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Rocky57

Sep 5, 2004, 3:17 PM

Post #1 of 14 (1157 views)

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Tortillas...help

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Please help me. I am a single guy, with few culinary skills, that is trying to do at least some of my dining at home!

I have been buying tortillas at the local tortilla factory on the Carretera. I really do enjoy them. I load them with meat and cheese (or peanut butter and jelly) and toast them in a toaster oven. Excellent. I think this is probably better for me (and my weight) than using bread. Is this true? Or am I deceiving myself? :-)

Okay, real questions are: 1. what is the best way to reheat them and get them soft again? 2. how many days before it is not safe to eat them? 3. where does one get good salsa? I have the Chapala hot (in my case mild) sauce but would like some salsa to eat chips with and pour on some of my tortilla creations.

Any other basic kitchen survival suggestions would be appreciated!

.
The Elusive Grandpa Laugh

jennifer rose

Sep 5, 2004, 3:33 PM

Post #2 of 14 (1155 views)

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Re: [Rocky57] Tortillas...help

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There are round plastic tortilla containers specially designed for use in the microwave. Get yourself one of those. Or put the desired quantity of tortillas in a plastic wrapper or a cloth napkin, and reheat in the microwave. Alternatively, you can reheat them on the comal, inserting the heated ones into a cloth napkin or a specially designed receptable.

Tortillas will remain fine in the refrigerator for several days, but why would you want to keep them that long when you can simply buy enough for a day or two at a time?

Where to get good salsa? First, remember that not all of the world lives in Ajijic. Try your local grocery store for bottled and canned varieties. Or ask your local roasted chicken take-out or taqueria for some extra.

Rolly

Sep 5, 2004, 3:44 PM

Post #3 of 14 (1154 views)

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Re: [Rocky57] Tortillas...help

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"I think this is probably better for me (and my weight) than using bread. Is this true? Or am I deceiving myself? :-) "

I keep telling myself that it is true, but I know it isn't.

Learn to make your own salsa. It's not hard and experimenting can be fun.

Rolly Pirate

Marlene

Sep 5, 2004, 4:03 PM

Post #4 of 14 (1150 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Tortillas...help

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I accidentally bought tortilla flour instead of semi-fina for my newly acquired breadmaker. (oops) Hubby presented me with some tacos for comida, and asked how I liked them. Good, as always, why? He spotted the (wrong) flour I had purchased and whipped up some hand made tortillas in the kitchen unbeknownst to me, assuming I bought it so we could make tortillas. Good grief! Now I demand fresh, made in my own kitchen tortillas, well at least until the flour is gone. As Jennifer says, they are so abundant and so fresh and economical, no need to reheat OR make your own! LOL

If I don't feel like going to the tienda I reheat tortillas in cloth inside a plastic bag for a very short time. I normally give the left overs to our petting zoo who all love tortillas...dog, cat and parrot.

As to the original question, I agree with Rolly. This is NOT a diet food. (But it IS part of the necessary Vitamina T intake)

Cynthia7

Sep 5, 2004, 6:31 PM

Post #5 of 14 (1135 views)

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Re: [Marlene] Tortillas...help

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An average flour tortilla has 130 calories and lots of carbs. An average corn tortilla has 60+ calories. It is hard to eat one tortilla.

Carol Schmidt

Sep 5, 2004, 6:33 PM

Post #6 of 14 (1133 views)

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Re: Calories in tortillas vs. rolls

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A six-inch diameter corn tortilla has 40 calories. A six-inch diameter flour tortilla has 100 calories. A white flour roll like in a torta contains about 165-200 calories.

Salsa contains 5 calories a tablespoon. Mayonnaise, margarine or butter contain 100 calories a tablespoon. A teaspoon of light crema contains about 30 calories.

Therefore, three six-inch corn tortillas with half a teaspoon of light crema and a tablespoon of salsa on each would total a lunch or snack of 180 calories. Heat the tortillas on a gas flame or in a microwave to make them pliable if you want. Fry them in oil or butter and you've added another 100 calories per tablespoon absorbed fat.

One torta with a tablespoon of mayonnaise, butter, lettuce, tomato, and a lean turkey lunch meat or skinless chicken breast would contain at least 425 calories, and if you use a fattier meat or something like tuna salad, you raise that amount. Add cheese and it's another 100 calories an ounce. Add avocado and it's another 150 for half an avocado. Add bacon and it's another 35 calories per crisply fried and drained slice. You could easily have a sandwich of 900 calories and not even notice.

A sandwich made of two slices of Bimbo type white bread with peanut butter and jelly is around 300 calories.

My doctor tells patients, you can eat five corn tortillas for the equivalent of most white flour rolls.

Carol Schmidt, who has lost a lot of weight increasing my walking 2-4 miles a day and substituting corn tortillas and salsa for most snacks.

Rocky57

Sep 6, 2004, 12:04 PM

Post #7 of 14 (1113 views)

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Re: [Rocky57] Tortillas...help

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Thanks for the responses.

Jennifer, I will visit some of the local shops here in Ajijic and see about the tortilla heating / storing devices. Do you know what they are called in Spanish? My espanol vocabulary has been growing but so have my skills at pantemine.

I liked tortillas better when I was still ignorant about the calories!!! Thanks Rolly! :-(

Anyone have a recipe for salsa? Not too hot please!

Oh, yes. Thanks Carol. I already knew I could make a salad into a weight gainer, rather than a lite healthy meal. Now I will be aware of the danger of my tortilla creations. Thanks alot! :-) I too am starting to shed some of my NoB lbs. Walking is helping in that area. Also, the energy I am putting out on stage with the LLT is paying off. Not as quick as I would like, of course.

.
The Elusive Grandpa Laugh

jennifer rose

Sep 6, 2004, 1:00 PM

Post #8 of 14 (1107 views)

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Re: [Rocky57] Tortillas...help

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At http://www.pdh.com.mx/lnesp/ts02.shtml is a photo of a basic tortillero. The cheapest ones are made of Styrofoam and don't last long. The smallest will hold about 6 tortillas, and the larger model will hold about half a kilo. Some of them are a little fancier, with designs on the outside, suitable for placing directly on the table. Getting even a little more upscale, it's possible to find a basket in which the plastic tortillero will fit. But the important thing is that it's microwave-proof. The basic model should cost you about $20 M.N.

Marlene

Sep 6, 2004, 5:02 PM

Post #9 of 14 (1086 views)

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Re: [jennifer rose] Tortillas...help

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I won one at a baby shower and it has turned out to be great for reheating and serving. I gave it to a family member who had more use for it than I. I won't tell you what I had to do to win it, but if anyone gets a chance to go to a baby shower here in Mexico, you will get an idea! Fun, and with practical gifts.

(This post was edited by Marlene on Sep 6, 2004, 5:03 PM)

Carol Schmidt

Sep 6, 2004, 8:43 PM

Post #10 of 14 (1071 views)

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Re: [Rocky57] Tortillas...help

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Basic uncooked red tomato salsa:

Diced red tomatoes, say 8 Romas or 5 beefsteak,
1 small diced onion (or half a larger one),
half a cup diced cilantro,
juice of 2 small limes,
salt and pepper to taste,

and I use one minced fresh seeded serrano and one finely diced canned chipolte with a little of the adobo sauce from the can. If the serrano is a few days old I'll use two of them.

The chipolte gives a nice smokiness as well as heat--do try to use one, even if you leave out the serrano because you don't want it too hot. Make sure to chop it very finely because if you bite into a bigger piece you'll know it! You could use a jalapeno finely diced instead of the serrano since they're slightly less hot.

Five calories a tablespoon!

Carol Schmidt

jennifer rose

Sep 6, 2004, 8:51 PM

Post #11 of 14 (1069 views)

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Chipotle en Adobo and Jam

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All right, I've got to share my favorite. Take one small can of chiptoles en adobo, and dump it in the blender with a half jar of peach (or any other flavor) jam. Puree it, and spread on fish, chicken, pan Bimbo, or even tortillas.

Georgia

Sep 12, 2004, 4:13 PM

Post #12 of 14 (1017 views)

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Re: [Rocky57] Tortillas...help

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Here are some great quick salsa ideas:

1. at the market in Chapala, as you enter, to the left, is a lady who sells French bread and homemade salsa mexicana. Both are great.
2. Herdez makes canned "salsa casera" and the spicier "salsa ranchera" in small cans. Both are excellent. I like them on everything, but especially eggs.
3. If you buy a roasted or grilled chicken it usually includes a sauce: save it and use it.

Rocky57

Sep 12, 2004, 5:02 PM

Post #13 of 14 (1012 views)

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Re: [Georgia] Tortillas...help

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Thanks for the suggestions. Guess I am going to Chapala! If I refrigerate the salsa, how long does it last?
The Elusive Grandpa Laugh

Georgia

Sep 12, 2004, 6:57 PM

Post #14 of 14 (1001 views)

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Re: [Rocky57] Tortillas...help

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For the fresh stuff, just buy as much as you personally will use in 2 or 3 days. The canned stuff will last awhile (a week?) I dunno. We always finish it.