Homemade Corn Tortillas

Directions

1. Mix the masa harina (corn flour, the same as corn meal) and salt in a medium bowl. Measure 1 1/4 cups of boiling water and the shortening into a separate pan or bowl. Stir until the shortening is melted.
2. Pour this mixture into the bowl of corn flour and mix with a fork or blender on low.
3. When the mixture is cool enough to touch (a couple of minutes) mix the dough with your hands. The dough will probably be a little dry. Add hot water one teaspoon at a time until the dough stays together and doesn't crumble apart.
4. Knead the dough for one or two minutes. Play with the consistency by adding more water if needed. What you want is a dough that is moist enough to stay together but not too sticky.
5. Have you ever heard of a tortilla press? They are designed to help you create perfect corn tortillas fast and easily.
6. This corn tortilla recipe can be made without one but they sure make tortilla making a snap. And they are fun to use. I have my kids help me press them and they love it.
7. I've included a picture of the one Nancy bought me for Christmas above. If you don't have a press yet, you can simply roll out the dough with a rolling pin. Just make sure you cover the dough with plastic, as per these directions .
8. Form the dough into balls by hand. You should get about 16 balls (golf ball size) out of one recipe. If you are using a press, get a large, thick ziplock bag (I used a freezer bag), cut it around the edges and then in half so that you have two large squares of thick plastic. Open the press and place a piece of plastic on the bottom. Put one of the balls of dough on the press, slighly closer to the join than to the handle. Put the other piece of plastic on top of the dough and close the press thoroughly.
9. When you lift up the press, your tortilla will be nicely flattened between the two pieces of plastic. You can peel them apart, remove the tortilla, and press the next one. It's quick and easy, and the tortillas taste great!
10. Fry each tortilla on a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over high heat for about 60 seconds a side.