Tortillas - Hot Off The Griddle!
One afternoon, while in Mexico, we traveled to the tiny town of Santa Elena, and visited, what is known as a solar – a small plot of land inhabited by a family and is a self-sufficient backyard farm of sorts. This particular solar was owned by a well-known herbalist in the region, Don Felix Maas Cocom and his wife, Senora Maria Maas. Pastora Maas, one of their ten children, makes the family's tortillas every day on the traditional stove of three rocks on which an iron comal, or griddle, sits over hot wood coals. Pastora taught me her method of forming and grilling the tortillas.
Picture 2 of 12: Using a thin piece of plastic and a walnut-sized piece of corn dough, freshly ground by hand with a traditional stone metate and mano, Pastora uses her fingers and the side of her hand to form small, flat rounds of dough, which are laid carefully on the griddle. She makes about five a minute.
Thanks, this was very interesting!
Posted by: Debbie | September 5th, 2008 at 6:58 am
The scale is a great scale. I have one which is similar to it. The greatnest is it actually is two scales. The platform portion can weigh hot pots and the top portion that the women are using can weigh ingredients. For example if one was making candy the platform can be used for the hot syrup and the top for weighing nuts.
Does the village tortilla factory also make flour tortillas?
Posted by: Margie | September 5th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Brings back memories of watching tortillas being made in San Antonio. Can we get a recipe to make tortillas? I used to make them in Texas but that was years ago.
Posted by: Marie | September 5th, 2008 at 9:29 am
That Proprietor reminds me of the several Principals I worked under. I'm like the ladies, I did not like them very much! Nan
Posted by: Nan Ashby | September 5th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Hi Martha, What a fascinating blog. I have a friend whose granddaughter and 3 small children recently visited Mexico. She talked a lot about the food and it is interesting to see how the Mexicans make their tortillas. I'm going to copy your photos and share them with her and I'm sure she will enjoy them as much as I have. Thanks so much for sharing. Have a great weekend. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | September 5th, 2008 at 10:26 am
What a great story Pastora Maas can tell her grandchildren...'There I was in my tiny town on my small plot of land making tortillas like I do every day and in walks Martha Stewart and some other people from New York with their cameras and they asked to film me. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think anything like that would ever happen!'
I will say there is nothing like a freshly made tortilla although I prefer the ones made with flour. Thanks again Martha for very interesting pictures. Trish
Posted by: Trish | September 5th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Great to see you using Wordpress. I think the blog design clearly reflects your vibe. As for tortillas, that's about as authentic as it gets. Is this the same table you played quarter bounce? More Tequila! Blog on.
Posted by: Geakz | September 5th, 2008 at 11:20 am
DEAR MARTHA;I'M VERY PROUD OF MY COUNTRY MEXICO,I'M BORN IN THE NORTH IN THE STATE OF COAHUILA,THE FLOUR TORTILLA IS THE MOST POPULAR,
THANK YOU FOR SHARE THIS FANTASTIC TRIP.
LOVE EUNICE
Posted by: EUNICE KENNEDY | September 5th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
The photos are very vibrant and real. I feel as if I was there when it was taken.
Love your blog!
Posted by: Norbie K. of Las Vegas | September 5th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
Martha, thanks for sharing this with us. It's always something new and interesting on your blog. I'm a Thai and I have a chance to see thing in different culture and to see the world that I might not have a chance to be there like "Iceland". Thank you very much for all these good things.
P.S. I prefer the old blog that all the photos shown up in one time.
Posted by: Danny | September 5th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I can't wait to see this on your show! I grew up in Monterrey, Mexico and we had a great cook, Santos, who made homemade corn tortillas every day! She would "clap" them into rounds & drop them on the hot comal. She flipped them over with her "asbestos" fingers and they would puff up beautifully! We would put butter and fresh salsa on them and start our day! I wish I could have gone with you on this trip!
Posted by: Jo Ann McWhorter | September 6th, 2008 at 6:53 am
I love the look of the painted and worn surfaces. My family uses tortillas nearly every day but the tortilla that first comes to mind is a corn one made by hand by a lady at the Museum of Man in San Diego when I was on a school trip in the first grade. She patted one out for each student, toasted it on the comal, we watched it puff up and sink, then she handed it out with a little butter on it. So delicious.
We also used to buy some giant flour tortillas from a shop in a house in Yuma, AZ that were so thin and translucent that I thought of the skins settlers used to stretch over the window openings of their houses in pioneer days.
Posted by: jw | September 6th, 2008 at 10:51 am
There's nothing better than *real* Mexican food. Mmmmm! I went to Mexico in 1997 and still remember the amazing tomato based soup I ate. It was wonderful!
The best thing about making the corn tortillas is that they are celiac friendly!
Posted by: Gwendolyn | September 6th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
What strikes me about these photos is how little the people have materially yet how well they eat. So many Americans have fancy professional gas stoves but don't even know how to cook. There is a lady with three rocks and a fire with a bent piece of metal to make delicious tortillas. How many can make them on their expensive stoves? Everyone marvels at the delicious morsels made so simply. Americans have so much wealth, yet really how much of value?
Posted by: Pam Regentin | September 7th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Please advise on which channel and time your new season will be aired.
Last week was watching you at 10am on channel 10
Thanx
Mary
Posted by: Mary De Monte | September 8th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
What a great post. I absolutely love handmade tortillas - in my travels, I once had an opportunity to help make tortillas like this and I think my tastebuds will never forget that experience.
Posted by: Emily | September 8th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Hi, Martha,
Thanks for taking us along on your journey to Santa Elena and your visit to the solar of Don Felix Maas Cocom and his wife, Senora Maria Maas. How wonderful to learn to make the authentic recipe of this family from the daughter, Pastora Maas. I enjoyed seeing how she formed and grilled the tortillas.
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | September 15th, 2008 at 12:54 am
Thank you Marth and staff to include this wonderful pictures!
I found this article through Yucatanliving.com and I loved it!
I lived in Yucatan for sometime and I can account it as one of the best experiences in my life.
One comment about the tortillas. In Yucatan and many parts of central and southeast Mexico use corn tortillas (tortillas de maiz) more often than flour tortillas (tortillas de harina). Flour tortillas are more common in the north side of the country and up. However, you can find them either at every big supermarket, local store or "tiendas, tendejones or estanquillos".
As a new mexican generation living the confort of the American life style I am teaching my family to return to the traditional uses of a "Molcajete", tortilla press and other kitchen utensils that we are forgetting for what reason they were made.
Blessings,
Saray
Posted by: Saray | September 17th, 2008 at 6:32 am
I was interested to see what you had said about St Elena after reading yesterday in the Diario de Yucatan of your previous visit to St Elena .I personally know Pastora and her sisters ,one of whom I had the prvilage of being invited to the wedding, another treat here in Yucatan along with an invite to a nieces quinceaños ( 15th birthday party) again another treat to behold.
If you get to know the people really well you will find them warm, kind hearted and hospitable .
WHile everyone in the so called western world are trying to connect with mother earth
and nature here the people live it every day .. thats why they dont rush anywhere...
How do I know these people? Well for the past four years I have lived first in Ticul and now St Elena where I own a restaurant and where I have learned Yucatecan cooking and cater mostly to travellers . Originating from England living in Canada for many years now find that Yucatan is my home amongst the lovely people and of course near to the ruins
THankyou for bringing to light the Yucatan and hope you can read up a little more about the ruins and the significance of the designs ( all very mystical and spiritual)
Valerie St Elena Yucatan
Posted by: Valerie | September 18th, 2008 at 5:42 am
Dear Martha:
I am glad you enjoy my beloved Yucatan. I was raised in Muna, 10 minutes away from the Mayan ruins of Uxmal. I have a sister that lives in Ticul and many relatives in Muna. In looking at the photograph of Pastora making tortillas "torteando" I flashbacked when I was young and my favorite time was when we were making tortillas and you could grab your own from the comal (tortilla maker), rolled and eat if. Boy, I could really taste the corn.
In the spirit of preservation our Mayan traditions is that we organized ourselves here in the Los Angeles area and are raising awareness of our culture.
I hope you visit our http://www.yucatecos.org
Inlakech, Alakem
(I am you, you are me, I am another yourself)
Sara
Posted by: Sara Zapata de Mijares | September 18th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
how extraordinary. i was just wondering what was the name of that plant that don felix used to cure inflammation of the leg ?
Posted by: jen | November 6th, 2008 at 12:48 pm