Okay everyone, I just have to share my latest exciting discovery: an electric tortilla press!
Several months ago I had an allergic reaction that was mild but still scary to encounter, and it was due to cross-contamination. I found that my usual burrito/tortilla shells were now situated in the grocery store next to the brand new jalapeno shells, and I can only imagine that my new reaction might have been due to the shared equipment. As a result, I started making my own tortillas.
I did not exactly have the knack for it. I was covered in flour and perspiring a little from rolling out each tortilla. And frustrated, with the delicate balance between undercooked and smoking tortillas. After a few scorched attempts, I managed to get the process figured out, but even so it involved making the dough, rolling it out, carefully frying each one for the precise amount of time with a precise amount of oil on the stove… and this all before even making the stuffings for the burrito! Since these burritos are a staple for travel and healthy lunches for me, I needed another solution.
And thanks to a little online searching and a wonderful birthday gift, the solution came my way. The other night, I tried the electric tortilla press for the first time. It was amazing. Mix the dough: check. Knead it a little and divide into equal, smaller balls of dough: check. Place the dough in the center of the tortilla press and close the top to squish it out: check. Hold it down until the escaping steam makes a funny-sounding squeal: check. Raise the top lid to find a perfectly pressed tortilla ready to be filled with deliciousness: CHECK.
It was easy, quick and delicious!
Starting From Scratch 