Homemade Flour Tortillas

Back in Washington I would always make a trip to our local Central Market store to buy fresh made flour tortillas.  I absolutely loved them and apparently got quite spoiled eating them.  Now that I'm here in Japan and have only the preservative loaded garbage ones you can buy already made at the grocery store I realized I could make my own or just never eat them again!  I was surprised at how easy this was to do and how fantastic they tasted.  I will never have to buy tortillas again!  I don't know if the "resting" periods are absolutely necessary but with 2 small children everything I make ends up with lots of "resting"!



Homemade Flour Tortillas

3 c. all purpose flour
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 c. shortening or lard
3/4 c. warm water

Combine flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl.  Add in shortening or lard and use a pastry cutter, fork or your hands to work the shortening into the flour until it turns into a course mixture almost like sand.  Then pour in the water and use your hand or wooden spoon and mix/stir until a rough dough forms.  Add flour to your work surface and knead the dough for a few minutes until a more defined dough ball forms.  Cover and allow to rest 45 minutes.  Rip the dough ball into roughly 12 pieces and roll into small balls and cover and allow to rest another 30-45 minutes.  Heat a cast iron skillet to a medium to medium high heat.  Roll each dough ball very thinly.  You can separate with plastic wrap or parchment paper if you roll them all before cooking them.  Throw one onto your cast iron skillet and allow to cook for about 30 seconds each side until slightly brown spots form.  You may have to work with the temperature settings.  Some stoves you'll need it higher where others will need it lower.  You want to cook it until barely brown and still pliable, not crisp and not burnt.  Remove and place in a tortilla warmer or hand towel and keep covered to keep it warm.  Best used the same day.  You can also freeze with parchment paper in between and pull out and cook as needed.