My Tortilla Adventure

My home stomping grounds is in the Southwest and I grew up eating the real deal mexican food. Never knew there was anything else except the flavorful, wonderful mexican food close to the southwestern border.

So, when as a teenager, my mom got a wild hair and moved us to the northern part of Texas, I never thought that the food would change that much. Oh, was I wrong. While the Texan mexican food was good, it wasn't the same. Down by the El Paso border, the food is good, even in Laredo, it's good but there is something about the southwestern part that just 'took' me.

Years later, I attempted tortillas and chips. Turned out pretty good. I had a wok, of all things, to fry them in and it went well. I like a wok in that you cook in the bottom and then can scoot things out of the way and let them drain. So, put the tortillas and a wok together and you've a winner in my book.

Fast forward two decades and my renewed interest in cooking...plus the internet. I found a recipe for plain old tortillas, without anything fancy. I've been buying them from the store for our tacos and burritos but there isn't anything that comes close to homemade.

Matter of fact, I felt a little bit like a fish out of water yesterday. Seemed to me I should 'know' innately how to fry up tortillas! Should be in my genes, how to fry them, shouldn't it?? Felt a little off kilter.

I assembled the flour, baking powder, salt and Crisco. Mixed them together, thinking something isn't right. Oh yeah....I should have mixed the first three together first and then cut in the Crisco. No matter, that doesn't stop me! Mixed it together anyway. FINALLY it start looking right. (Note to self: Next time, read the whole recipe and do it properly. Don't be a know-it-all)

Then I added the hot water a little at a time. You know how when you first add water and it doesn't look 'wet' enough and you think you need more water? That's what I thought too. But fortunately, I had the sense to let the water work its way through and started in on the kneading process.

Again, read all instructions and then maybe re-read for 'just in case'. I slapped the dough down, thinking it's dry enough, doesn't need any flour on the block. I know, you're mentally slapping me upside the head right now, aren't you?? I knead away, wondering if I'm ever going to get the dough to be elastic-y. Finally, this happens...thank God...

I took a little veggie oil and rubbed it all over and then set it back in the bowl, covered with my dish towel. (It was clean) 10 minutes later I pulled it back ut. Looked the same to me. Uh-oh?? Not sure but I'm committed.

Pulled off a little gold ball sized hunk and rolled it up. Now during this time, you would think I'd have the sense to warm up the skillet. I don't have a cast iron or really heavy one but I do have a very good quality (can't think of the name....grrrr!) one that has stood me in good stead for several years. Then it dawns on me to warm 'er up!

Get that done and go back to rolling out the dough. Then it dawns on me again that I forgot to buy a rolling pin from the last time I attempted biscuits....jeez.... It's a really good thing that the pomegranite juice people put out a nifty glass that is just perfect for rolling! Pull that out of the cupboard and away I go! Roll this way and then that and then repeat. Yeah, that's the ticket!

Get it rolled out nice and thin, albeit not in the round. Sort of ameoba shaped. Are you with me here?? But it's rolled out, what the hell do I care what shape it is??

Then it dawns on me, I don't have a big enough skillet to make the big tortillas. Have to settle for the smaller ones. No matter, not going to stop me!!

I popped that baby in the skillet, watched it for a minute, flipped it over, saw that nicely browned bubbly underside-flipped-up and my heart just sang! Scooped it up and plopped it on the plate, then covered it. Started the next one and repeated 5 times.

Hubby was watching this and truth be told, I think he was secretly amused. I sent him to the store to buy some because mine weren't big enough but I was able to feed him some real tortillas with all their good taste. He was a bit surprised at the difference.

It was almost like comfort food to me. I'm not ashamed to say that I scarfed the ones he didn't eat, they were small-ish anyway. Reminded me of the true southwest. Not the papery taste of store bought ones.

Pure bliss...*sigh*....