August 21, 2012

Mexican food recipes: Tortilla cookbook and Old El Paso kit giveaways

mexican food recipes
Tortillas to the rescue cookbook has about 100 quick and easy recipes.  All types of tortillas and its by products have been part of the author's life growing up in New Mexico.    Tortillas is an inexpensive meal that never goes stale, which can be eaten anytime of the day for any meal. 
This form of bread is simple to make with flour, fat and water, which is then pressed flat and cooked on a hot surface.  It was first made in 10,000 BC by a Mayan peasant for a king.  The peasant made the dough with dried corn kernels.  The maize or corn is soaked in alkaline solution (lemon-acid) before grinding into masa harina that is used to make corn tortillas.

Although there aren't any pictures in the book, the recipes are presented in a homely manner.  This book is available on amazon, bookstores and online.

After making tortillas at home, you will realize how easy it is and will be able to use the creative recipes from this book to make meals, desserts and snacks i.e. chips, rollups, tortilla cup desserts etc.
Giveaway:
If you would like to win a copy of this book please leave a comment on this post and enter through the rafflecopter below.  This book giveaway is open to people in US & Canada.  The giveaway ends on September 20th.
Update: The winner is Cindy

Unfortunately, the commercial tortillas have lots of chemicals and preservatives, which are not good.  The ingredient that is named L-cysteine, which is present in some breads, buns and tortillas are made with human hair, hog hair and duck feathers etc... here are more details about this.  Since the tortillas in the fajita kit has this ingredient I didn't use it and saved the tortillas to do some artwork.
There are some tortillas available without this nasty ingredient, so check before purchasing.
I made my own tortillas following the recipe from the Tortillas to the rescue cookbook.  It is very easy to make tortillas at home, hope you try it.

2 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup warm water (should be a little hot)

Mix the flour, baking powder, salt and vegetable shortening and mix to make a crumble.  Add water little at a time to bring the dough together.  It should form a soft smooth dough, but not sticky.  
Leave it covered with a moist cloth for about 10 minutes or more.  Separate into 8 to 12 balls and keep it covered for another 10 minutes.
Roll it flat about 1/8", it has to be thin.  Heat a griddle or saucepan, when it is hot put the flattened dough and cook for 30 seconds or less both sides.  It should become slightly brown and you will see it puffing up. Don't cook it for a long time or it will become too crispy and you will not be able to roll it. 

Keep it covered until it is used or put in a ziploc bag and leave it in the fridge for later use.  The tortillas can be warmed in the microwave or pan before using.
I made a salsa with watermelons, jalapeño, tomatoes, coriander leaves, red onion, minced garlic and salt.  Combine these ingredients and served chilled with chips, inside wraps or as a topping.

We enjoyed making tacos with the Old El-Paso taco dinner kit, which comes with 10 tacos, 2 tomato stir-in sauces and 1 zesty seasoning mix.
For the minced meat filling, I cooked...

2 cup of minced meat
1/2 tsp chillie powder
1/2 tsp chillie flakes
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp coriander powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp jalapeño chopped
1 1/2 tbsp oil
1/4 cup onion chopped
2" cinnamon stick
1 to 2 cardamom
1 tsp garlic chopped
1/4 to 1/2 cup tomatoes chopped
2 tbsp coriander leaves

Heat oil, sauté the onions and garlic.  Then add the cinnamon stick, cardamom, minced meat and spices and stir fry.  Press the meat with the back of the spoon.  Cook lightly covered in medium heat.  
Add the tomatoes and jalapeño, cook until the meat is done.  If there is lots of iquid cook without the lid until the liquid evaporates.  Add the coriander leaves and remove from heat.  Keep it covered and serve warm.  
Fill the tacos and tortillas with meat, cheese, salad leaves, sauce, salsa, sour cream or seasoned yogurt or any other preferred topping and serve.

Giveaways from Old El Paso:
Get a free Old El Paso product by getting the coupon from the Life Made Delicious Facebook.
If you would like to win this kit of delicious products from Old El Paso please leave a comment on this post and enter through the rafflecopter below.
The kit includes Extra mild Taco dinner kit, Hot and spicy fajita dinner kit, Mild taco seasoning, salsa, refried beans, jar of jalapeño and a salsa bowl.

This Old El Paso kit giveaway open to Canadians ends on September 20th.
You can enter the giveaway at any of the hosting sites, but you can only win 1 prize.  To better your chances enter through all the sites.  The prize will come within 4-6 weeks after the giveaway ends.
Update: The winner is Odalinde
tortilla
First Cheerios 
In September, General Mills will be having a mosaic of First Cheerios moments on the Life Made Delicious Facebook.  To celebrate the first finger foods for babies and parents across Canada the first thousand participants/per household who submit photos will get a coupon for a Free box of cheerios and the rest of the participants will get a $1.00 off coupon as a thank you.   
Watch for the mosaic on limited edition boxes of Cheerios in Spring 2013.


Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and receive special perks as part of this. All rights reserved on photographs and written content Createwithmom © 2012. Please Ask First

54 comments:

  1. I would like the book. Introduces to a new world of cooking! Tortilla's look very soft and nice :)

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  2. I love tacos!

    carrie_dodd at hotmail dot com

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  3. I would like to win both of the giveaways and I am in Canada.

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  4. I'm in Canada, and I would love to win BOTH! Thanks for the chance!

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  5. I am Canadian and would love to win both!
    You are an amazing photographer. I want to eat the screen :)

    Besos, Sarah
    Zookeeper at Journeys of The Zoo
    journeysofthezoo at hotmail dot com

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  6. us; would love both
    gkuroda(at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. I would like both and am in Canada

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  8. I would love to win both, but would prefer the free food! yay for tacos!

    I'm in Canada! :)

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  9. I am in Canada
    I would like to win both things! They both are great prizes.

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  10. Thanks for the useful bit of info on L cysteine. I will make sure to read labels more carefully now. I find tortillas really useful for making wraps..........will try making them at home, must be similar to rotis I guess. I too have the book but haven't gone through it yet.

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  11. Great post! Love the photos and recipes!

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  12. I use those kits and would like some new ideas to use for dinners
    Cathy C

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  13. Not to be greedy but heck I'd love to win both

    kevin.linkie@hotmail.com

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  14. I would love to win the Old El Paso Kit.

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  15. I am in Canada and would love to win the Old El Paso Kit.

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  16. Great post - and nice to see homemade tortillas made without a press. The cookbook looks fantastic!

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  17. One my best friends (since forever) and his family have always made homemade tortillas and I have always adored them. delish!
    I hope to win the Tortilla Cookbook! :D

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  18. One my best friends (since forever) and his family have always made homemade tortillas and I have always adored them. delish!
    I hope to win the Tortilla Cookbook! :D

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  19. I would LOVE both! Especially the cookbook and I'm in Canada :)

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  20. I'd love to win the Old El Paso prize pack.
    I'm from Canada.

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  21. i would like to win the old el paso prize pack and live in Canada

    thxs!

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  22. I would love to win the old el paso prize pack and I am in Canada

    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com
    belinda mcnabb

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  23. I would love to win the Old El Paso kit!! I am in Canada :)
    ksceviour at hotmail dot com

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  24. I'm in the US and I would love to win the cookbook. It looks great!

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  25. I'd love to win both and I'm in Canada

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  26. I am in Canada and would love to win them both especially the tortilla book!

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  27. I'm in Canada and I'd like to win the Old El Paso kit.
    amymbrown at gmail.com

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  28. I would love to win the Old El Paso kit!

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  29. I'm in Canada and I'd like to win the Old El Paso Kit.

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  30. I would love to win the Old El Paso kit
    I am Canadian
    thanks
    flower_child_23(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  31. I would love the old el paso kit

    I am canadian

    summerdual at gmail dot com

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  32. i love the old el paso kit!
    thanks!

    jocypou@hotmail.com

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  33. I would love them both, I live in the U.S.

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  34. After seeing those pictures and reading the recipes, I would love to win the Old El Paso Kit! In Canada

    victoriaess [at] hotmail [dot] com

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  35. I would like to win both, of course! I'm in Canada.

    Adina H.

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  36. Would love to win both, in Canada
    teddyoutready2(at)gmail(dot)com

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  37. The Kit would be a sweet win but to get the cookbook too would be a fantastic bonus! Canada addy even tho I FLY worldwide! LOL

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  38. I'm always looking for new recipes and my family loves old el paso products. I'm in canada

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  39. I'd love to win both. I am in Canada.

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  40. I already have the book, so I would like the old elpaso kit!

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  41. I would like to win both. I'm from Canada

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  42. I am in Canada! I would love to win both!

    breej23 at hotmail dot com

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  43. I am in Canada! I would love to win both!

    breej23 at hotmail dot com

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  44. we love tortillas one of our favorite meals

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Thank you for commenting :)