I still don’t have a waffle maker! My last one lost its non-stick properties so I got rid of it.. I’ve been looking around for a new waffle maker but they all seem like they are poor quality. So, for now I’m stuck with pancakes. These were quick, easy & good. They do have a tendency to stick to the pan though as there is no oil in the batter.

Fresh corn tortillas are nothing like the store bought variety. If you don’t like corn tortillas it is possible you’ve never had them fresh. The best corn tortilla I ever tasted came from this kitchen:

They were handmade by a Mayan lady in the Yucatan. In the picture you see the extent of her counter space and cooking utensils. Behind this area was the “oven” aka fire. The traditional way to make corn tortillas involves drying corn, soaking it in lime, pounding it and then forming it into a dough. Since this is cook simple and there are no tortilla factories nearby I take the easier route of using dried masa harina. I like corn tortillas much more than flour tortillas so I always have some masa harina in the pantry. And while I am typically against unitaskers in the kitchen I am happy to keep a tortilla press around.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
• ¼ t active dry or instant yeast
• 1¼ t salt
• 1 5/8 C water

Directions

The magic of this bread, of course, is that you don’t have to knead it. By letting it sit for 14-20 hours, the yeast works its magic in turning your flour into just the right gluteny consistency.

Start by mixing all the dry ingredients together. Wonderful thing #2 – you can use either active dry or instant yeast pretty easily. Usually, you have to activate active dry in a little warm water and sugar. No worries. You let it sit so long that it’s able to work without the foreplay. You may want to add just a pinch more though, just in case you’re worried.

Next add your water and mix thoroughly. I’ve been making cheese lately, so I have a lot of whey. I’ve substituted whey for water and found that it makes the bread naturally sweet. After mixing cover, set on top of the refrigerator, and wait. Or, wonderful thing #3, go about your life and don’t worry about the dough. You have to let it sit at least 14 hours, but you can always let it sit MORE. Don’t feel like you’re tied the finicky rising of your dough. This sucker is very forgiving and will be just fine if you forget about it.

If you think you’re going to go well over 20 hours, and that kinda worries you, you can throw it in the fridge at some point. I will start a loaf at night before I go to bed and then put it in the fridge after I get home from work the next day in order to use the next day for dinner. This bread does make you think a few days in advance, but that’s about the only work you actually have to do.

At least 2 hours before putting it in the oven, pour the dough onto a well floured surface. By this time, the dough will softened and you’ll see bubbles on the surface. Fold it over on itself a few times. Cover and let sit for 15 minutes. Then quickly form into a ball and place seam down on a WELL floured kitchen towel (not terry cloth) and cover with another towel. Don’t skimp on the flour or you will not get the dough off your towel. Ever.

And here’s wonderful thing #4 about this dough – the minimum time to let the dough rise here is 2 hours, but it can wait a lot longer. I’ll do the above steps after taking the dough out of its night in my fridge. Then it will rise while I’m at work all day. I swear, this bread is not like a child – it does not need to be supervised.

When the dough has doubled, or when you’re good and ready, heat the oven to 450 with a dutch oven inside. You’re going to need a 6 quart dutch oven. OR, you guessed it, wonderful thing #5 – you can half, quarter, 1/3, double this recipe to make the size that works for you, or your smaller dutch oven (mine is only 2 quarts). Unlike other baking projects, the proportions for this are pretty forgiving.

After preheating the oven and dutch oven for about a half hour plop the dough in the hot dutch oven. Slosh it around a bit, cover it, and put it in the oven. If you do the regular size, check the loaf at 30 minutes. It should be starting to get golden. Leave the lid off for another 15 – 30 minutes until the crust has a dark golden hue with a split in the top. If you do a smaller size, check earlier. I ended up doing about 20 minutes with the top on and another 20 minutes with the top off for my 1/3 recipe. And I think I may have had the oven at 425 instead of 450. Have I mentioned how forgiving this recipe is?

Take it out of the oven and cool on a rack. Or wait until you don’t burn your fingers/mouth on the bread and dig in. I really like making a third of a recipe because it’s enough for two, with little to no leftovers. This bread is amazing when it comes out of the oven. It’s still good the next day, but when it’s so easy to have the fresh from the oven experience, why not make it fresh?

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 1 Tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 cup seeded and finely diced tomato
• 1/2 cup grated zucchini
• 1/2 cup grated carrot
• 1/4 cup minced onion

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 °F.

In a large bowl mix together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar and salt. In a second bowl mix together the egg, milk, butter and oil. Stir this into the dry ingredients just until mixed. Add the tomatoes, zucchini, carrot and onion and fold in until veggies are dispersed throughout the batter. Fill greased muffin tins 3/4 full with batter.

Bake muffins 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.

Yield: 12 muffins

Ingredients

• 2 cups masa de arepa (masarepa)
• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• fresh white cheese

Directions

Place the masa in a bowl and mix in the salt. Add the water and stir with your hands until the water is absorbed. Let sit for 5-10 minutes then knead for a few minutes until the dough is smooth.

Shape into 2″ to 5″ patties (just depends on how big you’d like your arepas) that are about 1/2-inch thick. Cook in a cast iron skillet on medium-low heat until outsides are crisp and the inside is cooked. This will take 10+ minutes.

Serve while hot. Cut each arepa in half and fill with white cheese (or carne, or black beans, or ham, etc.).

Yield: 4 servings

Notes

You can also crumble the cheese into the dough (about 1/2 cup) so it melts while you cook the arepas. These are great filled with beef or beans.