More Than Food: A Mother’s Legacy of Love and Sacrifice -

Hello @foodiesbeehive community
Hi everyone! Hope your doing good..
I’d like to share a special story about my life, my mother, and the recipe that changed everything for us.

Cooking has always been more than just preparing food for me—it has become my way of honoring my mother, continuing her legacy, and supporting our family during a difficult time. One of the most treasured recipes she passed down to me is her homemade empanada. This dish has always been a family favorite, not only for its delicious taste but also for the love and care that go into every step of making it.

My mother used to sell empanadas in our neighborhood to help provide for our daily needs. Her empanadas were known not only for their crisp golden crust but also for the heartwarming feeling they brought to anyone who tasted them. People would line up to buy from her, not just because they were affordable, but because each bite carried love and dedication.

But when she suffered a stroke, everything changed. She could no longer cook or run the small business that helped sustain us. It was one of the hardest times of our lives. I saw her lying in bed, worried not only about her health but also about how we would continue to live day by day. That moment broke my heart, but it also gave me strength. Instead of giving up, I decided to step in and carry on her work.

I took the recipe she gave me, learned it by heart, and made it my mission to keep her legacy alive. At first, I was nervous—would people still buy from me? Could I make the empanadas taste just like hers? But with every batch, I discovered that the secret ingredient was not just the filling or the dough—it was the love we put into it. That was what people truly tasted.

Her empanada recipe is simple but full of flavor. For the dough, we use flour, a bit of salt, sugar, and cold butter or margarine, mixed until crumbly. Then we add cold water slowly until the dough comes together, soft but not sticky. After resting, it’s rolled thin and ready to hold the filling.

The filling is the soul of the empanada. My mother taught me to sauté garlic and onions until fragrant, then add ground pork or chicken, diced potatoes, carrots, and green peas. A dash of soy sauce, salt, and pepper gives it balance. Sometimes I add raisins and boiled eggs, just like my mother used to, for that sweet-savory harmony that makes every bite unforgettable. Once cooled, the filling is wrapped in dough, folded into a half-moon, sealed carefully, and fried to golden perfection.

Every time the aroma fills our home, it feels like my mother is still beside me, smiling and proud. Each empanada is not just food—it is a piece of her love, her sacrifices, and her resilience.

Today, selling empanadas is not just about business. It is my way of providing for our daily needs, helping pay for my mother’s medicines, and keeping her dreams alive. It reminds me that life’s hardest trials can also bring out the strongest parts of ourselves. More than a recipe, my mother gave me the gift of strength, hope, and perseverance.

Here are the recipe

Ingredients for the Dough:

3 cups all- purpose
1tsp salt
1tbsp sugar
½ cup butter or margarine (cubes)
½ cup cold water (add gradually)

Ingredients for filling

2 tbsp cooking oil
3 cloves garlic minced
1 medium onion chopped
½ kg. Ground pork or chicken
Potato - dice
Carrots - dice
½ cup green pease
2 tbsp soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup raisins (optional)
Hard boiled eggs

For frying:
Cooking oil is enough for deep frying
Cook the filling and assemble the emapanada roll out the dough thinly and cut into circles. Roll out the dough thinly, fold the dough into a half moon shape and seal the edges by pressing with a fork or a dough molder.
Fry to perfections
Heat oil in deep fry pan

Serve and enjoy!
Best served warm with famly and friends!

Through these empanadas, I carry her story forward—one bite, one customer, one smile at a time.

I hope you liked my story. Thank you and more power 💪🙏