Tamales Tamales Everywhere...

smknhotmama · 12-24-2009, 12:55 PM

As I said I've sadly never had a tamale and have, thanks to you kind folks, been thinking of them constantly. How ironic to go on to the NPR site and see the following?

December 24, 2009
Forget the fruitcake and nix the nog. In Texas, it wouldn't be Christmas without tamales.
While shoppers from Washington to Maine swarmed the malls the day after Thanksgiving, many Texans were lining up to order — or make — Christmas Eve tamales. The corn masa-and-meat bundles — individually wrapped in corn husks and then steamed — are part of the traditional Mexican celebration of las posadas, which commemorates Mary and Joseph's search for shelter before the birth of Jesus.
Rhett Rushing, folklorist at San Antonio's Institute of Texan Cultures, said tamales have been traditional Christmas Eve fare for centuries because they're portable, easy to store and inexpensive to make for large gatherings.

Enlarge Katie Hayes for NPR Gina Guereca remixes a bowl of masa, which she purchased from a molina, or mill.

Katie Hayes for NPR Gina Guereca remixes a bowl of masa, which she purchased from a molina, or mill.

Through the years, the preparation of the labor-intensive food became a social event, called a tamalada, as womenfolk from ranches across Mexico and what's now the American Southwest gathered to prepare the Christmas Eve feast.
"By the time the day was over and the tamales were made, the family would be caught up, the arguments resolved, differences aired," Rushing said. "It wasn't just about the masa and the meat. It was the love and the tears."

the rest of the story:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...09&sc=fb&cc=fp

There is also a great audio link on there as well:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...17600740&ps=rs

Merry Christmas ALL!!!

Bogus Chezz Hawg · 12-24-2009, 01:00 PM

And to think I thought they were just good eats!

Merry Christmas!

landarc · 12-24-2009, 01:06 PM

I thought Shawn had gone crazy and decided to make something she has never made the day before Christmas.

Divemaster · 12-24-2009, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landarc

I thought Shawn had gone crazy and decided to make something she has never made the day before Christmas.

Why not, that's what tops off the stress level 'Just Right'... lol

Ron_L · 12-24-2009, 01:36 PM

Nice article! Thanks, Mama!

Paulmark · 12-24-2009, 01:52 PM

Merry Christmas to you and your too. I know you can make them Shawn. Mine came out fine the first time, so I know you can too.

mgwerks · 12-24-2009, 11:53 PM

But remember, they're not only just for Christmas... I gobble 'em when I can!

12-24-2009, 12:55 PM	#1
smknhotmama is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-02-09 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Tamales Tamales Everywhere... As I said I've sadly never had a tamale and have, thanks to you kind folks, been thinking of them constantly. How ironic to go on to the NPR site and see the following? December 24, 2009 Forget the fruitcake and nix the nog. In Texas, it wouldn't be Christmas without tamales. While shoppers from Washington to Maine swarmed the malls the day after Thanksgiving, many Texans were lining up to order — or make — Christmas Eve tamales. The corn masa-and-meat bundles — individually wrapped in corn husks and then steamed — are part of the traditional Mexican celebration of las posadas, which commemorates Mary and Joseph's search for shelter before the birth of Jesus. Rhett Rushing, folklorist at San Antonio's Institute of Texan Cultures, said tamales have been traditional Christmas Eve fare for centuries because they're portable, easy to store and inexpensive to make for large gatherings. Enlarge Katie Hayes for NPR Gina Guereca remixes a bowl of masa, which she purchased from a molina, or mill. Katie Hayes for NPR Gina Guereca remixes a bowl of masa, which she purchased from a molina, or mill. Through the years, the preparation of the labor-intensive food became a social event, called a tamalada, as womenfolk from ranches across Mexico and what's now the American Southwest gathered to prepare the Christmas Eve feast. "By the time the day was over and the tamales were made, the family would be caught up, the arguments resolved, differences aired," Rushing said. "It wasn't just about the masa and the meat. It was the love and the tears." the rest of the story: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...09&sc=fb&cc=fp There is also a great audio link on there as well: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...17600740&ps=rs Merry Christmas ALL!!! __________________ [LEFT][SIZE=3][FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=darkred][B]~Shawn~[/B][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/LEFT] [LEFT][FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=black]Super fast Super hot [COLOR=red][B]Red[/B][/COLOR] Thermapen[/COLOR][/FONT][/LEFT] [LEFT][FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=black]Super hot Super Big [COLOR=darkgreen][B]Green[/B][/COLOR] Egg: [I][B][COLOR=darkslategray]Eggamemnon[/COLOR][/B][/I] G[/COLOR][/FONT][FONT=Palatino Linotype][COLOR=black]reek for "working slowly"[/COLOR][/FONT][/LEFT] [LEFT][URL="http://drunkdaily.blogspot.com/"][FONT=Book Antiqua]http://drunkdaily.blogspot.com/[/FONT][/URL] [/LEFT] [LEFT][URL="http://magphoto-sawyer.blogspot.com/"][FONT=Book Antiqua]http://magphoto-sawyer.blogspot.com/[/FONT][/URL][/LEFT]

12-24-2009, 01:00 PM	#2
Bogus Chezz Hawg is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 02-06-09 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	And to think I thought they were just good eats! Merry Christmas! __________________ Jeffro - Lang 60 Patio - Orange Splash-Proof Thermapen - Maverick ET-732 - 2 Weber Kettles

12-24-2009, 01:06 PM	#3
landarc somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-26-09 Location: San Leandro, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I thought Shawn had gone crazy and decided to make something she has never made the day before Christmas. __________________ "perhaps...but then again...maybe not..." careful there son, those ribs are boiling hot... \_\|_/ (='.'=) Here there be bunnies... (")_(")ooo Pacific Rim BBQ Bob's Brew and Que

12-24-2009, 01:36 PM	#5
Ron_L Moderator Join Date: 12-09-04 Location: Chicago 'Burbs Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nice article! Thanks, Mama! __________________ "Ron Rico, Boss. You can call me Captain Ron..." Save The Fatty! FEC-100/BWS Party/Memphis Pro SS/PBC/LBGE X 2/SBGE/Mini BGE/Nomad Pellet-matic/Good-One Model 42/WSM X 2/Cookshack Smokette 008/Weber Performer/Saber Cast 500/Weber Gasser (RIP)/Weber Kettle X 2/Weber Smokey Joe/WGA/UDS/Coffee Roasting Gasser and a pickle Remembering a friend

12-24-2009, 11:53 PM	#7
mgwerks Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-19-09 Location: Bandera, Texas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	But remember, they're not only just for Christmas... I gobble 'em when I can! __________________ Visit my (mostly) cooking blog at texascookin.blogspot.com.

12-24-2009, 01:52 PM	#6
Paulmark is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-05-09 Location: Stockton CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Merry Christmas to you and your too. I know you can make them Shawn. Mine came out fine the first time, so I know you can too.

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