes or so. Remove from heat; drain on paper towels. Serve hot or at room temperature.