Tortilla Day!!

If you didn't know already...Thursday is tortilla day!  A day loved by all of the children...and adults!  We are often asked for the recipe and about the process...so here it is!

Ingredients

1.5 cups unbleached flour

1.5 cups wheat flour (I’ve used millet flour and bean flour…be creative!
2 tsp. baking powder (preferably non-aluminum)
1 tsp. salt
4-6 Tbsp butter

1 1/4 cups warm water

I also throw in some flax seed and/or flax oil

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Add butter. I squish it together with my hands.

Next add warm water a little at a time until your dough is soft and not sticky. You do not need very hot water.

Knead the dough for a few minutes.

Now you will pull off pieces of dough to form about 12 small balls. Let them rest for at least 10 minutes, longer if you like.

This is a good time to heat up the cast iron skillet.  You will want to set it at medium to high heat.  The higher it is...the closer you need to stay to make sure they don't burn!

Now you can roll out the dough with your rolling pin. It is a good
idea to dust each ball with a little flour just before you roll them out. Lay the pin in the center of the dough ball and roll up, center and roll down. It is good to lift the dough and turn it. Again, rolling pin in the center and roll. Roll them out thin and roundish.

Lay your tortilla on the hot and dry cast iron skillet. We don't use any oil on the skillet...as we find that it smokes. Flip it after it loses it's "wet" look.  I flip it with my fingers...but you could use a spatula if you are afraid!  When it comes off we put it on a plate...quickly run a stick of butter over it and serve them hot.  We eat often eat them with beans...cheese...rice...and salsa...but they are great just on their own too.  Enjoy!

Helping Hands Bread...

Here is the oft requested "Helping Hands Bread" recipe! Don't be afraid to make it...it's not that hard! We can be available for tech support if you stumble...and walk you through.

I double this recipe every time I make it. I like to use small loaf pans I purchased in a working play set from IKEA. They are a good size for preschoolers, they fit well into toaster, and they bake quicker than big loaves!

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups warm water (not too hot)

1 package dry yeast

1/2 cup honey (One can also use brown sugar...honey is preferred)

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

3 cups wheat flour (Often this is not just wheat...but multigrain)

3 cups unbleached white flour

1 stick softened butter

Dash of healthy oil (optional…I use flax)

Ground Flax seed (optional)

1 teaspoon salt

1. Fill large mixing bowl with warm water. Stir in honey, and yeast. Wait for it to get foamy. I place it in the sink with warm water underneath.

2. Stir in rolled oats and half of the flour. Let sit for about 45 minutes to rise. Should double in size.

3. Stir in the remaining flour, salt, softened butter, and optional ingredients. Knead roughly. Do this for about 7 minutes until dough is no longer wet but smooth. This may take adding several more cups of flour depending on how much flax oil was put in…humidity…etc.

4. Punch down and shape into rolls or loaves and allow it to double in size again before baking.

or...

At this point…if you have the time…the other option is to let it rise again. I put it in one big ball back into the big mixing bowl in the sink with warm water. Let it double in size...knead it and shape into loaves then bake. This extra step can make it more fluffy.

5. Bake at 375 until brown and crusty on top.

or

Bake in a sun oven. Times vary based on available sun!

6. If the bread gets too brown on top and they are not cooked all the way through…place tin foil on top.

7. Allow for them to cool on drying racks then store...or eat!!

I recommend stocking up on Trader Joe's pumpkin butter this October. Enough to last you the year through. A steaming piece of Helping Hands bread...topped with butter and Pumkin butter is divine. One parent upon trying it exclaimed "This is the best bread experience I have had in my entire life"!!!