tortillas

The kids and i made tortillas today. I can't stand the store bought ones, so I make my own. This is a great project to do with your kids and the the side benefit is a yummy snack! We are having enchiladas for dinner, so this was the perfect time tortilla "play." Most kids love helping mom in the kitchen and it is a good time for them to learn about measuring, pouring, stirring, ect...  Its good for their hand eye coordination, it helps develop their hand and finger control, which comes in handy for writing later on down the road. And best of all, allowing them to help with the cooking and baking  teaches them a valuable skill while creating special memories with mommy.

This is my tortilla recipe:
4c flour
3/4 c shortening
1t salt
1 3/4c water
pinch of baking powder

mix the flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture resembles crumbs. Add water. Do not over mix. Handling as little as possible shape into 12 balls. Cover with a damp towel for 20 minutes. Using a generous amount of flour, roll the balls out into the shape of a tortilla. Cook in a cast iron skillet on medium/high for about 30 seconds to a minute on each side.  Store in fridge. 
This takes a little bit of time, but well worth the effort. Until your husband comes home and eats them all in one siting! Seriously though, once you taste these, you will never want to go back to store bought tortillas again. These are so good!
We made a huge mess, but the kids had a blast and so did I. My children can take pride in the fact that they helped make supper. I love the look of accomplishment on their faces. They love being able to tell Daddy that they made supper, and hearing him make a big deal over it.