DIY Guy and I grew up in the same town in Northwest Indiana.
In the town of Hessville, the City of Hammond … in the “Region” — near the Indiana Harbor (or as we referred to it: “The Harbor”) — which is near Gary, Indiana (think Michael Jackson) — and…near to the Steel Mills.
Both our dads worked at the Steel Mills — or the “Mills” or “the Mill”. DIY Guy worked at the Mill too — during the summers while in college. He was a janitor. Being a janitor in the Mill is, well, an experience. The Steel Mills were the major employers in the Region.
Jean Shepherd is from the Region too —
he wrote a story you might recognize – A Christmas Story.
Shepherd wrote other stories about growing up in the Region too.
There are many benefits of growing up in the Region — one of those benefits are the amazing Mexican restaurants found there. Real Mexican restaurants — Like El Taco Real and Casa Blanca (some of our favs). My dad would occasionally stop on a Friday after work and bring home bags of tacos from the Harbor on Friday nights. They were always soft flour tacos.
Flour tortillas. Yum. Trouble is — once you’ve had a homemade flour tortilla from the Region — nothing else can compare from the stores.
Today I got a hanker’n for homemade tortillas. Why I waited so long to make them, I have no idea. So easy. So good.
So versatile too.
The tortillas are yummy for dessert too, a little butter — cinnamon — sugar.
Fellow “Region Natives” — I think there are a few of you who read this — share your your memories from the Region. You know…like….the sudden smell of the oil refineries in the air…then the temperature dropping about 15 degrees. First the stink…then run for your jacket — even in the middle of summer.
Someday we should take our kids to the Region — to experience the Mexican food, the fragrant air, the beaches and dunes (they have been there).
I must go eat a tortilla now….