It was Nia’s idea to do something after so that I didn’t have to go straight home. She knew that before seeing Dad, I wouldn’t be able to stomach breakfast, so she suggested lunch. I said, sure, but so long as it was somewhere I haven’t tried before. Somewhere new.
Maame by Jessica George
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“We order mushroom and caramelized onion empanadas, green rice, batatas fritas, and half a chicken to share.
Maame is a contemporary fiction, coming of age story.
Maddie’s life isn’t going well. She’s just been fired from the job she hates, she’s the full-time caregiver for her sick father with little support, and she’s depressed. Then Maddie’s mother returns to London from Ghana to take care of Maddie’s father and Maddie gets her first chance to move out. She’s going to find a new job. She’s going to date. She’ll wear new clothes. She’s going to go to brunch!
I loved Maddie’s quirkiness and laughed out-loud several times while reading this book. While it seems as though challenge after challenge is thrown at Maddie, it’s also a season of growth, of discovering her true friends and found family, and deciding who she wants to be. I absolutely recommend Maame.
I had to recreate the lunch Maddie has with one of her friends. Maddie is in a particularly rough patch, and her friend, knowing Maddie needs to eat, takes her out for lunch. They have half a roast chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken), green rice, sweet potato fries (I baked frozen fries), and caramelized onion and mushroom empanadas.
The empanada dough is straightforward. For the caramelized onions, I sliced several varieties of onions and then followed the beginning of my favorite french onion soup recipe. I then sautéed some sliced mushrooms and filled the empanadas. I baked following these directions.
The meal was overall delicious but the caramelized onion and mushroom weren’t my favorite empanada filling.
Do you have a favorite type of empanada? I want to make some more varieties!
Novel Bakery 
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