Homemade corn tortilla

The tortilla is a mexican flat bread made from corn or wheat. The word "tortilla" originally comes from the Spanish word torta, which means "round cake".

Traditionally tortillas are made with a special kind of corn flour called Masa Harina.

Tortillas are usually prepared with meat to make dishes such as tacos, burritos, and enchiladas.

The traditional method for making tortillas was to flatten balls of dough between hands. The "modern" way to make tortillas is with a press.

If you do not have a press, you can make tortillas usinga flat bottomed plate or the bottom of a heavy skillet.

Ingredients:

2 cups Masa Harina (corn flour)
1 1/2 cups warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt

12 tortillas

Preparation:

* Mix Masa Harina and salt with water until masa harina is moistened. Remove the dough from the bowl and knead it. Ad more water if necessary. Let dough rest for 30 minutes.

* Divide the dough into 12 equal balls.

* Wrap your tortilla press or the bottom of your plate and counter top with plastic wrap. This makes it easier to remove the delicate tortillas.

* Using a tortilla press or a plate, press each ball until evenly flattened. Remove tortilla from the plastic wrap by carefully peeling it off.

* Put the flattened masa in a very hot cast iron pan.  Heat for 1-3 minutes on each side. You will know when they are done when they bubble or puff up.