TAMALES

These are the tamales my family has been making since i can ever remember. We usually make them together every year as a family all the women get together gossip and make tamales. Since being away from my family for so long i do it on my own every year in (usually) November. I usually make about 200 of them by myself which as least a full days work for me. Its tiring but i enjoy it. Last year i made them for all my husbands co workers. They loved them thats when they decided i really am hispanic lol.

INGREDIENTS

1-2 bags of California chilis ( i usually find them by the spices they are dry and red, any mexican store should sell them as well)

1 bag of masa mix or prepared masa ( the masa mix is in a bag like flour, depending where you live you might be able to find some stores that sale the masa already made just ask :))

lard ( if you are making the masa from the mix only)

1 roast

Corn Husk

Tamala Pot

Directions:

Make the roast as you normally would season to taste. I usually put mine in the crockpot the day before and let it cook all day so its ready the next morning for me to use.

take the chilis open them and devain and seed them.

Soak the corn husks and clean out the red stringy stuff i dont know what its called lol.

Boil the chilis till tender. Put chilis in the blender i always add a couple cups of the broth from the roast but you can also add the water they were boiled in. Blend really well till it makes like a sauce. Pour into a strainer/colander to get rid of the excess skin from the chilis.

Shred up the roast and add the chili sauce to it. Mix up really well as to evenly coat the meat.

open the corn husk and with a butterknife or spoon whatever your comfortable with spread the masa on the bottom/big half of the corn husk. Fill with the Meat. Roll the tamale then fold the top part down.

Put water at the bottom of the pot, put the little crate back on at the bottom of the pot then place a bowl in the center of it. Lean the tamalas on the bowl in a circle and just keep piling them up. Put on the stove and let cook for 2-4 hours depending how much you make. You will need to check them after 2 hours to see if the masa is done you will be able to tell if it is like bread or not.

viola! Tamales

i will post additional pictures soon of the process

Note: You can use other stuff than just meat you can use beans, cheese pretty much anything you think might sound good inside. You can use a beef or pork roast :)