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Passing the Torch - Again I have always loved tamales, especially the Mexican tradition of making them for special events and times, like Christmas. When I first came to CA I used to purchase them from a local restaurant. Later I moved to a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood and started buying them from a street vendor. Still later I would purchase dozens of them from a local Mexican market. My family grew and my income did not. I figured out that I could make tamales for half of the price. Yes, I may be blond but I can still follow recipes and instructions. I got the recipe, equipment and began a tradition. People were (and still are) amazed that the Italian makes tamales. My BFF, who's parents both immigrated from Mexico, never made them before she joined me for my annual tamale bake. My daughters grew and joined me making tamales and sharing them with their Mexican friends who had never made their own. As they established their own families it became a tradition for us to get together every year and mass produce our tamales. It makes a big mess, is hard work but something we look forward to. I suppose you could call it a tradition now. This year the youngest moved to a new house. Timing put it smack in the middle of all of the holiday stuff. Not good but unavoidable since they found the house they wanted and their condo sold in 2 weeks. works full time and attends college as well as raising 2 young daughters. Her husband is very capable and helps with everything but this was a stressful and demanding time for all. Understandably, she was not able to join in the tamale making this year. My other and I told her we would make her share of the tamales for her and deliver them since both daughters live only a few blocks from each other. Then came a wonderful surprise. My 14 year old granddaughter wanted to join us. She was a real trooper and approached the task with all of her age appropriate energy and enthusiasm, out doing both her aunt and me!!!!! This is one of those times of conflicting emotions. Satisfaction and joy of a job well done in building a family that remains close, still works as a team and actually enjoy each other. Joy that a tradition born of necessity became one of fun and sharing. Pride that my granddaughter is becoming a responsible and amazing young woman who relates well to her elders in an era when this is rare. Yet some sadness that I am getting so old. Yes, the torch has been passed to both younger generation. It may be a job well done but I'm not so sure I want it to be done. Spiritwoman ^i^ |
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It has been a long time since I have had homemade Tamales. I can still remember how good they were!
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I've never been a fan of Mexican food, so I find myself unable to make an interesting comment on this blog. Sorry Spirit. Alfie...
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12/14/2014 10:34 pm |
It has been a long time since I have had homemade Tamales. I can still remember how good they were! Spiritwoman ^i^
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12/14/2014 10:36 pm |
I remember my parents, grandparents and many others fondly so hope that will continue. Spiritwoman ^i^
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12/14/2014 10:38 pm |
I've never been a fan of Mexican food, so I find myself unable to make an interesting comment on this blog. Sorry Spirit. Alfie... Spiritwoman ^i^
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12/14/2014 10:39 pm |
Wonder, fantastic, beautiful, mixed emotions. I wish you many more of them for a very long time!  Spiritwoman ^i^
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12/14/2014 10:41 pm |
Not bad for something that began without intention but then I suppose many traditions do. Spiritwoman ^i^
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12/15/2014 6:01 am |
Hi Spirit: You're so fortunate to have a close family. I've never tasted Mexican food and don't even know what a tamale is. There's a take out restaurant here that sells tacos and burritos and food like that. I don't like spicy food, but maybe I'll go there and try a tamale sometime. I was in my 40s and I'd never tried Caribbean food and didn't think I'd like it, but once I got a taste of curry I can't get enough of it.
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Love tamales, but have to cut back on the spices now. Still takes two days to make, but now I use a pressure cooker to do the pork and let it rest overnight to bring out the flavor, and I use Crisco instead of lard in the masa. Having it as a traditional meal and making it from scratch with a group of family and friends is a great idea. A memory of "I remember when" 
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12/15/2014 4:23 pm |
You do the pork the fast way, I do it the slow way in the crock pot but it's still a situation of make it it the day before and let it sit over night. My daughter and I both gave vegetable shortening a try but couldn't get it right. The best masa I ever had was made with the drippings from making something similar to pork rinds. Spiritwoman ^i^
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12/15/2014 4:25 pm |
I'm familiar with the passing the torch phenomena........I love tamales.......I have a friend who was raised in Mexico who is a superb cook......her spicing skills are heavenly........she can transform black bean soup from just bean soup to nectar of the Gods..........I try but It doesn't work although I'm a good cook and she gives me her spice mixture......her tamales are gone as soon as they hit the table.......as does my sushi.....not complaining..........What does sushi and tamales have in common? besides being work intensive and yummy? They are made with gluten-free grains..........I had to switch from my traditional Scandihoovian Christmas fare heavily dependent on the elasticity of a well-worked gluten strand.................I will persist until I have mastered a tamale that tastes so good that it was worth the effort. Spiritwoman ^i^
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12/15/2014 4:34 pm |
Hi Spirit: You're so fortunate to have a close family. I've never tasted Mexican food and don't even know what a tamale is. There's a take out restaurant here that sells tacos and burritos and food like that. I don't like spicy food, but maybe I'll go there and try a tamale sometime. I was in my 40s and I'd never tried Caribbean food and didn't think I'd like it, but once I got a taste of curry I can't get enough of it. When I lived in Toronto there were no Mexican restaurants that we knew of. A roommate who grew up in the LA area used to request I bring back the basics and make enchiladas every time I visited. Spiritwoman ^i^
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