INGREDIENTS

3/4pound ( 2 3/4 cups)all-purpose flour, plus a little extra for rolling the tortillas 5tablespoonslard or vegetable shortening, or a mixture of the two 3/4teaspoon salt About 3/4cup very warm tap water

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make the dough.Combine the flour and fat in a large mixing bowl, working in the fat with your fingers, until completely incorporated. Dissolve the salt in the water, pour about 2/3 cup of it over the dry ingredients and immediately work it in with a fork; the dough will be in large clumps rather than a homogeneous mass. If all the dry ingredients haven’t been dampened, add the rest of the liquid (plus a little more, if necessary). Scoop the dough onto your work surface and knead until smooth. It should be medium-stiff consistency — definitely not firm, but not quite as soft as most bread dough either.

2. Rest the dough. Divide the dough into 12 portions and roll each into a ball. Set them on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and let rest at least 30 minutes (to make the dough less springy, easier to roll).

3. Roll and griddle-bake the tortillas. Heat an ungreased griddle or heavy skillet over medium to medium-high heat.On a lightly floured surface, roll out a portion of the dough into an even 7-inch circle: Flatten a ball of dough, flour it, then roll forward and back across it; rotate a sixth of a turn and roll forward and back again; continue rotating and rolling until you reach a 7-inch circle, lightly flouring the tortilla and work surface from time to time.Lay the tortilla on the hot griddle (you should hear a faint sizzle and see an almost immediate bubbling across the surface). After 30 to 45 seconds, when there are browned splotches underneath, flip it over. Bake 30 to 45 seconds more, until the other side is browned; don’t overbake the tortilla or it will become crisp. Remove and wrap in a cloth napkin placed in a tortilla warmer. Roll and griddle-bake the remaining tortillas in the same manner and stacking them one on top of the other.

OR…if you live near the border you can EASILY get them at any time, day of the week you want…still warm, soft, fresh and so tasty within any neighborhood, or even the other side of the border. Readily available is the word. These last ones I got in Puerto Peñasco.

LOVE!

Throwing another recipe at my wall here (save and share) …

Mexican Flour Tortillas, Tortillas de Harina de Castilla

By Juliann Esquivel
@Juliann

As far back as I can remember I can still see my grandmother making tortillas. This was a daily routine. She would be up early making the daily quota of tortillas for the day’s meals. (4 or 5 dozen) She would have two comals going, (griddles) She was an expert. I have never seen anyone make tortillas as fast as my grandmother. To watch her was mesmerizing. She would roll and flip the tortilla in one magical movement and each time the tortilla hit the flat surface it would have turned a quarter turn. To this day I don’t know how she would do it. The circumference was always perfect. They were soft, fragrant, pliable and delicious. She taught me how to make them and even though I consider myself an excellent tortilla maker, my tortillas are very good. I cannot begin to hold a candle to the tortillas my grandmother made. Here is her recipe. Enjoy

Ingredients

• 3 c

  all purpose flour, i use pillsbury, i get very good results
• 1/2 c

  canola or corn oil
• 1 1/2 tsp

  salt
• 1/4 tsp

  baking powder, do not use more than this. it will make your tortillas hard
• 3/4 c

  hot water, not real hot

  How to Make Mexican Flour Tortillas, Tortillas de Harina de Castilla

  Step-by-Step

  1. Sift 3 cups flour into a large bowl, add salt and baking powder. Mix well with your hand. Next add the oil and with your hands mix in the oil with the flour really good.
  2. Now take the hot water and pour in a little. Then mix, then pour a little more and mix again do this until you have made a soft elastic and pliable dough. The dough should come together and the bowl should be clean of all the flour. If the dough is to sticky add a little more flour. If it is too dry add a little more hot water but always in small increments. The dough should be soft and not sticking to your hands. Add more flour if it does this. Take dough and knead with the palms of your hand for about two minutes. Now put dough back into bowl cover with a clean cloth and let the dough rest for about 15 minutes. While the dough is resting; preheat your cast iron griddle or cast iron fry pan. Do not put any oil or grease on the griddle or pan. Tortillas bake on a dry griddle.
  3. After 15 minutes have passed take dough out knead again for one minute and take pieces or dough and make little balls the size of a little larger than ping pong balls. Sprinkle a little flour on a flat surface and with a palote, “rolling pin” roll the dough ball, roll once and pick up and turn a quarter turn roll again and do another quarter turn continue the same until you have rolled out your tortilla about 8 inches across if you like a large tortilla or 6 inches across if you like them smaller. I prefer the 8 inch across. Once you have rolled out the tortilla place on the hot griddle lower the heat to medium. You do not want to scorch your tortillas. As soon as you see a few bubbles on the tortilla flip it over to the other side; cook the tortilla for about 2 minutes on each side. Watch them closely you can tell when one side is cooked. Have the butter ready and the salt. Yum. As you are making them put them into a large bowl that has a nice clean dish towel underneath. cover each time you place a nicely baked tortilla in your pile. I like to place in the microwave or the oven until we are ready to eat to keep them warm. Do not turn the microwave on. If you’re keeping in the oven you can turn oven onto the lowest setting to just keep them warm until dinner. Enjoy