In a time of emergency, you can become the best cook ever! In your families’ eyes, you can assume “Chef “status by just having a few simple ingredients and recipes on hand. Your family will be saying “Move over Chef Ramsey, there is a new Master Chef in town.”
Have you ever noticed how your family turns into little monsters when hungry? Imagine a scenario of being without electricity in an ice storm. Would you be prepared? Do you have enough food on hand? How about an alternate cooking source available? Enough water on hand to include cooking? This would be a great time to have deliciously planned food available to keep the family from turning into potential monsters.
Flour is a simple staple that most people have available in their pantry. In a time of emergency, flour could stretch your food storage and works well with many canned goods and make a potentially bad situation more bearable.
Flour Tortillas – There are many ways to eat a flour tortilla! A few suggestions: roll up peanut butter and jelly inside a tortilla, bean burrito, make enchiladas, quesadillas made in the skillet, cut up tortilla into strips and lightly fry to make crispy for a soup topping…etc.
Simple Flour Tortilla Recipe
3 cups Flour
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt
4-6 Tbsp. Vegetable Shortening
1 ¼ cup Warm Water
- Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Add Vegetable Shortening by using a fork to cut in the shortening (or just use clean hands).
- Next add a little Warm Water at a time. Do this until your dough is soft, but not sticky.
- Knead dough for a couple of minutes.
- Divide the dough into 12 small balls and let them “rest” for 10-15 minutes.
- Heat up your skillet to a medium-high heat.
- Dust each ball of dough with a little flour before you roll them out. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough until it is fairly thin. If you do not have a rolling pin, you can use a glass or even your hands to shape the dough into a thin, round tortilla.
- Lay the tortilla onto the hot skillet. Watch carefully as it only takes a few seconds to cook. Flip the tortilla to the other side. You know the tortilla is done when you see many brown spots. Place the tortillas onto a plate and cover with a clean dish towel until ready to serve.
Note: due to the shortening in the tortilla dough, it is not usually necessary to use oil for “frying” the tortilla. If you notice any sticking, use a small amount of cooking spray or oil.
Yields: 12 tortillas.
MORE IDEAS FOR USING FLOUR TORTILLAS
A simple complete protein meal is that of a tortilla with beans. The bean burrito is a classic example as well as a bean and cheese quesadilla. Both of these examples can be adapted to fit your families tastes and what ingredients that you have on hand.
Thin crust pizza can also be made using tortillas! Use two tortillas with cheese placed between the layers to make the crust, top with sauce and toppings of choice. These can be backed or put into a large cast iron skillet for the stove top. It is best to cover with a lid as the steam will help to cook the pizza.
Besides being a meal, the tortilla can become a dessert too!
- Try making apple enchiladas (canned apples, powdered sugar, tortillas, cinnamon…etc.).
- My grandmother used to give me buttered bread sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. Why not do the same with a tortilla.
- Don’t have graham crackers? Make a new version of Smores using a tortilla.
Since you are the type of person that plans ahead, you have the necessary ingredients available to make some great food. Why not plan now to make a potential experience much more bearable. Try recipes now and don’t wait until an emergency.
Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.
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