Flour Tortillas

Ester's Tortillas - I got this recipe from Melissa, a friend in Kenya years ago. I recent years I have made them with whole wheat flour. If you use whole wheat, you will have to add extra water.

5 cups flour (plain white or whole wheat or mixture)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon salt
1 cup shortening

Mix these ingredients (cutting in shortening like you do in biscuits). Add enough BOILING water to make dough hold together (it will be less than 2 cups). Knead well. Cover dough as you work so that it does not dry out.

Remove golf ball size dough from bowl. Roll into a circle on lightly floured board. Roll thin.

Cook in a dry pan (cast iron works well). The pan should be hot. If the pan is too cool the dough will cook too long and get too dry and crunchy. The dough will begin to bubble up and have dark places on the bottom. Turn over and cook until that side also has dark spots on it.

Cover the done ones with a towel to keep warm and keep in moisture. Store in a plastic bag. Can be frozen (wrap well).