Basic Flour Tortillas

Total Time: 41 mins Preparation Time: 40 mins Cook Time: 1 min

Ingredients

• 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 5 teaspoons vegetable shortening or 5 teaspoons lard
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup very warm tap water
• 1 1/2 cups semi packed slivered spinach (optional)
• 3 teaspoons powdered spinach (if you have it) (optional)
• 1/2 cup slivered sun-dried tomato (optional)
• 4 teaspoons powdered tomato (if you have it) (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups chopped cilantro (optional) or 1 1/2 cups basil (optional) or 1 1/2 cups parsley (optional) or 1 1/2 cups oregano (optional)

Recipe

• 1 any optional ingredient is to be added to the flour before you add the salted water.
• 2 in a large bowl combine the fat with the flour using your fingers until completely incorporated.
• 3 add any optional ingredient now.
• 4 stir the salt into the water to dissolve and pour around 2/3's of a cup over the mixture.
• 5 working fast begin to stir.
• 6 you should have clumps and not a blob of dough.
• 7 check to make sure all the dry ingredients are moist and if not continue to add water a bit at a time.
• 8 turn out and knead until smooth consistency is achieved.
• 9 divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and form into balls.
• 10 set the balls on a plate, cover with plastic and let rest for 30 minutes.
• 11 heat an ungreased griddle or heavy skillet-i use cast iron, over medium high heat.
• 12 one at a time place each ball on a lightly floured surface and begin to roll out to a 7 to 8 inch diameter circle.
• 13 lay the tortilla on the hot griddle-you should see almost immediate bubbling across the surface-for about 40 seconds, turn and cook another 40 to 45 seconds.
• 14 remove to a heavy towel, wrap and repeat process until done.