2.02.2009

Los Tortillas y Burritos

For Lucy's birthday, in carrying with the "Dora" theme (okay, we didn't really plan it that way, but it does work), we had burritos, a la Casa Andelin. Growing up, Paula Andelin provided our family with many a delicious homemade meal, if not a hot loaf of bread that one of her kids would run over and deliver, always in a brown lunch sack. The bread was out of this world and made of freshly ground wheat.

And she made homemade tortillas to boot that were equally scrumptious. Her teenage sons and their friends would eat taco upon taco made of these things. Am I right, Wendi?

So, to actually have her recipe is something I consider almost sacred. It's written on an old Post-It note, written during a phone conversation with my sister Emily.

The recipe for Paula's Tortillas
3 cups flour (I used 2 cups whole wheat, 1 cup white)
2 tablespoons shortening
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-2 cups water
(I'm making up the directions because my recipe doesn't come with any except: pan- hi temp, don't cook long). With a fork or pastry blender, mix the shortening into the flour, salt and baking powder until it resembles coarse crumbs. Then, mix in the water, starting with 1 cup, then adding tablespoon by tablespoon until the dough sticks together but is not too sticky. Roll into balls and cook in a skillet at a high temperature. (I think Paula uses a tortilla press to make hers).

We served our burritos sans meat with beans and rice, avocado and lettuce.
So tasty.

6 comments:

Emily Fox King said...

so glad you posted the recipe. I used to have it memorized, but i forgot it. I'm going to have to make those soon! ah, I miss the Andelins.

The Powell-Mirci Family! said...

yummy! Gotta love the avacados!

Wendi said...

Mmmmm tortillas. Its funny, my mom still rolls her tortillas and then cooks them on a cast iron skillet. I don't think I will ever be able to roll 'em out like she does (i.e. round and fast!).

Oh, and just a helpful substitution if you want, you can use oil instead of shortening in the dough.

Marilyn said...

What a priceless gift you have given us...Paula's recipe. I will print this and treasure it. Thanks.

Justin and Stacey said...

Yummm....I wish I was eating one of those right now. :)

debfox said...

Yummy, Sarah. Just for the record, Paula always gave us white bread. I think because her family didn't like wheat? Wendi, correct me if I'm wrong. I loved Paula's bread sticks, too (and she used the white bread recipe to make those)