Arepas Trinidad

Ingredients

 * 4 cups cornmeal
 * 1/2 cup flour
 * 2 teasps salt
 * water to bind
 * 2 tablsps butter
 * 2 tablesps lard
 * 3 tsps baking powder

Filling
 * 1/2 lb ground beef ( or lean pork or chicken, minced )
 * 1/2 teasp salt
 * 2 tablsps oil
 * 1/2 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 1/2 hr - 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 2/8 " circles
 * 7) Place about 1 tablesp of meat mixture on one 1/2 of the circle, dampen edge and fold over the other 1/2 of the circle to form a crescent. Squeeze edges together
 * 8) Fry in hot oil until golden brown
 * 9) Drain on brown paper and serve hot