Mexican food recipes: Tortilla cookbook and Old El Paso kit giveaways

Tortillas to the rescue cookbook has about 100 quick and easy recipes.  All types of tortillas and its by products have been part of the author's life growing up in New Mexico.    Tortillas is an inexpensive meal that never goes stale, which can be eaten anytime of the day for any meal. 

This form of bread is simple to make with flour, fat and water, which is then pressed flat and cooked on a hot surface.  It was first made in 10,000 BC by a Mayan peasant for a king.  The peasant made the dough with dried corn kernels.  The maize or corn is soaked in alkaline solution (lemon-acid) before grinding into masa harina that is used to make corn tortillas.

Although there aren't any pictures in the book, the recipes are presented in a homely manner.  This book is available on amazon, bookstores and online.

After making tortillas at home, you will realize how easy it is and will be able to use the creative recipes from this book to make meals, desserts and snacks i.e. chips, rollups, tortilla cup desserts etc.

Giveaway:

If you would like to win a copy of this book please leave a comment on this post and enter through the rafflecopter below.  This book giveaway is open to people in US & Canada.  The giveaway ends on September 20th.

Update: The winner is Cindy

Unfortunately, the commercial tortillas have lots of chemicals and preservatives, which are not good.  The ingredient that is named L-cysteine, which is present in some breads, buns and tortillas are made with human hair, hog hair and duck feathers etc... here are more details about this.  Since the tortillas in the fajita kit has this ingredient I didn't use it and saved the tortillas to do some artwork.

There are some tortillas available without this nasty ingredient, so check before purchasing.

I made my own tortillas following the recipe from the Tortillas to the rescue cookbook.  It is very easy to make tortillas at home, hope you try it.

2 cups flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup vegetable shortening

1/2 cup warm water (should be a little hot)

Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and vegetable shortening and mix to make a crumble.  Add water little at a time to bring the dough together.  It should form a soft smooth dough, but not sticky.  

Leave it covered with a moist cloth for about 10 minutes or more.  Separate into 8 to 12 balls and keep it covered for another 10 minutes.

Roll it flat about 1/8", it has to be thin.  Heat a griddle or saucepan, when it is hot put the flattened dough and cook for 30 seconds or less both sides.  It should become slightly brown and you will see it puffing up. Don't cook it for a long time or it will become too crispy and you will not be able to roll it. 

Keep it covered until it is used or put in a ziploc bag and leave it in the fridge for later use.  The tortillas can be warmed in the microwave or pan before using.

I made a salsa with watermelons, jalapeño, tomatoes, coriander leaves, red onion, minced garlic and salt.  Combine these ingredients and served chilled with chips, inside wraps or as a topping.

We enjoyed making tacos with the Old El-Paso taco dinner kit, which comes with 10 tacos, 2 tomato stir-in sauces and 1 zesty seasoning mix.

For the minced meat filling, I cooked...

2 cup of minced meat

1/2 tsp chillie powder

1/2 tsp chillie flakes

1/4 tsp turmeric

1/4 tsp coriander powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp jalapeño chopped

1 1/2 tbsp oil

1/4 cup onion chopped

2" cinnamon stick

1 to 2 cardamom

1 tsp garlic chopped

1/4 to 1/2 cup tomatoes chopped

2 tbsp coriander leaves

Heat oil, sauté the onions and garlic.  Then add the cinnamon stick, cardamom, minced meat and spices and stir fry.  Press the meat with the back of the spoon.  Cook lightly covered in medium heat.  

Add the tomatoes and jalapeño, cook until the meat is done.  If there is lots of iquid cook without the lid until the liquid evaporates.  Add the coriander leaves and remove from heat.  Keep it covered and serve warm.  

Fill the tacos and tortillas with meat, cheese, salad leaves, sauce, salsa, sour cream or seasoned yogurt or any other preferred topping and serve.

Giveaways from Old El Paso:

Get a free Old El Paso product by getting the coupon from the Life Made Delicious Facebook.

If you would like to win this kit of delicious products from Old El Paso please leave a comment on this post and enter through the rafflecopter below.

The kit includes Extra mild Taco dinner kit, Hot and spicy fajita dinner kit, Mild taco seasoning, salsa, refried beans, jar of jalapeño and a salsa bowl.

This Old El Paso kit giveaway open to Canadians ends on September 20th.

You can enter the giveaway at any of the hosting sites, but you can only win 1 prize.  To better your chances enter through all the sites.  The prize will come within 4-6 weeks after the giveaway ends.

Update: The winner is Odalinde

First Cheerios 

In September, General Mills will be having a mosaic of First Cheerios moments on the Life Made Delicious Facebook.  To celebrate the first finger foods for babies and parents across Canada the first thousand participants/per household who submit photos will get a coupon for a Free box of cheerios and the rest of the participants will get a $1.00 off coupon as a thank you.   

Watch for the mosaic on limited edition boxes of Cheerios in Spring 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and receive special perks as part of this. All rights reserved on photographs and written content Createwithmom © 2012. Please Ask First