Keeping Tortillas

[ReMetau]

We get the bagged flour ones in the dry goods section and they seem to last for months. We use them for sandwich roll-ups instead of bread sandwiches. I think we'll try to make some because that sounds awesome and much better than a highly preserved store product.

[svHyLyte]

We use our Food-Saver to vacuum pack bagged flour tortillas from the grocery shelf at Publix after first freezing them solid and then dividing them into stacks of a half dozen or so. Once packed, they do not need to be kept frozen and they seem to last forever. We have some open in the pantry now that were packed 13 months ago that are still good.

FWIW...

[JanetGroene]

Originally Posted by Greenhand

Where did they used to have canned tortillas? My Brian is having the hardest time with the onceot.

I used to buy them in Florida supermarkets but that was before the tortilla craze caught on. No fresh ones were sold in supermarkets.

[Amapola]

I found that Mission last the longest past their "by/use" date.

[svBeBe]

Flour tortillas are easy and flour can be found anywhere. Corn tortillas, however, MUST be made with masa harina. Any other type corn flour or corn anything will not produce corn tortillas. I have never seen masa harina sold anywhere in the Eastern Caribbean, and most definitely nowhere in the South Pacific through Indian Ocean or in the Med.

Masa harina is produced from hominy corn that has been dried and then soaked in a solution of slaked lime (calcium hydroxide--not the citrus limes), then ground into a coarse powder that looks similar to flour. I doubt it is possible to make your own masa harina.

Gosh, do we miss homemade corn tortillas!

Judy

[SimonV]

every one says they are easy to make........So give up your simplest recipe. Oh and don't forget most of us only have a frying pan.

[Capetinho]

Originally Posted by SimonV

every one says they are easy to make........So give up your simplest recipe. Oh and don't forget most of us only have a frying pan.

2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
3/4 cups warm milk

1..Mix together flour, baking powder, salt and oil
2. Add warm milk slowly, mixing as you go. Stir until sticky ball is formed
3. Knead two minutes or so on floured surface. dough should be firm, soft and no longer sticky.
4. Let dough rest in bowl covered with damp cloth for 20 minutes.
5. Break off eight sections, roll them into balls, place on plate and cover again with damp cloth. Let rest another 10 minutes. This is important, as the dough must lose its elasticity in order to get them rolled out properly.
6. Place balls one at a time on floured surface and roll out as thinly as possible into an 8-inch circle. Rum bottles work well for this!
7. Cook in dry iron skillet for 30 seconds on each side. I cook one while rolling out the next.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Capetinho

6. Place balls one at a time on floured surface and roll out as thinly as possible into an 8-inch circle. Rum bottles work well for this!
.

Must have been a fun thing going though all the other alcohol bottles until this was determined. I'm assuming the bottles need to be empty!

[Capetinho]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

Must have been a fun thing going though all the other alcohol bottles until this was determined. I'm assuming the bottles need to be empty!

I actually prefer the extra weight of a full bottle provides, but somehow the agitation coupled with the maritime environment seems to contribute to significant and rapid evaporation...

[carstenb]

Yeah, I know the feeling. For some strange reason virtually all bottles with alcoholic content that come on my boat are defective. They all seem to have holes in the bottom. They must have. They become empty far faster than we seem to be drinking it.

Does that mean I'm an alcoholic? Or just that I can't count drinks? Or do the bottles really have holes in the bottom? As the old saying goes "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't really after you"

[Capetinho]

Originally Posted by carstenb

Yeah, I know the feeling. For some strange reason virtually all bottles with alcoholic content that come on my boat are defective. They all seem to have holes in the bottom. They must have. They become empty far faster than we seem to be drinking it.

Does that mean I'm an alcoholic? Or just that I can't count drinks? Or do the bottles really have holes in the bottom? As the old saying goes "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't really after you"

It's not you, mate. It's the same sneaky buggers who slip in silently while you're asleep and misplace your glasses, hide your tools and steal one sock while leaving the other alone. They're real, and they are out to get you!

[KelleyG]

Originally Posted by KeysDreaming

Making corn tortillas by hand is very easy and taste 1000 times better than store bought. Get corn masa flour add baking soda about 1 teaspoon for two cups add warn water mix by hand and let rest for a moment. The feel will take some practice. You don't even need a press. Form them in your hand for thicker rustic type tortillas or I roll between those plastic file binders you can get at office supply. Roast using a cast iron skillet. Darn are they good. You'll never buy store bought again!

THanks for the recipe! Can't wait to try making these from scratch. I haven't left land yet, so now is the time to perfect!

Kelley
Sailing Chance