You Don't Wanna be Between Michelle & a Tamale

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

So says Barry. YIKES! Is there a couch he can sleep on in the residence quarters?

[Deleted]

What is a tamale?

I know the taco.
I know the burrito.
I even know the Challupa.

But what is a tamale?

[cme1201]

Mixture of many ingrediants, wrapped in (normally) a corn husk, baked or grilled, occasionally boiled.

Damn fine eating.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Mmmm.... fresh guacamole, fresh salsa ... and carne asada tacos for me.

[ugonow]

Mixture of many ingrediants, wrapped in (normally) a corn husk, baked or grilled, occasionally boiled.

They are usually steamed. The masa would burn otherwise.

[vonnie6200]

Put the tamale in a bowl and cover it with chili - very tasty

[cme1201]

Depends, I have a neighbor who cooks his on the grill (very low heat) for about an hour, amazing what you can do with soaked corn husk.

[Tennesseer]

palmbeachpaul-everyone so far is in agreement tomales are delicious.

Maybe you could start a business selling tomales. This could be your first business investment-it's for sale. Just change the name and address:

[Deleted]

I'm SO lucky to have MexAmericans in my family. My daughter's mother-in-law brings us fresh homemade tamales all the time, and they are delicious. They cook them traditional, with a whole green olive right in the middle of each tamale. Don't know what that means.. maybe I will look it up.

As for Michelle-- I'm betting she sleeps wherever she wants and if he doesn't like it he can get a hotel room.

[marshabar1]

I have never tasted a tamale I liked.

I've made them and it is a big deal. They are very special to Mexicans, I think maybe they represent baby Jesus or something like that.

You mix fine ground meal from lye treated dried corn with lard and meat broth to make a creamy paste. Spread it on a corn husk, top with some meat simmered in a mole' sauce which can contain up to 20 different ingredients or more. They are filled with any number of ingredients depending on where you're from. There are even sweet ones with fruit flavored corn masa (meal) in hot pink filled with pineapple or guava paste.

I think they are heavy because of the masa and lard. Most have too much masa and too little filling. The masa tastes better before it's steamed, softer, but it isn't good for you.

Can't imagine a health conscious person like Michelle Obama enjoying these sodden bricklets.

[Deleted]

People go on about how fit Michelle is, but she awlays looks kind of chunky to me... maybe I don't have my TV filters set properly for Obamarama viewing..


My in-law tamales are great- thinner skin, stuffed with spicy shredded high quality beef. SO good.

[marshabar1]

I'm nuts. I keep tasting the things. Thinking I'll find one I like. Hasn't happened yet though. I'm amazed how many people sell tamales in grocery parking lots, on sidewalks, vacant lots, roadside wide spots.

I've thought if I wanted a hobby and a little extra income I could set up a donut stand. Couple fryers, I'm in business. Suppose I'd attract some COPS???

[sesfw]

Tamales. ahhh, the traditional Christmas Eve meal in our home. If I can find some good home made ones it's wonderful. Otherwise I'll buy them from Costco, already cooked, and steam them. Top with a good Mexican blend of melted cheese and a good salsa. YUM.

I made tamales just one time and it's too much work for one person. But a half dozen people making several dozen at a time, it's a good fun time.

[ugonow]

We make them about three times a year,and make it a huge project,making enough for the neighborhood. It is very labor intensive. But the rolling is kind of a fun family thing.We turn on the radio,have a few cocktails and chat while rolling all night long.The neighbors love them and are always asking when are we making more.

[Deleted]

So is it like a soft taco?

[ugonow]

Much better. Wish I could give ya one so I could hook you,arch.

[sesfw]

'So is it like a soft taco?'

No, a tamale doesn't have a tortilla. It's a rolled corn meal with a meat filling. The corn meal is a paste and spread on softened corn husks and the filling on top of this. The corn husks with everything on them is rolled and the ends folded in to make a pouch. These are placed in a steamer for cooking.

After cooking they can be put in meal sized numbers and frozen for later eating.

[ugonow]

It takes my wife a full day and night just to make the filling.We like pork the best.She uses 3 different chiles and some mexican seasonings I can't recall.I don't want to learn that end of it. My expertise is in rolling them while drinking beer...and eating them afterwords,of course.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

They are shaped more like a burrito than a taco ... but instead of being wrapped in a flour tortilla, they are wrapped in ground-up cooked corn, and usually wrapped in corn husks.

A tamale or tamal (Spanish: tamal, from Nahuatl: tamalli) is a traditional Latin American dish made of masa (a starchy dough, usually corn-based), which is steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper. The wrapping is discarded before eating. Tamales can be further filled with meats, cheese, vegetables, chilies or any preparation according to taste, and both the filling and the cooking liquid may be seasoned.

Attachments:

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

here's another photo

Attachments:

[marshabar1]

I saw some on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" where the cook made two masa patties between plastic sheets then took top plastic off, place a filling of fresh tomatoes, onions, jalapenos cooked together with a little caldo de pollo along with some queso on top of one patty. Then put the other on top, sealed edges and cooked on the grill. I might go try that. All this tamale talk is getting me ready to try another stinkin' tamale.

The time I make tamales was with a Mexican friend. I asked her to teach me and she said the last person she taught ran home crying! I almost did! Very long process, stewing, shredding, roasting, crushing, blending, beating, thrashing, wrapping, OMG!!!!!!!


Very impressed there are so many tamale makers here!! ;D

[steff]

This message has been deleted.

[thyme4change]

Arch - it is almost like corn bread stuffed with meat - except the masa doesn't set up to be bread like. It is very soft - but has that processed corn taste. They are hard to explain, but I love the things!

[marshabar1]

I like this one better. Seriously, I'm going to go make some tamales now.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

OK, this thread is making me hungry. I hope you're all happy!

[marshabar1]

Couldn't bring myself to make tamales, not even the easy kind. However, I am going to make a tamale casserole for dinner. LOVE that!

[Deleted]

We must all be starving.. for Mexican food.. 2 Mexican foods conversations going on the board!! LOL!!

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I already told my wonderful DH we're going out for Mexican food tonight. HEY! We're stimulating the economy!

[marshabar1]

I'm drooling at the thought of a nice juicy sweet corny tamale casserole.



Which other thread?

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Oh, yum. (The Cinco de Mayo thread)