Tamales, anyone?

[buddyleebaby]

I think I've been set up.
MIL's boyfriend is Mexican. On Epiphany we followed one of his traditioss. There is a big wreath shaped sweet bread and hidden inside are three kings. If you get one in your piece, you have to throw a party on February 2nd and make Tamales. Or at least that's what they told me, lol.
Guess who got the king?
I have no idea how to make tamales, Mexican style or otherwise. Anybody have a recipe? Where do you buy the leaves?
I need to practice a few times.
TIA!

[smallestangel]

Wow! :) From what my mom tells me, tamales are very labor intensive and take a long time. She used to make them with her mom and sisters. But my mom is pretty old school, so maybe others have faster, more modern recipes.

Is there a Mexican community in your area? I live near Detroit and they have a great Mexican Town. It's tradition for us to have them at Christmas time, and for years now we've always just ordered them from one of the restaurants/bakeries there. That way you can also order a variety. For example, we'll usually get a dozen each of regular, hot, and sweet tamales.

An area like that would also be the spot to get supplies if you did decide to make them. They'd have the masa, corn husks, etc... I'd also inlist some family/friends and make a production line. :)

ETA: I'll ask my mom for some recipes in the morning and post them for ya.

Amanda

[bostonsmama]

My DH (who is part Mexican) and I made tamales a couple weeks ago and they turned out great! I can't wait to make them again (as we still have left over corn husks and harina masa).

The corn husks and masa mix were available at our local grocery store, but depending on how much of a "white" neighborhood you live in you might have trouble finding it. Check the yellow pages for Mexican/Ethnic food stores and call around. Before I knew our local chain had the stuff I called quite a few places and my limited Spanish served me well.

Me: "Hola! Abierto manana? Y Ã que hora?"
Them: Si...something, something...ocho
Me: "Ok, Tiene harina masa?"
Them: Que?
Me: "harina masa...para tamales."
Them: Oh, claro que si. Si.
Me: "Okay...gracias! A la manana."

If you can't find a store, there are online sites that sell the mix (masa flour)...Meseca is a good brand. In spanish it's "Masa Instantanea de Maiz." We used an authentic recipe (minus the lard...yes it can be done and not taste bad), used the meat of a whole 5lb chicken I roasted in the oven w/ olive oil & spices, marinated it in green enchilada sauce and tomatilla salsa (10oz each), spread the prepared masa on the warm-water soaked corn husks and put a scoop of meat mix in the middle and put a pimento-stuffed manzanilla olive in the center of that, then rolled it up and steamed them.

I believe this is the link to the recipe I used and the process. Email me with any other Q's. But I know some other mamas also have some great recipes for them.
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=37&topic_id=268060&mesg_id=271196&page=

Larissa
***Cheers! Here's to better luck in 2006!***

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."
-James Baldwin

[daniele_ut]

I would call my co-worker's mother who regularly Fed-Exes us Tamales from Chicago, LOL!

Seriously, though, we have a large Mexican community here and there are lots of mexican groceries and restaurants that sell freshly homemade tamales. I would probably be so stressed about doing it wrong that I would go that route!

[buddyleebaby]

Me: "Hola! Abierto manana? Y Ã que hora?"
Them: Si...something, something...ocho
Me: "Ok, Tiene harina masa?"
Them: Que?
Me: "harina masa...para tamales."
Them: Oh, claro que si. Si.
Me: "Okay...gracias! A la manana."

LMAO!

I have masarepa in my cupboard, which is the same thing.
I'm going to have to search for the corn husks, though. Or maybe substitute platano leaves.

[urquie]

i was surprised that the deli at our local fred meyer makes better tamales than our favorite mexican restaurant. just throwing out a crazy idea...

[bostonsmama]

That's not crazy at all! Trader Joes, as I just found out, has cheese and green chile tamales that are to die for! Especially with kids in the house, I'd be tempted to buy them, too. Not bad at $2.00 for two.

Larissa
***Cheers! Here's to better luck in 2006!***

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."
-James Baldwin

[bostonsmama]

Alicia, if you send me an address, I will mail my spare package of corn husks to you. I can get them any time I want, so no skin off my teeth.

Let me know by email.

Larissa
***Cheers! Here's to better luck in 2006!***

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."
-James Baldwin

[mudder17]

Ooh! These sound great! I saw them before but wasn't sure how could they would be (I've been getting their Green Chile Chicken Burritos). I will definitely have to check these out the next time I'm there!

Eileen

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[cchavez]

Tamales are labor intensive....I would just order them too. hth

[bostonsmama]

On an off-note, I got the chicken and green chile burritos at your recommendation, too! A Trader Joes just opened up in our area. I was so excited I dragged my DH up there (all 45 minutes) and we got $75 worth of stuff! I had to dig up the Trader Joe's post from the archives...but all the recommendations were wonderful. I'm all about the castille soap, cashew nut butter, tomato basil pizza, tamales, soy nuts, sesame sticks, curry sauce, caramel waffle cookies and basil cubes! We got so much more, but we're waiting to see how it turns out. You all rock!

Oh, Eileen, I'm emailing you about the castille soap. Look for it.
Thanks,

Larissa
***Cheers! Here's to better luck in 2006!***

"Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them."
-James Baldwin

[Saccade]

>Me: "Hola! Abierto manana? Y Ã que hora?"
>Them: Si...something, something...ocho
>Me: "Ok, Tiene harina masa?"
>Them: Que?
>Me: "harina masa...para tamales."
>Them: Oh, claro que si. Si.
>Me: "Okay...gracias! A la manana."
>
>LMAO!
>
>I have masarepa in my cupboard, which is the same thing.
>I'm going to have to search for the corn husks, though. Or
>maybe substitute platano leaves.

Minor point, but the bags I've bought over the years are labeled "masa harina" instead of "harina masa" -- in the future, this might help with shopping...

ETA: yeah, platano leaves work and so do the bamboo leaves that you can buy at Asian markets to make zongzi (Chinese tamales -- also a ton of work but addictive).

Here's a fun link:
http://www.fabulousfoods.com/features/tamales/tamales.html

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[mudder17]

LOL! Guess what, we just went to TJ's and we spent over $100 and I got some of those green chile tamales. :) I can't wait to try it! I also got some more handmade tortillas and made a bunch of steak and pepper burritoes to freeze and a bunch of other yummy stuff.

Oh, and I got your e-mail and I'll answer it as soon as I get the chance.


Eileen

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Kaya's a cousin! 10/1/05, 5lb13oz

[smallestangel]

Well, I talked to my mom yesterday and she just said to tell you to buy them again,lol.

Anyway, I saw this link when I googled making tamales and it looks nice. Very detailed.

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/tamales/Tamale_Recipe.htm


Amanda

[bunnisa]

Just an FYI -- the TJ's tamales are really tasty, but NOT at all authentic! I wouldn't serve them to anyone with any expectation of real tamales.

But I second the suggestion to buy them -- they're SO labor intensive.


Bethany
mom to one and one on the way!
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