Lessons from Honduras - Tortilla Making

As a fourth grade teacher I incorporated making tortillas from scratch into our lessons about early California.  It was fairly easy to make the dough and shape it, but getting it off of the tortilla press in one piece was often difficult unless I doused it in flour.  I kept an electric skillet in my classroom and we'd fry them and then eat them.  They were good, if they weren't covered in flour!

Homemade tortillas are part of the menu for one of the lunches that we serve in Honduras.  They accompany Picadillo and Ashley's Corn and Bean Salad.  It's a delicious combination, especially when piled on the tortillas.  We've tried different ways to get the tortillas, and found that the most successful is to have our Honduran counterparts in the kitchen make them.  And, we get lessons!

This week I bought some Masa (corn flour) and made a batch at home.  Some were used for Pupusas as I have yet to master the technique of making a more authentic Pupusa. I followed the directions on the bag, but did need to add more water to keep the dough moist.  Here's what we learned in Honduras:

Roll the dough into small balls, not quite golf ball size.
Line the tortilla press with circles of waxed paper or parchment paper or plastic bags that you've cut.
Flatten the ball some and then place into a tortilla press.

Press.

Remove upper paper/plastic.
Peel off the lower paper and lay on a greased griddle.

Flip to cook both sides until lightly browned.
Served with your favorite tortilla toppings.

OR turn a few into Pupusas by crumbling cheese on the tortilla after the first flip.  Cover it with a second tortilla and continue cooking until cheese is melted.

 My favorite cheese for Pupusas:

 

The Honduran ladies made beautiful, flat tortillas without the aid of a press.  It seems to be something that they grow up learning.  Our hands and fingers have a long way to go in mastering their technique, hence the need for a press.  Several of us bought them at Wal-Mart in Honduras although they are available here quite readily. 

Cheese, Veggie, and More Veggie Lasagnas in One Pan

Three variations of lasagna in one pan?  You bet.  It started out to be a vegetarian lasagna, but then morphed into the need for three variations based on which veggies people liked or not.

The first third was cheese only.
The middle section had cheese, chopped broccoli, chopped zucchini and onion.
To the last third I added mushrooms.

Meatballs were served on the side for the carnivores.



 

I served garlic bread and Caesar salad as sides.  Every plate looked different and only one serving of lasagna was left.  It seemed to hit the spot with everyone at our table that night.

 

In the future, I'll make two different pans and keep meat in one of them. We really missed our Italian Sausage, but were happy to accommodate the tastes of our guests that night.

Bean Soup aka Baked Beans and Sausage

Need a simple, warm, quick meal?  This one fits the bill. Simply add sliced Kielbasa sausage to your favorite baked beans.   I sautéed the sausage first to lightly brown it and then added the beans, cooking long enough to warm them.  Pair this with a fresh pan of cornbread and you have a tasty and filling meal. 

After trying several different brands, Marie Callender's cornbread mix is back at the top of my list, even over scratch recipes. 

Black Bean "Burger" Burritos

Sometime ago, one of my daughters discovered a delicious recipe for quesadillas on the back of the box of Spicy Black Bean Burger patties.  They were delicious!  In fact, I liked them so much I wanted to make a second batch, but was short on time, so I rolled the filling inside tortillas and baked them as burritos.  They were much enjoyed by my family.  In fact, I didn't even get any of the leftovers!

Tonight, they were our main course served with condiments and a Mexican Caesar Salad.  I made them fresh, having only frozen the patties when they were purchased.

Here's my tweaked version of the MorningStar recipe.  You can find the original on their website.

Mix together:
8 burger patties, warmed enough to crumble.
4 tsp. salt-free Southwest or Mexican seasoning (try Mrs. Dash)
3 C shredded Mexican blend cheese
1 1/2 C salsa

 Place a scoop on the tortilla and roll up tightly.

 Brush the tortillas lightly with softened or melted butter.  Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-15 minutes or until cheese melts.

Yield: 17-18

January Menu

I've done very little cooking outside of the holiday meals enjoying all of the leftovers, but the freezer is getting mighty empty and the plastic container drawer mighty full.  Both are signals that it's time for another round of once-a-month cooking.  I'll be in Honduras for part of the month and so created a list of foods that are easy for my family to prepare while I am gone.  For the next few days I'll be preparing meals fresh until I can shop and cook early next week.

Here's our list for the month, designated by the date:

2 - Shredded Pork Sandwiches

3 - Macaroni and Cheese

4 - Chicken with gravy and stuffing

5 - OUT - Birthday Dinner (Bring dessert for lunch)

6 - Black Bean Burritos

7 - Korv with scalloped potatoes

8 - Chicken Strips Parmesan

9 - Taco Salad/Tacos

10 - LEFTOVERS

11 - Corndog Casserole

12 - Bacon and Cheese Quiche

13 - Chili Dogs

14 - Orange Chicken and Rice

15 - Chicken Pattie Sandwiches

16 - Cheese Tortellini w/ Alfredo sauce

17 - BUY pizza

18 - Taquitos

19 - LEFTOVERS

20 - Hamburgers

21 - Manicotti, garlic bread

22 - Pupusas and Red Beans

23 - Patty Melts

24 - Ravioli

25 - DESSERT (Death by Chocolate), Potato Corn Chowder for dinner

26 - Chicken Pot Pies (Potluck lunch)

27 - Impossible Taco Pie

28 - Taco filled Pasta Shells

 

I made a few notes to my self in parentheses so that I am reminded of calendared events in my planning.  A copy of the list is now posted in my kitchen.

New Year's Dinner

Today began a fresh, new year.  It is a clean slate waiting to be written upon and many will make resolutions going forward.  One of my goals is to return to regularly writing my blog and so I am starting today.

Each New Year's Day we get up early to walk along the floats at the Rose Parade.  Today, I put a roast in the crock-pot before we left at 5:25AM.  I made my favorite recipe, Mrs. Ringle's Brisket (see blog).

Tonight we sat down to a perfect roast, potatoes and carrots.  I also made a fresh batch of mashed potatoes so my boys would have lots of leftovers.

About two hours before dinner time, I added chunks of carrots and potatoes to the crock-pot and let them all cook on low.  An hour later, I removed the roast to a serving platter and covered it well with foil to set and to stay warm.  Then I turned the crock-pot up to high to finish cooking the veggies.

I served the roast with au jus rather than gravy, and it was delicious!
Happy New Year!