Tamales

It's been a long week...

On Wednesday I had no small children. It was a gift. The day was dark and overcast and I decided early on to try something I don't normally tackle myself. It isn't a difficult task, per say, just time consuming.

I started with the chuck roast in my fridge. It went into the crock pot early in the morning, about 7 o'clock, with a package of onion soup mix, and then I did some cupboard searching to see what kind of supplies or ingredients I might be missing for the feast. I found a partially used package of crushed red chile from New Mexico (something like this...) and dumped some in a pan of hot water to simmer, but I had no masa and no corn husks, so off Hannah and I went to the Mexican Market in the neighboring town.

By mid afternoon I had a nice piece of beef that shredded easily and a tasty red sauce to stir into it. I realized a little late that my corn husks should soak for about three hours. They were probably in for one and a half. Then I mixed up the dough, found my trusty helper Hannah, and we did the assembly together. It was kind of fun actually and it wasn't long before we filled up the roaster and put them on the stove to steam.

I heard they were very good. My favorite "New Mexican" said they were delicious and my kids have been gobbling them up. I haven't had one yet, my stomach has been off, but we have a bag in the freezer and I'm sure to find one on a plate in front of me before too long.