Home made tortillas

[oldbay]

Thought I venture onward in my Mexican cooking since I did so well with the tamale experiment

The Ca Sa Me corn meal has a recipe on the side for tortillas. I was thinking of making them since it looks rather simple to do. There's no yeast, rising, punching, just mix, squish, and fry.

So the question is: Is there a difference in homemade tortillas like the one the exists for homemade breads? So should I make my own, or buy them in the store for a dollar?

[alice.b.toklas]

I'd say you don't know unless you try it! Let us know.

[Mrs. Chipotle]

I have made homemade tortillas before, but they weren't so great.

I just get mine at Taco Cabana. Theirs are super thick and soft and delicious.

Funny story, one time I was having dinner guests and serving Mexican food, so I went to TC for some tortillas. I asked for three dozen. The girl said to me, "Will this be for here or to go?"

I wanted to say, "It's for here, and can you also bring me some butter and a diet coke?"

[Mama Mangia]

I've made them using this recipe - and I liked them -I know everyone's taste is different - but I like them

HOMEMADE FLOUR TORTILLAS

3 tbsp. shortening
1 tsp. salt
2 c. flour
3/4 c. water

Sift dry ingredients together in a bowl. Cut in shortening. Add water to make dough. Take handful of dough and roll out on a lightly floured board, as thin as you can. Bake on a lightly greased griddle. Turn to brown.

[oldbay]

I tried the recipe on the bag, and cut it in half as trial run. The bag says to roll the tortillas between layers of wax pepper or plastic wrap. I used the plastic wrap method, and the first few tortillas were awful.

The last couple were okay, but I still wasn't able to get them to be round like the store bought ones. So I get to ask a question here which is:
Is the roundness of todays tortillas just a result of machinery or were tortilla rolled by hand into perfect circles?

[aeiou]

Mrs Chipotle - I had a similar experience with a fast food place called Roy Rogers. I stopped by one night to pick up some fried chicken for a quick and easy dinner. I asked for a 10 piece dinner with coleslaw and mashed potatoes and the guy asked if it was for here or to go. I'm sure he must of been joking and I was tempted to say here and then go and sit down.

[Mama Mangia]

oldbay - thanks to presses they come out perfectly round - without the aid of a tortilla press they will not be perfectly round -

a friend of mine uses her pizzelle maker (because of the round shape) to start the "roundness" and then she rolls them from there - of course the pizzelle maker in not plugged in and she places the dough between 2 sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap so that the dough doesn't stick to the machine!

Another friend rolls and uses an inverted plate or bowl and cuts the perfect round shape (that doesn't make sense to me!)

I just roll - my circles are close enough for me - LOL

but the best part is - you can make BIG ones for taco salads, etc.!! and instead of deep frying them into a bowl shape - just lay over a stainless bowl (placed on a baking sheet) and bake at 350* until crisp and holds its "bowl" shape - saves work and calores/fat!! then fill with lettuce, tomatoes, chicken or beef, black olives, Cheddar, etc!

[Upennmama]

but the best part is - you can make BIG ones for taco salads, etc.!! and instead of deep frying them into a bowl shape - just lay over a stainless bowl (placed on a baking sheet) and bake at 350* until crisp and holds its "bowl" shape - saves work and calores/fat!! then fill with lettuce, tomatoes, chicken or beef, black olives, Cheddar, etc!

That's a great idea! I am going to try that! That would be super cute for parties and stuff.

[medako]

I've been tempted to attempt making my own tortillas since we go through a TON of them. I'm just not sure if they're worth all of the effort. I'm curious if you guys think the homemade ones are better than store bought? If so, are they good enough to justify the time in the kitchen?

[phoenyxstarr]

Out of necessity this payday, I have to make my own tortillas. I'm trying to cut down on groceries as much as possible & I'm pretty sure I can make 20 tortillas for less than $2, which is what they cost around here. We can go through about 60 tortillas in 2 weeks because we all snack on them. My computer is in the kitchen next to the fridge & I'm guilty of reaching into the fridge, pulling out a tortilla & tearing it into quarters to eat while I'm surfing.