What is 'shortening' in English ?

[Lucycat]

Following on from the 'moral shopping' thread thought I'd have a go at making my own tortillas but the only recipe I can fnd is Mexican and wants to me to use 4tsp of shortening! translation anyone?

or alternatively a recipe!

ta

Is it suet?

Shortening is hard fat like you'd use for making pastry - try Trex, or butter would probably do.

Lard

Lard, I think, or you could use cooking margerine in a block, like Stork or Blue Band. I make my own flour tortillas without it but I'm sure thats what it is

"butter, lard, or other fat, used to make pastry, bread, etc., short. "

This is th edefinition from an online dictionary.

hard white fat - buy vegetable shortnening - trex and the suchlike or use lard.

It's solid fat at room temperature see shortening

White Flora prob your best option?

If you want proper shortning go to www.skyco.com. The brand is Crisco

I used trex (sort of vegetarian lard I guess) when making tortillas in place of shortening, seemed to work ok, get lots of clingfilm though they stick together like buggery unless you have one of those griddle, commal (sp) things that you can do them on straight away

ooh thanks - could have tried an online dictionary myself sounds a bit blurgh, can see why they use the word shortening instead - so much puuurrrtier

oxocube what recipe do you use?