The Famous Amos stew is awesome. Not just because it’s tasty, but because it’s my Dad’s recipe. Yes, my Dad can cook and his stew is a perfect meal for those cold winter nights, sitting around the table, chatting with family or old friends and enjoying a few too many cervezas (if there is such a thing). Gosh. Just typing this brings back great memories. With all that is good in life, this stew has become a great ending. It’s like the most perfect nightcap.
Famous Amos Stew:
1 1/2 lb Pork, cubed – $3.40
1/2 onion, diced – $.20
2 serrano chile, diced – $.15
1 can, diced tomato – $.70
3-4 potatoes, cubed – $.75
1 Tbsp Lard or Shortening – pantry
1 tsp salt (may need a little more) – pantry
1/2 tsp pepper – pantry
1/2 tsp dried oregano – pantry
waterCOST: $5.20
Heat large pot and add lard or shortening. Once hot, add pork and cook till nicely browned. Add onions and serrano and saute till onions are translucent. Next, add can tomatoes, salt, pepper, oregano and potatoes. Stir, then add water till potatoes are covered. Bring to boil, cover and reduce to simmer. Let simmer till potatoes are soft.
Tortillas:
OK, before we start. Let me tell you, tortilla making is a learned art.Ā Don’t worry about getting them round, just worry about taste.
Believe me, tortillas get easier and better the more you make them. Your first, second and even third batch may not be perfect, but they will be tasty.
Please, please, please, don’t give up! Because nothing! And I mean, nothing, is as tasty as a fresh tortilla.
3 cups unbleached flour – $.50
1 1/2 tsp baking powder – pantry
1 1/2 to 2 tsp salt (adjust to your taste) – pantry
4-6 Tbsp. vegetable shortening (I prefer lard, but reduce to 3-4 Tbsp) – $.30
about 1 1/4 cups very warm water, almost hotCOST: $.80
Mix dry ingredients in a large plastic or metal bowl. Add shortening or lard.Ā Using your fingers, squeeze or cut in lard. You want the mixture well incorporated.
Next add very warm water, a little at a time, mixing with one hand, until your dough is soft and not sticky. You don’t need steaming hot water, but pretty warm. Not cold or luke warm.
Knead the dough/masa for a few minutes. Do NOT over mix! Masa should be soft and not sticky.
Once you have your dough, let set while your tapa or comal heat. Temp should be medium high.
Once comal (cast iron griddle) is ready, pull off pieces of dough to form small balls. You can pinch them down with your hands a bit to make them flat, then roll out the dough with your rolling pin. You will roll from the center of the ball and up, center and down.
I will make a video of this in a few weeks, but for now, this is the best description I can give. With practice, this gets easier and easier.
Lift the tortilla and turn it over. Roll again, from the center and out. Continue till tortilla is fairly thin and even.
Now, lay your tortilla on the hot comal. It takes just a few seconds to cook on the first side. During this time, I’m usually prepping the next ball of dough to flat, but not yet rolling. Flip that first side after cooking for no more than 20 seconds or so.
Second side can cook about 1 – 1 1/2 mins. Flip. Cook 1st side again for maybe 15-20 seconds, just to make sure tortilla is thoroughly cooked and has a nice golden color with lots of nice brown specks on tortilla.
Place in a thin kitchen towel and cover or use a tortilla warmer. I never believed in these till I got one. They are awesome!
GRAND TOTAL: $6.00
That was healthy food
And yummy too. š
Our favorite Mexican restaurant serves fresh tortillas. That’s why we go there. I just have to learn to make them. I wonder if they could be make with whole wheat flour? Love this meal!
Sure you could use whole wheat flour. Your texture might be a bit different and a touch sweeter, but definitely more healthy. Let me know how they turn out!
Thanks for your fresh tortilla recipe. I always have a hard time. My family is from Guatemala and my mom and aunts are pros at makin fresh tortillas but somehow I cant get it. thanks i will have to keep trying.
Tortillas are definitely a “practice makes perfect” kind of thing. So yes, keep trying. Even my worst batch of homemade are better than store bought. š
Fresh tortillas are great. I love the cost breakdown too. Thanks for the awesome post.
Thank you for visiting. I have a bunch of recipes I’ll be posting later this week. So visit again soon! Oh, and yes, fresh tortillas are awesome!!