Monday, December 21, 2009

The weekend before Christmas- Part I


The Tamale Factory
We got together and made tamales on Saturday. This is no easy task let me tell you. It is an old school process. A complete and total labor intensive task. If I could tell you all of the steps that go into making them I would. But I don't. Sorry.
Each one of these corn husks had to be washed and pulled apart.
This is the woman in charge, 76 year old, Grandma Josie.
A little of this helped make manual labor easier.





The hostess, Mom.
The assembly line.

These next two were serious workers.
Mara

Auntie Inez

A few of my friends came to take part in the action.

Sorry Erica, here's your pic. She is my sister-in-law.

Here's her little guy and my little guy. Playing while all the mom's are working. Well, okay; checking each other out. These guys are 6 months apart.
This is what the dad's were doing.



Finally edging towards the end of the pot.

Can you see the steam rising off those things? YUM!!

And the clean-up with a little caffeine help.


This was hard work.


All in all I think we made a few hundred tamales. Everyone got to take some home, there's enough left over for Christmas day. It was a good day; full of fun and good old-fashioned HARD WORK.

Thanks Mom!!

11 comments:

Genn said...

What fun! Last year my family made enchiladas together and it looked somewhat like that. :) Hope you and yours have a happy holiday. You looked so cute in your red apron!

jen@odbt said...

Wow - that is such a great tradition. They look delicious. I am cracking up that the dads are 'watching' Franklin ;)

amanda said...

this made my mouth water!

Tibbetts Fam said...

Please teach me!

Ali said...

Ahhh, it was fun, even though I pretty much watched and ATE!! I have to say they have the be the BEST tamales I have ever eaten. Thanks for inviting me. I had a great time, your family is so fun:-)

Lori said...

Dare I say this, but I have never had a tamale. It looks like a wonderful tradition though, and now I want to try one! :)

Merry Christmas!

Cathy said...

I've only ever had a little red hot tamale! Your pictures are awesome. Is that your brother behind Monkey because their smiles are alike. And is your hubby drinking beer from a sippy cup?! And finally, you look like a model in that picture with your friends! (PS--what do you do with the corn husk...you don't eat it do you?! Quit your laughing.)

Anonymous said...

yum! can i come next year? ha! eat one for me! xo

patty said...

oh, my, girl! this is my family's favorite thing! do you have enough to freeze??! yummEEEE!

Sarah said...

I LOVE tamales for Christmas! When I went to college in New Mexico, the tamale ladies sold out several days before Christmas and I always wanted to be invited to one of these family tamale making soirees!

I don't have the (wo)man power this year to make them, but hope to someday. Thanks for reminding me and for inspiration! Christmas dinner is at my mother-in-law's but maybe I can at least make tamale casserole for Christmas lunch! We'll see!

Best,
Sarah

PS - What kind of tamales did you make? What are your favorite? Mine would definitely be a green chile, probably chicken. But I have a hard time turning down nearly any tamale. Yum.

Christian said...

oh so delicious...tamales are fantastic! i buy them from a family who sits in their car outside the grocery store and sells them...the first time i bought them, i was a little apprehensive, like they might make me sick...after i tasted them, i didn't care...it would be worth it...they are so delicious!