Tortillas

Tortillas, there isn't much more Mexican at the table than the tortillas. The tortillas have been around for thousands of Years. I have no idea where they first started using tortillas, but in Mexico, they are the most important item on the table. Tortillas are round and flat, they can be made of corn or wheat flour. They can be small, only a couple of inches, to very large, but the average size is about 5 inches across.

Corn tortillas are best made by hand, which is a laborious task. There is a rhythmic movement that is interesting to watch. The traditional way to make tortillas involves soaking the kernels of corn in lime water. This is then ground on a stone metate into dough, which is called masa. The masa is shaped into small round balls, which are patted out by hand into tortillas. Fresh tortillas, that have been cooked on a comal, served fresh and hot, have a flavor you will never find in a packaged, reheated tortilla. Corn tortillas come in two colors, white and yellow. I find the yellow tortillas to be a slight bit tougher that the white ones, but that is a personal observation and perhaps only in my immigration,

Flour tortillas, usually white but sometimes made of whole wheat flour are perhaps my favorite tortilla. I really enjoy the whole wheat tortillas for roll-up sandwiches. Don't expect to find them on the average Mexican table, as they are not nearly as popular as the corn variety.

In Mexico, if you do not want to make them yourself, you can buy them fresh daily, at most of the little food stores dotting the countryside. Walk down the streets of any town in Mexico, in the early morning and you will soon find an open window with a lady making tortillas for sale. You can purchase them by the dozen or by the kilo. My advise is to buy no more than what you will use with in a day to a day and a half. Tortillas will sour if mishandled. Store your flour tortillas, in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, but keep your corn tortillas wrapped in the paper they came in and then wrapped in a cloth. This will help keep them from drying out.

Tortillas can be used in place of a spoon when eating. If you watch, you will soon catch on as to how to use them this way. Almost all foods can be eaten inside or with tortillas, so enjoy them daily.

If your not in Mexico, do yourself a favor and seek out the Mexican Restaurants that make their own tortillas, fresh, daily. You will thank yourself that you did.

For more about Life and recipes of Mexico, please visit me at William-Chaney.com

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Bill