Tamales Essay

Tamales 101 There are many different ways to make tamales. Some come from recipes in cookbooks, others come from traditional recipes that are handed down through generations. Tamales are a custom traditional food served during the Christmas season and other special occasions for the Hispanic multitude. Tamale fillings vary, they can include roasted peppers, shredded pork, chicken, vegetables, and cheese. They are topped off with either a cabbage slaw or any sauce of choice. Friends and family come together for tamaladas, a party-like gathering centered around preparing and feasting on these delicious treats. Several ingredients are necessary depending on the type of filling is being prepared. I will be explaining the most known filling which is the shredded pork with a rich red sauce. First, gather the equipment and ingredients that will be needed to make the shredded pork tamales. A stock pot with a steamer, a large bowl to mix the masa in, a set of measuring spoons, a measuring cup, large bowls, and lastly a pot to soak the corn husks in .These are just the kitchen tools we will be using. An appetizing set of ingredients

The next step is to gather the corn husks and place them in a large bowl with warm water. Cover them up and let them sit for about an hour or until they are soft. Rinse them and pat them dry with a kitchen towel. After the corn husks are out the way , in a large bowl combine the eight cups of MaSeCa Instant Corn Masa Mix, the baking soda, salt and the two cups lard. Make sure the lard is well mixed, then slowly, pour three cups of pork broth into the mixture. Using your hands mix the mixture to form a dough, make sure there is no dry bits of masa left. To see if the dough is kneaded properly, take a small piece of it and drop it in cold water. The piece if ready, should float, if not keep