tamales

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store. Maybe they still have them there. I
would love to find a recipe that might come close to them.
Anyone here make tamales?

I don't have a recipe, not even that big on tamales. But my second wife
was Mexican, and used to make excellent tamales. But it takes all day
to make authentic ones. And of course, authentic ingredients. Best of
luck!

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store. Maybe they still have them there. I
would love to find a recipe that might come close to them.
Anyone here make tamales?

I don't have a recipe, not even that big on tamales. But my second wife
was Mexican, and used to make excellent tamales. But it takes all day
to make authentic ones. And of course, authentic ingredients. Best of
luck!

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store. Maybe they still have them there. I
would love to find a recipe that might come close to them.
Anyone here make tamales?

I don't have a recipe, not even that big on tamales. But my second wife
was Mexican, and used to make excellent tamales. But it takes all day
to make authentic ones. And of course, authentic ingredients. Best of
luck!

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store. Maybe they still have them there. I
would love to find a recipe that might come close to them.
Anyone here make tamales?

I don't have a recipe, not even that big on tamales. But my second wife
was Mexican, and used to make excellent tamales. But it takes all day
to make authentic ones. And of course, authentic ingredients. Best of
luck!

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store. Maybe they still have them there. I
would love to find a recipe that might come close to them.
Anyone here make tamales?

I don't have a recipe, not even that big on tamales. But my second wife
was Mexican, and used to make excellent tamales. But it takes all day
to make authentic ones. And of course, authentic ingredients. Best of
luck!

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store. Maybe they still have them there. I
would love to find a recipe that might come close to them.
Anyone here make tamales?

I don't have a recipe, not even that big on tamales. But my second wife
was Mexican, and used to make excellent tamales. But it takes all day
to make authentic ones. And of course, authentic ingredients. Best of
luck!

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store. Maybe they still have them there. I
would love to find a recipe that might come close to them.
Anyone here make tamales?

The Calif. grocery stores still have those tamales that you remember.
Not only that, you can find tamales at many taquerias and restaurants,
too. I've never made tamales. It's quite a production.

Karen

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store. Maybe they still have them there. I
would love to find a recipe that might come close to them.
Anyone here make tamales?

The Calif. grocery stores still have those tamales that you remember.
Not only that, you can find tamales at many taquerias and restaurants,
too. I've never made tamales. It's quite a production.

Karen

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store. Maybe they still have them there. I
would love to find a recipe that might come close to them.
Anyone here make tamales?

The Calif. grocery stores still have those tamales that you remember.
Not only that, you can find tamales at many taquerias and restaurants,
too. I've never made tamales. It's quite a production.

Karen

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store. Maybe they still have them there. I
would love to find a recipe that might come close to them.
Anyone here make tamales?

The Calif. grocery stores still have those tamales that you remember.
Not only that, you can find tamales at many taquerias and restaurants,
too. I've never made tamales. It's quite a production.

Karen

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store. Maybe they still have them there. I
would love to find a recipe that might come close to them.
Anyone here make tamales?

The Calif. grocery stores still have those tamales that you remember.
Not only that, you can find tamales at many taquerias and restaurants,
too. I've never made tamales. It's quite a production.

Karen

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store. Maybe they still have them there. I
would love to find a recipe that might come close to them.
Anyone here make tamales?

The Calif. grocery stores still have those tamales that you remember.
Not only that, you can find tamales at many taquerias and restaurants,
too. I've never made tamales. It's quite a production.

Karen

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big
fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store.

Where do you live? If you're anywhere near Houston (probably all large
metro areas in TX as well), you can find tamales made by the Texas
Tamale Company (http://www.texastamale.com/) in supermarkets. They're
very good, IMO. Also, many Mexican meat markets and taco trucks around
town sell 'em. And, of course, you can get them at *lots* of Mexican
restaurants.

Mary

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big
fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store.

Where do you live? If you're anywhere near Houston (probably all large
metro areas in TX as well), you can find tamales made by the Texas
Tamale Company (http://www.texastamale.com/) in supermarkets. They're
very good, IMO. Also, many Mexican meat markets and taco trucks around
town sell 'em. And, of course, you can get them at *lots* of Mexican
restaurants.

Mary

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big
fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store.

Where do you live? If you're anywhere near Houston (probably all large
metro areas in TX as well), you can find tamales made by the Texas
Tamale Company (http://www.texastamale.com/) in supermarkets. They're
very good, IMO. Also, many Mexican meat markets and taco trucks around
town sell 'em. And, of course, you can get them at *lots* of Mexican
restaurants.

Mary

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big
fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store.

Where do you live? If you're anywhere near Houston (probably all large
metro areas in TX as well), you can find tamales made by the Texas
Tamale Company (http://www.texastamale.com/) in supermarkets. They're
very good, IMO. Also, many Mexican meat markets and taco trucks around
town sell 'em. And, of course, you can get them at *lots* of Mexican
restaurants.

Mary

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big
fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store.

Where do you live? If you're anywhere near Houston (probably all large
metro areas in TX as well), you can find tamales made by the Texas
Tamale Company (http://www.texastamale.com/) in supermarkets. They're
very good, IMO. Also, many Mexican meat markets and taco trucks around
town sell 'em. And, of course, you can get them at *lots* of Mexican
restaurants.

Mary

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big
fat
tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the ends. We
found them in the grocery store.

Where do you live? If you're anywhere near Houston (probably all large
metro areas in TX as well), you can find tamales made by the Texas
Tamale Company (http://www.texastamale.com/) in supermarkets. They're
very good, IMO. Also, many Mexican meat markets and taco trucks around
town sell 'em. And, of course, you can get them at *lots* of Mexican
restaurants.

Mary

Quoted message said:

When I was a kid in California (a long time ago) We used to get big
fat tamales wrapped in corn husks and paper with string tying the
ends. We found them in the grocery store. Maybe they still have them
there. I would love to find a recipe that might come close to them.
Anyone here make tamales?

If you want to spend all day making tamales, knock yourself out 🙂 This
recipe is from Pam, a sometimes poster and tamale fanatic:

Pork Tamales

4 - 5 lbs pork shoulder roast
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
2 bay leaves
salt to taste
5 guajillo chilies
8 ancho chilies
1/4-cup pork broth
7 cloves garlic
1/2 lb pork lard
1/2 tsp. whole pepper
1/2 tsp. whole comino
salt to taste

Masa (dough):
14.4 lb pkg masa (instant corn tortilla mix)
1 tbsp. baking powder
2 tbsp. salt
2 1/2 lbs pork lard
7 1/2 cups pork broth
12 oz dried corn shucks (these must be soaked in water 1 - 2 hours before
use)

To prepare the filling: Boil the pork shoulder in a large stock pot with
the onion, garlic, bay leaves and salt. When it is well cooked (about 1 hour
ofcooking time), remove the meat from the broth. Reserve broth for later
use. Remove meat from the bones. Discard bones. With a meat grinder, grind
the cooked pork. (If you don't havea meat grinder, mince the meat as finely
as possible with a knife, or grind in a food processor.) To prepare the meat
filling seasoning: Boil the chilies together until tender, about 15 minutes.
Remove and discard the stems, and add chiles to the container of a blender.
Add in the 1/2-cup pork broth and garlic, and puree well (add more broth if
necessary to facilitate blending.) Strain puree through a wire strainer to
extract any seeds. In a spice grinder or molcajete, grind pepper, garlic,
and comino with some salt. Make sure the mixture is finely ground. Set
aside. In a skillet, heat 1/2 lb lard. When melted, add the ground spice
mixture and sauté for 20 seconds. Add in chile puree, and sauté for 2
minutes. Add in ground pork, combining well. Adjust seasonings. Simmer for
10 minutes, then remove from heat. Set aside.

To prepare the Masa: Pour the contents of the package of masa into a very
large bowl (I use a metal turkey roaster pan). Add in the baking powder and
salt. Knead the lard in with your hands. Add in the broth one cup at a time.
You may need a bit more or less broth. The masa is ready when the dough no
longer sticks to your hands, and is smooth and delicate to the touch.

To assemble the tamales: Dry off some of the soaked corn shucks and place a
few within reach. To make a proper tamale, the corn shuck bottom edge should
be around 8 inches wide. Discard those that are too narrow, and tear bits
off of the ones that are too wide. Take a corn shuck, and spread the bottom
2/3rd of the leaf with 3 - 4 tablespoons of masa. Leave a 1-1/2 inch wide
area along one edge free of masa. Spread the masa thinly. Place line of
about 2 tablespoons of the filling, following the direction of the corn
shuck veins, on the spread masa, towards the center of the prepared shuck.
Fold the edge of the prepared shuck over the filling, then roll up towards
the edge of the shuck with no masa. Fold down the top flap. Continue until
all the tamales have been formed. Place tamales in a large steamer basket.
Boil water in the bottom of the steamer. As a top layer, cover the tamales
with extra corn shucks, then with a sheet of plastic wrap. Secure the lid of
the steamer, using foil around the edges of the lid to prevent the escape
ofsteam. Place the steamer over the boiling water. Steam the tamales for
about 40 minutes, until the masa is firm. Makes 16 dozen tamales

Note: If you have leftover masa, you can make tamales out of refried beans
instead of meat. Or concoct your own filling using leftover cooked chicken,
beef, pork, or venison.

Jill's NOTE: I steamed them over the leftover broth from boiling the meat
after adding broth as needed to make the masa dough. I made my tamales with
a 6 lb. beef chuck roast and I shredded, rather than ground, the cooked
meat.

Jill