Homemade Flour Tortillas {Brings Back Memories}

The other day I posted a recipe for Pork Pozole and I mentioned that I would posting my homemade flour tortilla recipe for my next post. Well I'm guessing you already know what today's post will be LOL. You guessed it Homemade Flour Tortillas. 

Anytime we eat at authentic Mexican Restaurants my favorite part of the meal is the flour tortillas that are served. Nothing can compare to the flavor of flour tortillas made from scratch. When I make Mexican inspired soups or stews at home, I always try to serve flour tortillas along side. 

Growing up my mom mostly used store bought flour tortillas. I'm pretty sure she used them as a time saver, because she worked outside the home. She cooked mostly everything from scratch, but I do remember her using a few convenience items.

Now when my step dad's mom would come to visit us it was homemade flour tortillas all the way. I would get so excited when I knew my abuela was coming for a visit. Flour tortilla's was the first thing she would make after she arrived. I remember how I loved to sit on the counter and watch her do her magic. In my book she was simply amazing.

Grandma Gutierrez would roll, flip and shape all the tortillas. Each one would come out perfectly round every time. I remember her staying in the kitchen all afternoon just rolling, cooking and stacking all those homemade flour tortillas. All of us kids would run through the kitchen grabbing a few at a time and heading back outside to play.

Needless to say her pile of tortillas never really did get taller, and pretty much just stayed the same. Sometimes I would sneak back into the house and hide under the table just waiting for her to leave the room so I could grab just one more flour tortilla.
 
Looking back I think she always knew I was there, but she never lead on that she saw me. I would just sit, watch and wait. I'm so sad that Grandma Gutierrez is no longer with us, but I'm happy to have the memories she gave me.

Every time I make homemade flour tortilla's I think of her, and it always brings a smile to my face. I don't have her exact recipe for her wonderful homemade tortillas, but the one I do have comes pretty close.

I have included a few step by step photos to help you along the way. In a large bowl add the flour, salt, baking powder and shortening/lard. Using you fingers cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles pea size pieces.

Add the hot water and mix together using your hands or a wooden spoon until the mixtures starts to form. Knead on a floured surface for 5 - 10 minutes or until the mixture is smooth and elastic. Form the dough into a ball and let the dough rest in a covered bowl for 10 minutes.

Pinch off the dough into 12 equal pieces and roll each piece into golf ball size ball. Place the balls back into the bowl and cover and let the dough balls rest again for 20 minutes. While the dough is resting preheat your griddle or cast iron pan on med - high heat. Flatten each dough ball a bit and then Roll out on a floured surface forming a circle.

The tortillas should be thin rather than thick. Place onto the hot skillet, and cook until bubbly. Flip and continue cooking the other side. Each side should cook about 30 seconds. Keep the cooked tortillas warm while you continue rolling and cooking the remaining tortillas.

Flour Tortillas

Ingredients:

2 - cups all purpose flour
1 - teaspoon baking powder
1/2 - teaspoon salt
5 - tablespoons vegetable shortening or lard
3/4 - cup hot water

Directions:
In a large bowl add the flour, salt, baking powder and shortening. Using you fingers cut in the shortening until the mixture resembles pea size pieces. 

Add the hot water and mix together using your hands or a wooden spoon until the mixtures starts to form. Knead on a floured surface for 5 - 10 minutes or until the mixture is smooth and elastic. 

Form the dough into a ball. Place the dough into a covered bowl and let the dough rest for 10 minutes.

Pinch off the dough into 12 equal pieces and roll each piece into golf ball size ball. Place the balls back into the bowl and cover and let the dough balls rest for 20 minutes. 

Preheat your griddle or cast iron pan on med - high heat. Flatten each dough ball a bit and then Roll out on a floured surface forming a circle.

To make a round shape roll out the dough and then make a 1/4 of a turn of the circle and then roll and make another 1/4 of a turn. Keep doing this until the dough is rolled out to 1/8 inch thick.

Your tortillas should be thin rather than thick. Place onto the hot skillet, and cook until bubbly with light brown spots. Flip and continue cooking the other side. Each side should cook about 30 seconds.

Keep the cooked tortillas warm while you continue rolling and cooking the remaining tortillas.

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