In my new cookbook, Shoestring Quick & Easy, we use two main strategies to make things, well, Quick & Easy: 1. Kitchen Shortcuts, which are all about using slightly different techniques to get from here to there in less time and with less fuss; and 2. Making smart use of some Store-Bought GF Packaged Products. Since I really want you to get the most of My Cookbooks, and the most out of this blog, and since I know that most of us are not ladies (and men!) of leisure, I'm introducing a new blog series called Make It … Or Buy It?
How “Make It … Or Buy It?” Works
I do the heavy-lifting, making homemade versions of these products, then comparing them to the best example I can find of their store-bought counterparts in 4 categories, which will be summarized in a simple grid:
1. Ease: On a scale of 1-10. For the homemade version, that includes everything from the time it takes to the difficulty level to the availability of the different ingredients. For the store-bought version, that includes ease of finding the product and ease of storing and using it, too.
2. Quality: On a scale of 1-10. Quality is pretty self-explanatory.
3. Taste: On a scale of 1-10. Taste includes smell, taste, mouth-feel, you get the idea.
4. Cost: Cost is actual, and preferably by individual unit. It will be like the Shoestring Savings in My Cookbooks. So useful!
What Products and Recipes Will Be Tested & Compared?
The first product in the series (today!) is Gluten-Free Soft Corn Tortillas. I also plan to test and compare different gluten-free crackers, cookies, breads of different sorts, and plenty of other kinds of gluten-free baked goods. Even boxed cake mixes!
Most of the recipes for the homemade versions will be on the blog. Some will be in My Cookbooks. Please don't yell at me when they're only in cookbooks. If you prick me, do I not bleed?
La Banderita Corn Tortillas are the specific reliably gluten-free brand I chose for this first entry in the series. There, frankly, aren't as many reliably gluten-free brands of soft corn tortillas as I would like. Most, like Mission Tortillas, for example, are at real risk of cross-contamination despite having no gluten ingredients. La Banderita is somewhat widely-available, at least near me and in some regular grocery stores, and is of relatively good quality. I use them frequently, and they're often pressed into service as my lunch. I roll them with some turkey and cheese, spread some hummus on 'em, then put them in the toaster oven. They fare pretty well, although you can see that they peel when you roll them and again when you heat them. Whether I use the microwave, the oven or the toaster, as soon as I roll & heat them, the very top layer peels off. I really like how they stay soft, though, and that they have a nice long shelf life in the refrig. There is a faint glue-like aftertaste, though, that I can't ignore (and believe me I've tried). And you can't beat the cost with a stick. 7¢ a tortilla!
Gluten-Free Fresh Corn Tortillas are a true favorite or mine, as they are little more than gluten-free masa harina corn flour (a precooked cornmeal), salt and water. I can even sometimes find Bob's Red Mill GF masa harina in my regular grocery store, which certainly makes things easier. And you can't beat the taste and quality of freshly-made corn tortillas. But instead of opening up a package, you're stuck with the 15 minutes or so that it takes to reconstitute the masa and roll out and cook the tortillas. It's a super easy recipe, but it's a recipe. Not a package to open. And since gluten-free masa harina is a bit of a specialty product, this is one of those rare instances where making the product yourself is more expensive (even twice as expensive!) than buying it. Keep in mind, though, that each fresh, homemade corn tortilla is thicker and more substantial than each packaged soft corn tortilla, so it's something of an unbalanced comparison.
Here's the summary:
My Make It … Or Buy It? GF Soft Corn Tortillas Conclusion
BOTH. Make it & buy it. Make it sometimes, when you really want your tortillas to take center stage in a meal and you have the time to fuss a wee bit. Buy it often, to have on hand for a quick snack, breakfast burrito and/or lunch wrap. It has its limitations, but it also has its place. I always have a package in my refrig, and I'm always glad I do. But I also always have a stock of GF masa harina. Even raw, it just smells … like Mexico to me.
So, what do you think? Is this going to be a useful series? If there is a particular product you'd like to see in this series, let me know! I really think this will be a useful tool, to help you save money and shop smart.
Love,
Me
P.S. If you haven't yet, please pick up a copy of both of My Cookbooks! I can't keep the blog going without your support!
Victoria says
I will say, if you’re lucky enough to have access to a Mexican grocery where they make the tortillas onsite on dedicated equipment, you really can’t do better! They’re cheaper than the ones you’d get at a grocery and they are warm and yummy and amazing and…hmmmmm, I think I am having TACOS tonight.
JDTilton says
This will be a useful blog series for me. I have both your cookbooks (you’re my celiac daughter’s food GODDESS!) and I would like to try all your recipes but sometimes it’s easier to just buy simple items like corn tortillas. I really liked this particular comparison because my kid goes through tortillas like crazy and it appears to be cheaper to just have a metric ton on hand for the 14 year old bottomless pit. Thanks.
JDTilton says
This will be a really useful blog series to me. I have both your cookbooks (you are my celiac daughter’s food GODDESS) and I would like to try all your recipes but sometimes it’s easier to buy simple things like corn tortillas. I liked the comparison on this particular item because my kid consumes these things like crazy and it appears to be cheaper to just keep store bought packages of them on hand. Thanks.
Mellowmood326 says
Also, try reheating corn tortillas in a damp paper towel in the microwave for 5 seconds. They steam nicely and stay together well for me.
Mellowmood326 says
Great info. Thank you for your comparison. I am looking forward to picking up some masa harina.
Marie says
I love your new series.
Marie says
I’ve got your first cookbook and the new one on the way. Can’t wait to
receive it. Corn tortillas are my bread. Can you fry the homemade ones
for tostadas? I grew up on them and usually use Mission (guess I won’t
any more).
Thank you for your website and cookbooks. My knowledge
of gluten free things has grown leaps and bounds because of your
willingness (and gift) to help those with Celiac.
Marie Butts
Einsfaith says
Thank you for this posting! my husband and i have been debating over this very subject… As I am lucky enough to have the prep time, we have been working our way through plenty of your recipes. And I am delighted to read this new make or buy it series.THANK YOU!!
Shawnwolf says
I am still getting the muffins and breads down so I think it will be awhile before I attempt tortillas but I do enjoy reading your new blog series. As your favorite fan and supporter I would love to see you post something about pie crust. The brand I use is Red Mill pastry flour and I just add a few ingredients and I haven’t attempted to make my own from scratch yet. I would love to hear your ideas on make it or buy it!
Davina S says
loving this as well.. i do usually enjoy making stuff myself, but, we’re now doing foster care and with a 3.5 year old running me crazy, i really don’t have a whole lot of time for much of anything.. so any short cuts i can take (and that definitely includes buying instead of making a lot of times these days..) are wonderful. I haven’t seen that tortilla brand around here though, so can’t compare to that one.. i will say the ones i’ve found really are kinda terrible when it comes to holding together at all.. i don’t mind pealing.. i do mind crumbling to bits.. i haven’t yet tried my hand at tortillas.. maybe one day i will have some time to try it..
Nicole Hunn says
Crumbling to bits is totally unacceptable, Davina! Rolling out tortillas is actually very easy and not time-consuming at all (except when you compare it to opening up a premade package of them!), so whenever you feel like you can find the time, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. :)
xoxo Nicole
Kpwinslow says
This is a great idea for new series. I usually take the quick way out and purchase things. However, I am trying to eat healthier. I think this blog will inspire me to go to the kitchen instead of the supermarket!
Have both of your cookbooks. Love them.
Kpwinslow says
This is a great idea for new series. I usually take the quick way out and purchase things. However, I am trying to eat healthier. I think this blog will inspire me to go to the kitchen instead of the supermarket!
Have both of your cookbooks. Love them.
Shawnwolf says
I am still getting the muffins and breads down so I think it will be awhile before I attempt tortillas but I do enjoy reading your new blog series. As your favorite fan and supporter I would love to see you post something about pie crust. The brand I use is Red Mill pastry flour and I just add a few ingredients and I haven’t attempted to make my own from scratch yet. I would love to hear your ideas on make it or buy it!
gfshoestring says
Oh are you in luck, Shawn. I have a recipe for a basic pastry crust here on the blog, along with a video where I show you how-to roll out gluten-free pie crust. There are recipes for pies on the blog and in the first cookbook, and I will be posting more pie recipes are we march toward Thanksgiving. I’ve got you covered!
xoxo Nicole
gfshoestring says
Thanks, Kp! Making things at home usually does lead to healthier eating, mostly because of the lack of preservatives when you make it yourself, and because you are simply more mindful of eating. Plus, it saves money and can actually be quite enjoyable! A well-placed store-bought addition is nice to have on hand, too, though, to round out a meal. Thanks so much for picking up a copy of both cookbooks! I really appreciate the support!
xoxo Nicole
Jessica says
Your homemade tortillas are beautiful (and this series is a great idea).
A side note–what am I missing about Mission tortillas? Rather, what about them makes you more concerned about them than the La Banderita brand? Mission’s are made on dedicated lines per their website. Just wondering if there’s some conflicting info that I’m missing!
Love your site!
gfshoestring says
Hi, Jessica!
On the Mission website, it says that their corn tortillas are made in a shared facility with wheat tortillas. I don’t see anything about dedicated machinery or not, just the info about the shared facility.
Glad you’re into the series!
xoxo Nicole
Donna says
Nicole, I love your recipers, but am finding it very difficult to read them on your website. I have to copy and paste to an email document, then change the color to black in order to read the text. The yellowish color is virtually impossible for me to see, and the light blue is difficult. Could you please use a darker color–dark blue or black–for the text, at least for the recipes? Those of us with older eyes or other eye problems would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.
Donna says
Nicole, I love your recipers, but am finding it very difficult to read them on your website. I have to copy and paste to an email document, then change the color to black in order to read the text. The yellowish color is virtually impossible for me to see, and the light blue is difficult. Could you please use a darker color–dark blue or black–for the text, at least for the recipes? Those of us with older eyes or other eye problems would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.
Davina S says
loving this as well.. i do usually enjoy making stuff myself, but, we’re now doing foster care and with a 3.5 year old running me crazy, i really don’t have a whole lot of time for much of anything.. so any short cuts i can take (and that definitely includes buying instead of making a lot of times these days..) are wonderful. I haven’t seen that tortilla brand around here though, so can’t compare to that one.. i will say the ones i’ve found really are kinda terrible when it comes to holding together at all.. i don’t mind pealing.. i do mind crumbling to bits.. i haven’t yet tried my hand at tortillas.. maybe one day i will have some time to try it..
gfshoestring says
Crumbling to bits is totally unacceptable, Davina! Rolling out tortillas is actually very easy and not time-consuming at all (except when you compare it to opening up a premade package of them!), so whenever you feel like you can find the time, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. :)
xoxo Nicole
gfshoestring says
I’m sorry you are having a hard time, Donna, but I have already asked my designer to darken both texts and don’t plan to darken them any further. If you are having trouble seeing the recipe itself, I would suggest clicking ‘print,’ and either printing it out or just viewing it that way. If you are able to, I would also suggest switching your browser to Google Chrome. The type renders amazingly well in Chrome.
Nicole
RebeccaLB says
I adore fresh corn tortillas! I only use the store bought ones when I can drown them in sauce and shove them in the oven. I keep mada harina on hand all the time and use it to make tortillas (yes I have a press) and to make Salvadoran pupusas. Picture thick corn tortillas stuffed with cheese, beans, veggies or meats or any combination of them. I make these ahead and then freeze them – they microwave beautifully.
gfshoestring says
I love pupusas, Rebecca! I have a recipe here on the blog that I posted ages ago, and it’s a go-to recipe at my house. I love the versatility of masa harina!
xoxo Nicole
Jenn says
I vote make them, because your recipe rocks :)
gfshoestring says
Thanks, Jenn! :)
xoxo Nicole
Nicole Hunn says
Thanks, Jenn! :)
xoxo Nicole
Babsbakie says
A consideration would be if the masa harina is non-GMO…..
Same with purchased corn tortillas…
That would tip the scale for me in favor of non-GMO
Et says
I think this is a Great blog! I’ve been struggling to find good gluten free products in my local stores and when I do, I often wonder if it would have been better if I tried to make it myself. Well, now you have answered the question for me!! Thanks so much :-)
Et says
I think this is a Great blog! I’ve been struggling to find good gluten free products in my local stores and when I do, I often wonder if it would have been better if I tried to make it myself. Well, now you have answered the question for me!! Thanks so much :-)
gfshoestring says
Thanks, Et! I hope to be able to answer that question in this series. My default has historically been to assume that it is always better to make it yourself, but I expect to find out that that is not always the case!
xoxo Nicole