Cheers ! to Tamales
when the idea of having a tamale making party came up - i immediately offered up my kitchen. i would love to learn to make an authentic tamale. then new years day became the date - what was i thinking !
well - you start by serving up a big batch of ‘recovery’ tequila punch. silver + gold tequila - orange+grapefruit+lime juices - lots of fruit - topped off with champagne. thankyou rose !
rose brought corn husks ( hojas ) and set them to soaking. she brought the beautiful freshly ground masa from el milagro. moist grainy & essence of corn. she also brought a generation of “tamale making wisdom” to share with us. along with fresh lard and a bit of stock+spice+salt - rose set to mixing……and mixing….and mixing. more tequila punch please !
when the masa was ready (” when a piece stuck to the wrist easily falls off “) - we gathered around the kitchen island for a tamale assembly line - spreading the masa ( ‘not too thick - not too thin’ ) - and filling with a rich venison mixture or a vegetarian mix of poblano+corn+queso. beautiful ! then off to the steamer.
also to be had was black bean soup - tortillas -freshly made - pressed & cooked on the comal - carnitas with a most delish avocado+tomatillo verde sauce - salad of jicama+radish+orange - mexican beer and of course- more tequila punch !
dessert - a while later -was simply a plate of mexican wedding cookies - a rompope ( eggnog) mold ( yes - with gelatin. could have gone either way but consensus was favorable) - and cajeta lollipops ! yum.
the lovely evening continued with guitar playing & singing outside by the fire pit. what a treat ! wrapped in (mexican) blankets & stars hovering above - a good time was had by all.
cheers ! to tamales ! and to good friends ! happy new year !
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