Arepas Trinidad

Ingredients

 * 4 cups cornmeal
 * ½ cup flour
 * 2 tsp salt
 * water to bind
 * 2 tbsp butter
 * 2 tbsp lard
 * 3 tsp baking powder

Filling

 * ½ lb ground beef ( or lean pork or chicken, minced )
 * ½ tsp salt
 * 2 tbsp oil
 * ½ hot pepper, minced
 * minced garlic, onion, pepper, salt, chive, thyme - to taste

Directions

 * 1) Season ground beef, then brown in oil ( or other minced meat).
 * 2) Cover and stew for about ½ hour - then mince again finely.
 * 3) Sift flour, salt, baking powder and cornmeal together.
 * 4) Add butter and lard and mix thoroughly with fingertips until mixture resembles bread crumbs.
 * 5) Add sufficient water to make a soft dough.
 * 6) Knead lightly, then cut into pieces the size of a golf ball, flatten to 4" circles.
 * 7) Place about 1 tablespoon of meat mixture on one ½ of the circle, dampen edge and fold over the other ½ of the circle to form a crescent.
 * 8) Squeeze edges together.
 * 9) Fry in hot oil until golden brown.
 * 10) Drain on brown paper and serve hot.