Homemade Flour Tortillas

I learned how to make tortillas from a friend, Juanita Sorez, in Freemont, Texas. She is an amazing woman with an enormous heart. Every week, my friends and I would gather at her house to eat, play the guitar and shoot some pool. To be honest, I have never been able to copy hers exactly, making me wonder if she was holding out on me. Making tortillas is still fun for the whole family. The little kids like to get their hands messy mixing the dough. The older kids can roll or cook the tortillas. Whenever we make tortillas, we share the first one off the griddle with butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.

4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/4 cup hot water (hot as can stand to touch)

Mix flour, salt, powder with the shortening until crumbly. Mix in enough water to make bread dough consistency. Knead dough a few minutes until smooth. Let sit covered with a cloth for 5 minutes.

Shape dough into small patties (about the size of your palm for large tortillas or a golf ball for smaller ) by squeezing off a golf ball sized piece or dividing the dough up evenly. Let sit 20 minutes.

Heat dry pan on med-high. When the pan is hot, roll dough on floured surface into flat discs; turning a slightly after each roll until thin enough to see through.

Place on the pan for a few seconds, until bottom is slightly browned. Flip over and cook the other side. (Do not cook too long or the tortillas will become crispy)

Place in a tortilla warmer or a large pot lined with a dish towel to keep warm. Makes 10-12 tortillas