Handmade Tortillas

Salvage bag of tortilla mix

Being self-sufficient is important to me. I don't want to have to run to the grocery every time I need something.

To that end, I "play" in the kitchen.

I use the term play because that is what I do. Right now, I actually live close to a Wal-Mart.  Right now, if my playing fails, I can always run out for more toys. Later, I plan to live 45 minutes from a Wal-Mart. Later, I won't be able to run to the store as needed.

So I learn what I can now.
I learn how to do it cheap.
I lean what tools and basic materials I need.
I figure out what works for me.


Bag of dry tortilla mix

So today was learning how to make tortillas.

I took a shortcut and used a mix.
I used the mix because it was seriously cheap. The bag was damaged and taped up, so all the contents had to be rebagged. I divided out the contents into 4 smaller bags. This makes them easier to run through my food saver. I could have divided then into quart or half gallon jars, but the bags work well also.


Pastry bag

Toy playdough roller

So I mixed it in my pastry bag.
If you don't know what they are, they are absolutely wonderful silicone bags that close with some form silicone tie. Nothing really sticks to them, so they are easy to clean. You can mix in them, knead the contents...a and not mess up your countertops.

Wonderful right? My dough bag cost me around $8. Well worth the money.

So after mixing, I got out my toy playdough roller.  Yup, a toy that cost me a whopping $2.50


Roller set up for use

First rolling of dough

Dough cut into 6 pieces

So after the dough was mixed, I turned it out. My large silicone mat was drying in the bathroom, so I put down my small one use the dough roller for easy cleanup.

So I made several mistakes with the setting up the dough.

First mistake: Instead of dividing out the dough into 6 pieces, I just flattened it a bit and started rolling.

Second mistake: After rolling, I cut it up into pieces. What I could have done was to just make one very long 6 inch wide tortilla shell and cut it into squares before frying.


Third rolling

Eighth rolling

So I gradually rolled the small pieces of dough through the rollers, each time feeding the dough in from a different side. This made the small squares not only flatter, but kept them more rounded in shape.

Each time I fed the dough into the rollers, I dropped it thickness down one number. From thickness nine all the way down to one.

Finally wound up with six flat, very thin tortillas. Several even turned up kinda round.


Seasoned Cast iron griddle

So to fry them, I could have used any flat bottomed pan. I happened to have a well seasoned round cast iron griddle that is they perfect size.

I started with they ugliest, most misshapen tortilla first. Good thing considering it was cooked to long. So I put it back on the heat and made that one into tortilla chips.

I turned down the heat and fried up the rest.

They are taken off heat before you think they are done. If they are too done, they will not bend. To raw and it can be put back on the heat.

Lesson learned!

I wound up with five tortillas and several broken pieces of broken tortilla.


Fried tortillas shells

So...

After all this, I remembered that I had nothing much to make actual food with. I didn't want to open up refried beans. I didn't want to thaw and try burger as I had just used the last I had cooked.

So I opened one of my rare cans of chip dip. The chips were good, but needed more flavoring. Next time, if I'm making chips specifically, I'll add some herbs, no salt mix or dried cheese. Now that...Will be perfect.

The tortillas themselves were eaten fresh grown tomatoes and shredded cheese. My lettuce has gone to seed, I didn't bother with meat. They were perfect.

I could easily see making these ahead of time and using them over several days. They could even be frozen for future use.

What a great skill to have.


Handmade tortillas chips and tortillas