Flour tortillas

This is from my aunt Lupe
4 cups of flour-not self rising
1 teaspn of salt
11/2 tblspn of baking powder
2 tblspn of oil
A flat base pan ( everyone I know uses a an flat iron one but this will be hard in Germany as I have yet to see one)
Should make two dozen tortillas

place everything in a large bowl with 2 cups of warm water. Then start meshing all together with your hands until soft but not to soft. You can add an additional 1/2 cup of warm water but no more. After you achieve the softness start getting peices of the mix and rollling them into a ball untill you use all the mix. Then grab one ball of mix and start flattening with a roller pin. It is important to change the direction and flipping over of the tortilla to obtain an even tortilla. Then place the tortilla on the iron grill on a meduim heat. When the tortilla starts to bubble a little then flip over. keep flipping over untill you obtain the strength of the tortilla you want. I know this recipe seems cumbersome and that is my fault. I have never wrote out a recipe.

Sudenote: it took me a couple time before I realized how to properly make my first tortilla.

Thanks! I've only tried to make them once since I've been here, and they came out a bit average. Will try your measurements. Of course, in a couple months, I'll probably just be lazy and buy the cheapies at the store.

You could try the Le Creuset crepe pan.

yeah that would be a good idea..thanks

I use a tortilla iron like this one. I bought it from ebay for $11. I would highly recommend if you are serious about making fresh tortillas.

On a similar topic, I brought back some excellent Mission tortillas from the states, which are world's better than at least the Fuego versions sold here. I saw on their website that Mission distributes in Germany, rebranded under "Boske" label. Has anyone seen them in Munich? Tried them? I would love to get them locally, if they're of that same Charmin-squeezable softness and freshness.

Man thanks for that link *smiles*

Mercado de Mexico sells the tortilla irons.

How much do they cost?

Help! I just tried to make the recipe and it isn't exactly working out. I'm using a tortilla press to "roll them out" and they are sticking to everything. So I added a bit more flour to the batter to keep it from sticking and when I cook them they don't bubble and just stay flat and a bit too heavy for a tortilla.

Are they not bubbling because they're too thick or am I doing something else wrong? Tips please!

just sent you a PM

any advice in the PM we could all use? I might try making some soon...

Well I only know how to cook on the flat iron" pan". As for the stickiness I apologize. I failed to submit that when flattening the tortilla out to place a very thin layer of flour on the board that you are using, and roll the tortilla over this. Make sure the tortilla is flat on both sides before placing it on the iron. I apologize for I can only give you the measurement of about 1/10 of an inch for thickness of the tortilla is recommended. I am not sure what the metric equivelent would be. As for the tortilla press I do not know for I have never used one. I want to but have yet to try one out. I hope this helps. In my first post i mentioned that it took me about two or three times before I finally got the thing down...

Good advice, perdido.

In my family we vary the thickness depending upon intended use. I would say for the most part ours are about 1/4" thick as we tend to eat tortillas on the side of our food rather then wrapped and as a bread substitute, i.e. peanut butter and jelly on a tortilla.

Once you get your technique down try adding a tablespoon of chopped fresh herbs (like oregano or rosemary), freshly ground black pepper, a tablespoon of minced jalapeños and a little garlic powder.

As perdido said it will take a few times to get it right, so don't give up.

Thanks for the advice perdido. I'll keep working on them. The recipe's simple so I just need to master my rolling I guess.

btw, they are still tasty even when you mess them up

The pans cost about 15€ I think but call the place and ask (she speaks Sanish, German and English and is a nice lady).
Their fresh tortillas are excellent and relatively cheap (3,50€ for 30 if I remember correctly).
Still got a freezer full of tamales though