I made 6 dozen tamales today for the very first time

[puerco-bellies]

Chicken and pork. I did most of the prep, but had the puerco-minions help with the assembly line. They came out surprisingly good. I still have enough massa (tamale dough) to make a couple dozen more, and will make green chili and cheese ones tomorrow.

[kentauros]

1. Cool!

:)

I've never seen it done, but know it's quite the process. At one time long ago, I pondered following a recipe for Central American tamales that used banana leaves and didn't have a filling; just masa mixed with kernel corn :)

The chili and cheese ones sound wonderful

[puerco-bellies]

2. When I was a kid I would help my ma, or grandma along with the rest of the family

Tamales were a Christmas thing in my family. This is the first time I "soloed". Funny you mentioned the corn, I'm adding fresh corn to the mixture tomorrow.

[kentauros]

3. I've heard about them being a Christmas thing, too.

Can they be made with fruit, like for a desert?

I love tamales, though they have to be meatless these days. Black bean are one of my favorite kinds.

How well does the masa hold up with corn added to the mix? Seems like that would weaken it too much when you take the corn husk off after steaming...

[puerco-bellies]

5. I am adding the corn as a component of the filling.

Once the tamale has been steamed the massa seems pretty firm.

[SeattleGirl]

4. Ooooooooooh, YUM!!!!

I love tamales!

My dad made them when I was growing up. Silly me. I should have asked him to show me how to make them.

[puerco-bellies]

6. I pulled the recipe off the intertubes

I kind of stuck with it, except for the seasoning for the meat. I used a half dozen of the dried New Mexico Chilies I grew this summer.

Here is the link.

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

[SeattleGirl]

7. Thank you!

I do believe I'll give it a go!

[puerco-bellies]

8. Good luck.

It was easier then I thought it would be, then again Ali and the kids all pitched in to build them. If you are making them by yourself try halving the proportions, let me know how it goes.

[SeattleGirl]

9. I'll probably invite my daughter and son-in-law over to give

them a go.

My daughter's step-mom is Mexican, and she had helped her make tamales before, so she would be a good assistant for me.

[watercolors]

10. same one I found and used!

We are having an international Xmas this year, I'm making tamales, son-in-law Italian, my hubby Finnish, and a few other favorite dishes from various family members. It should be fun and very tasty. Not to mention our own homemade wine!!