Fiesta Munchies

If you haven't figured out yet we Castillo gals love to eat! Especially around Fiesta time. You could probably gain an extra 15 pounds just looking at all the food. But trying all the food is one of our favorite things about fiesta....my stomach is starting to growl just talking about it. Since Fiesta is all about tradition why not share some of our traditional recipes with you lovely folks. Today we're making Homemade Salsa and some yummy Taco's with Homemade Corn Tortilla's. So get your forks ready cause we're about to chow down!

The first recipe is a Salsa recipe that I got from this amazing mexican restaurant here in San Antonio, Los Barrios. They have some of the best mexican food around. This recipe is very simple, gather a 16 ounce can of whole tomatoes and a 4 ounce can of jalapeno chiles, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper. Throw everything into a blender and blend into a chunky puree (don't blend until smooth) Serve with tortilla chips, oh and have the recipe handy for everyone that'll be asking for it later!

Next up Taco's with Homemade Corn Tortilla's one of my favorite's! These homemade corn tortilla's are the best thing to put in your hand and gobble up....mmmm so good. We buy a package of cornmeal to make our homemade corn tortilla's so its pretty simple to make these.

For the filling for the taco's I like to make Chili Con Carne. You just brown up 1 pound of ground beef, add 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp cumin and a little salt and pepper to taste.

When making the corn tortilla's combine 2 cups of masa, 1/4 tsp salt and about 1 3/4 cups of warm water (you may need more or less water just depending on the consistency of the dough)
Mix it all with your hands to reach a dough that is similiar to mashed potatoes. If you need more water add it by the tablespoon. Mix the dough for about 4 minutes with your hands then allow the masa to rest for 10 minutes.

After the dough is good and rested cut two squares of wax paper you will need this when you press out the tortilla's. (I just used saran wrap) Form the masa into about 2 tbsp size balls and place a sheet of wax paper on both sides of the masa ball. Place the ball into the tortilla press and lightly press down to the desired thickness. When you finished presssing out all your tortilla's heat up a griddle or comal and cook the tortilla minus the wax paper for about 1 minute on each side. Next heat up some oil in a small pan and fry up the tortilla's for just about 30 seconds. Tada your done!! Homemade corn tortilla's for everyone.

We eat taco's pretty regularly in the Castillo house. We even make homemade flour tortilla's too. Maybe that should be my next post, oh who am I kidding I'd use any excuse to cook and eat. Bon Apetite!