Yesterday one of my coworkers asked me where to find the best tortillas in town. As I was about to say “make them” he stopped me and said, “And don’t tell me to make them myself.” So, I suggested heading to either one of the Food Pavilion stores in town for their fresh tortillas made in-house. The trick at the store is to go when the tortillas are coming off of the presses. Even though you are surrounded by hundreds of very fresh packaged tortillas, it’s best to wait in line for the ones made seconds before. You can also request specific amounts, as opposed to buying a big stack.

To be honest, though, I still prefer homemade tortillas. They taste fantastic and are well worth the effort. They’re thicker and, of course, fresher than any tortillas you’ll find in a store. However, making them does require some practice.

Last year, I was lucky enough to run into one of my elementary school friends at Starbucks, Veronica Hernandez. I had been hoping to find someone to give tips on tortilla making for a story. We hadn’t seen each other for a few years and as we were catching up she mentioned that she had just taught her preschool students how to make tortillas.

I came away from the ensuing interview very excited to make my own tortillas. Following her tips, the tortillas turned out to be very good. Now, I often make a half dozen tortillas just for fun. It’s quicker than you might think.

Last night I made some tortillas to go with baked cod. Topped with salsa and a bit of sour cream, it made a nice, fresh meal.