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Carol Schmidt

Nov 8, 2004, 2:45 PM

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Making tamales the first time

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Our housekeeper is going to help Norma make her first batch of tamales Wednesday. Wish us well!

We went to one of the carnitas storefronts today and bought a kilo of chopped roast pork. We are following Maria's shopping list for the rest. I'll print out all the tamales hints and recipes on this site before then, to thoroughly confuse both Norma and Maria.

Carol Schmidt, smacking her lips already

Caarina12

Nov 9, 2004, 10:50 AM

Post #2 of 9 (861 views)

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] Making tamales the first time

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Congrats to you on your first tamalada! I love making tamales (and eating them of course). My first time making them was a little scary, but once I got the hang of it, it was a breeze.
I read in a Diana Kennedy cookbook once that one of her sources told her that Mexican cooking was "dura pero segura." I have to agree, that Mexican cooking doesn't require a lot of fancy technique, it's just labor intensive!
Mucha suerte!

N2Futur

Nov 10, 2004, 2:39 PM

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Re: [Caarina12] Making tamales the first time

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This coming Saturday is tamale day for us here in Colorado Springs, since we're supposed to have a crappy weekend (weather-wise - rain/sleet/snow) - what better way to spend it than making tamales. Usually takes a full day with hubby's help (filling and wrapping) to make 3 batches - Pork & Red Chile, Pollo Pibil and Sweet Pineapple. Yes, it's a lot of work......

FYI - he brought home a dozen ($15) last week from a mexican woman at work, but decided ours were much better!

Elke
___________________________
"When choosing between two evils, I always like to pick the one I never tried before." - Mae West

Uncle Jack

Nov 10, 2004, 2:51 PM

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Re: [N2Futur] Making tamales the first time

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I bought a dozen at the tianguis today for 60 pesos from the guy down at the bottom of the street at the turn around.......8 beef and 4 pork.

You're right! Patty and I make better ones at home, but it takes all day for us to make 6 or 8 dozen and I'm just getting lazy in my old age.

uj

Carol Schmidt

Nov 11, 2004, 4:33 PM

Post #5 of 9 (803 views)

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] Making tamales the first time

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They came out very good, and we have four meals of four each in the freezer, after a big meal ourselves and sending home a dozen with Maria. Norma made small ones, which seem to be more moist and have less dough per filling. She made a sauce of homemade salsa, crema, and a small amount of Mexican rice she had left over. Much better than anything we've had out.

Do any of you put any seasonings or condiments into the masa? Norma was going to add some canned corn but Maria was a purist.

Carol Schmidt

Uncle Jack

Nov 11, 2004, 5:10 PM

Post #6 of 9 (800 views)

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] Making tamales the first time

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We always use chicken or beef stock in the masa.

Rolly

Nov 11, 2004, 5:43 PM

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] Making tamales the first time

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I really like cooked, mashed sweet potato mixed in the masa and made into a sweel tamal with pineapple and pecan pieces.

Rolly Pirate

Caarina12

Nov 12, 2004, 10:41 AM

Post #8 of 9 (781 views)

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Re: [Carol Schmidt] Making tamales the first time

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In my experience and reading, the keys to good masa are:

having high-quality home-rendered lard. I personally don't use it, but all the "authorities" swear by it. I use a combination of safflower oil with a bit of toasted sesame oil for additional flavor.
broth adds the additional dimension
sufficient salt or the masa is bland
beating the masa to suffciently aerate the masa for lighter tamales. This is where having that Kitchen Aid standup mixer is handy.

Love to hear other's comments!

gbatrucks

Nov 12, 2004, 11:25 AM

Post #9 of 9 (775 views)

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Re: [Caarina12] Making tamales the first time

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We'll be making up a batch this weekend here in Phoenix. I like the recipe in Rick Bayless'"Authentic Mekican" book which uses a red sauce made with pasilla & cascobel chilis. I will try the the saffflower & sesame oil substitute for the lard...And yes, God Bless the KitchenAid.
"The trouble with life is there's no background music."