Homemade Flour Tortillas

From allrecipes.com

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons lard (can substitute butter, margarine, or vegetable shortening)
1 1/2 cups water

1. Whisk the flour, salt, and baking powder together in a mixing bowl. Mix in the lard with your fingers until the flour resembles cornmeal. Add the water and mix until the dough comes together; place on a lightly floured surface and knead a few minutes until smooth and elastic. Divide the dough into 24 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball.
2. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Use a well-floured rolling pin to roll a dough ball into a thin, round tortilla. Place into the hot skillet, and cook until bubbly; flip and continue cooking about 10 seconds more. Place the cooked tortilla on a plate (or a tortilla warmer, if you have one); continue rolling and cooking the remaining dough.

Try #1 - March 11, 2010
I meant to halve this recipe, but accidentally added the full amount of water, so I had to go back and add more of the other ingredients. The dough turned out fine anyway. I used butter and vegetable oil (about equal parts). Made 19 tortillas. It's fine to stack them up on a plate after taking them out of the skillet - I think it keeps them more pliable. Next time I really will halve the recipe - 10 tortillas is all I need for a meal (I'm making enchiladas tonight), and it's kind of a pain to roll out/cook the tortillas (smoky house!). It's easy enough to make the dough each time and just make what you need.

Also, I needed A LOT of extra flour to roll out the dough and keep it from sticking to my fingers, the rolling pin, and the rolling surface.

This little project reminded me of marathon tortilla making in Karaganda - good times! :)

Great use for extra tortillas: make your own tortilla chips!

Try #2 - June 17, 2010
Ran out of white flour, so ended up using about half whole wheat flour... turned out just fine! Still soft and delicious. Heat in between medium and medium-high works best - doesn't smoke up the house.

Try #3 - July 1, 2010
Used all whole wheat flour this time.