Tortillas

You can try using store bought but nothing really compares to a good, homemade tortilla! Try it out and see how easy it can be.

Ingredients:

2 cups Maseca (probably the most common brand of masa harina, stand by for our fresh version)

1 ¾ to 2 cups water

½ tsp salt

By hand or in a mixer fitted with a paddle attatchment gradually work in water to masa. The key here is the consistency of the dough, you are looking for a play-dough-like texture. When handled the dough should not crack or crumble, you may need to adjust with more water.

Roll out a 2cm ball and test your dough. Between two sheets of parchment or wax paper, flatten dough ball using a tortilla press or two inverted pans. Try to get the dough as thin and even as you can. The tortilla should be smooth and easy to handle with no cracks along the edges, and should not stick to the parchment paper. Adjust with more masa or water.

Once you are sure your dough is perfect, start rolling small batches of 2cm balls. Try not to form or press more tortillas than you can fit in a pan at a time and keep your dough covered with a damp cloth at all times.

Heat a dry pan to medium, cast iron would be best, and cook tortillas on both sides for about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove to a tortillerro lined with a cloth, or if you don’t have wrap the tortillas in the cloth and then in aluminum foil.

To reheat tortillas repeat the same cooking process in cast iron pan, heat in 200 degree oven for 10 minutes, or microwave in a plastic bag for 30 seconds.

*As soon as i get the grain mill kitchen aid attachment i will upload a recipe to make them from scratch.

Hot sauces ☠

All of these hot sauces are variations on the same basic technique, so once you feel comfortable with the process of charring your chilies, fruit/vegetables you can get creative with different combinations of flavors. The possibilities are endless, think seasonal and fresh and you will be well on your way. Just remember the most important thing is a good balance of spice, acidity, sweetness, and salt. With oyster season just starting to be great, and all the vegetables in the market hitting the end of their summer season why not crack some beers, practice your shucking skills and heat it up!

Mole

This sauce would be great served with a steak or any grilled meats.

6 dry Chipotle peppers

1 clove Garlic, unpeeled

1/4 large Onion, cut into large chunks

1 large Tomato, cut in quarters (we used kumato, but any dark variety of tomato, or a good ripe field tomato would be equally successful)

2 tbsp Olive Oil

2 tbsp Red Mole paste

1 tbsp Smoked Paprika

juice of 1 Lime

2 tbsp White Vinegar

Salt

Heat a dry pan over medium-high heat. Dry roast, chipotle peppers, onion, garlic and tomato until charred, turning to cook all sides evenly. Add olive oil, sauté over medium heat. Add smoked paprika and cook 1 minute more

De-glaze with 2 cups water. Work in mole paste. Simmer over medium heat to re-hydrate chilies. Pour into blender and add lime juice and vinegar. Blend until smooth, season. Pass mixture through a fine strainer, cool and serve.

Hot Oaxaca

This sauce would be great served with fish, shellfish or even pork.

8 dry Guerro Oaxaqueno chilies

1 Red pepper, diced

3 Habañero peppers

1 Orange

1/4 cup Dried Mango

1 Plum Tomato, quartered

1/2 large Onion, diced

2 tbsp Olive Oil

1/2 tsp chopped Ginger

1/4 cup White Vinegar

1 tsp Fennel Seed

juice of 2 Limes

Salt

Heat a dry pan to medium, add dry chilies, habañeros, red pepper and tomato to pan. Dry roast for 2 minutes turning frequently to cook all sides evenly. Add olive oil then onion, fennel seed and put in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Half way through cooking add ginger and a 2 cm piece of orange zest to pan. remove from oven to medium burner and de-glaze with the juice from one orange, reduce, and then add 2 cups of water. Add dried mango and simmer to re-hydrate.

Pour into blender, add vinegar and lime juice and blend to liquify. Season, strain, cool and serve.

Mulatto Plum

This sauce would be great for duck or any wild/ game meats.

5 dry Mulato Chilies

3 Plums, cut into quarters

4 fresh Thai Chilies

2 Tomatoes, cut into quarters (we used kumato, but any good, ripe tomato would be good)

1 tsp Honey

juice of 1/2 Lemon

1/2 tsp Coriander seed

1/2 tsp Cumin seed

2 Allspice berries

6 branches Lemon Thyme

2 tbsp White Vinegar

Salt

Heat a dry pan to medium and add dry mulato chilies, turning to toast all sides for about 5 minutes. Add plums, thai chilies, tomatoes and thyme. Remove from heat and add olive oil. Put into a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes turning frequently to roast all sides evenly.

Remove from oven and put all items into blender except dry chilies. Add dry spices to pan with chilies and heat to medium, deglaze pan with 2 cups of water and simmer to re-hydrate chilies. Pour into blender adding vinegar, honey and lemon juice to blender as well.

Blend to liquify, then season, strain, cool and serve.

Caribeña

This salsa would be great for fish, seafood and even for chicken.

3 dry Guajillo Chilies

1/2 medium Onion, cut into large pieces

juice of 1 Lime

2 cm Ginger, chopped

1/2 cup dry Pineapple

5 fresh Yellow Caribe Chilies

1 tbsp Coriander Seed

1 tbsp Honey

2 tbsp White Vinegar

Salt

Heat a pan over medium heat, dry roast guajillo and yellow caribe chilies for 8 minutes turning often to roast evenly. Add olive oil and put into a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes turning peppers frequently to roast evenly. Remove from oven and add yellow caribe chilies to blender. meanwhile to pan add coriander seed, onions and ginger sauté for 10 seconds then de-glaze with 2 cups water. Add dry pineapple and simmer to re-hydrate. Add to blender along with vinegar, lime juice and honey.

Blend to liquify. Season, strain, cool and serve.