Avocado and Herb Cashew Cheese Empanadas + TWO AWESOME GIVEAWAYS!

{Make sure you read all of the post, especially the second half because today I have two opportunities to win some of Bob Red Mill’s amazing products!)

I’ve been using Bob Red Mill  products for as long as I can remember, even prior to giving up gluten. They are seriously delicious and both D {who’s not GF} and I love using them whether we are cooking or in my case, baking.

I want to give Bob Red Mill’s a huge thank you for sending me some fun gluten free products to play with! Early next week you will see something else I whipped up from using their Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Mix. So stay tuned!

For today, I’m sharing my Avocado and Herb Cashew Cheese Stuffed Empanadas. I was craving something comforting and decided to try Bob Red Mill’s Gluten Free Biscuit Mix and came up with this little concoction. One word: DELICIOUS! We had some friends over last week and I served these and everyone was quite pleased {and full} after gobbling down several of these. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what they tasted like but D nailed it on the head. Chicken Pot Pie!

They were pretty easy to make and here is what you’ll need:

~ Bob Red Mill’s GF Biscuit Mix ( I only used half of the mix)

~ 1 egg or in my case,  an egg supplement. I used Ener-G Egg Replacer.

For Filling:

~ 1 Avocado

~ 1/2 cup cashews soaked in water for 1 hour or longer

~ Fresh Basil, Oregano, and Thyme

~ 1/2 lemon

~3 tbsp nutritional yeast

~water

How to Make:

1. To make Bob Red Mill’s GF Biscuit Mix, follow the instructions on the back of the package.

2. Mash up 1/2 an avocado and set aside

To Make Cashew Cheese:

 Drain cashews and put in blender and add all other ingredients. I used fresh Basil and Thyme and added to taste and then I added in about 2 tsp dried oregano. Mix all ingredients until mixture is of a creamy consistency and pour into a separate bowl.

To Assemble Empanadas:

Roll out dough and using a round cookie cutter or in my case, a mason jar, cut out a circle. Continue to roll out until it is thin and somewhat oval. Place a small amount of mashed avocado and a dollop of the Herb Cashew Cheese and fold over the biscuit mix. To secure, use a fork and press down all the way around

Place on a wire cookie tray. Repeat this process until biscuit mix is used up.

Place wire tray on baking sheet and into the oven at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.

Serve warm with either hot sauce or another form of dipping sauce.

Enjoy!

And now for the good stuff…free stuff!

Bob Red Mill’s is giving one of YOU a gift set of all three of these items! Yay!

Here are the giveaway details:

~ 1 winners will each receive 1 bag of Gluten Free Biscuit Mix, 1 bag of Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Mix, and 1 bag of Gluten Free Whole Grain Mix.

~ Giveaway is open to US residence 18 years or older

~ Giveaway begins today, Monday July 16th and ends Monday, July 23rd 12:01 am

~ I will announce the winner on Tuesday, July 24th so make sure you follow via Facebook!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PLUS, did you know Bob Red Mill’s is having a really fun cooking contest where the winner of the cook-off will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Scotland, including $2,500 in cash, to help represent team Bob’s Red Mill in the 19^th Annual Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship!

That’s right! You could win $2,500 and go to Scotland all by doing something that you love to do anyway!

The contest invites home cooks and professional chefs alike to submit videos demonstrating your unique recipe that makes use of Bob’s Red Mill’s Steel Cut Oats or Bob Red Mill’s Gluten Free Steel Cut Oats! Have I sparked your interest?

Here are some more details:

Prizes include

Three finalist will be chosen, based on video submissions, to win these incredible opportunities:

~Roundtrip airfare to Portland, Oregon (Um, pretty close to where you know who lives!)
~Three-nights’ accommodations at a downtown Portland hotel (Hmm, I wonder where it’ll be?)
~A tour of Bob’s Red Mill led by company founder Bob Moore
~ A gift basket filled with Bob’s Red Mill products and merchandise
~ $100 Bob’s Red Mill Gift Card
~ A spot in the live cook-off for a chance at the Grand Prize
~$100 for cook-off supplies

Doesn’t that all sound amazing? If I wasn’t horribly shy in front of the camera I would have to enter!

So, if you win the live cook-off you will receive the amazing opportunity of:

~  Round-trip airfare for two to Scotland to represent the Bob’s Red Mill team at the 19th annual Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship in October 2012
~ Two nights’ accommodations in Edinburg, three nights’ accommodations in Carrbridge (for two)
~ Rail transportation between Edinburgh and Carrbridge (for two)
~ $2500 cash

To submit a recipe, watch and vote for videos, read the contest’s official rules and learn more about the World’s Best Oatmeal, please visit www.sparforthespurtle.com. The deadline for recipe submissions is July 20, 2012.

AND,the first FIVE of you that enter and submit a video and come back here and leave a comment will receive a prize package of the following:

• Gluten Free Pancake Mix
• Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix
• Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour
• Gluten Free Brownie Mix

So, what do you think? Sounds like an incredibly fun opportunity, huh?  Don’t forget, you only have until July 20th to submit so head to www.sparforthespurtle.com for every last ounce of details you need to submit your video!