Tamale Makin' Day

The last time I made tamales was in 2019. Those were jalapeno and cream cheese, my favorite. Today I assembled traditional pork tamales with red chili sauce.

If you've been following along, you may remember I spent a few years in Texas. I'm not a huge fan of TexMex, but I developed a liking for Chili Rellenos, Huevos Rancheros, and... TAMALES!

Chili Rellenos
Deep fried stuffed peppers

Huevos rancheros
goopy eggs slathered with salsa roja

Tamales are expensive, so I taught myself to make them from scratch. It's time-consuming, but what a pleasure to take a few out and heat them up for lunch.

So I started with a boneless pork shoulder roast, cut it up in chunks and cooked on low in a slow cooker with water and an onion til it was fall-apart tender (a few hours at least).

After it cooled, I shredded it and added  jar of garlic chili paste I found in the pantry, but be creative and make red chili sauce, or spice it up any way you like. End of day one.  Save the broth! 

Second day I made the masa. It's best to use lard, which I was going to purchase, but remembered I keep some with my soap-making supplies. (hmm time to make  more soon!) Whip  about 2 cups of the lard til fluffy (a long time).

 

Mix 4 C  masa, a tsp of baking powder and Tbsp of salt and add it to the lard, alternating with a cup or so of the saved pork broth and mix to the consistency of peanut butter. You can season it to your liking, such as garlic, herbs, paprika, etc.

Add masa and broth alternately

Looks like peanut butter

 

If a drop of dough floats in water, it's ready. 

Soak the corn husks in hot water til soft.

Now it's ready to assemble.

Dry off a corn husk with a towel. Spread masa evenly onto corn husk. I can't find my masa spreader so I used a spoon. Spread filling over masa and bring the sides together with masa meeting. 

 

Roll and tie. 

Stand them up in a tall pot over a steamer basket, first putting a penny under the steamer basket. If it rattles, add more water. 

Add water til it comes to the bottom of the basket. Cover, boil, then turn low to steam for a couple hours. If the husk releases from the masa after it has cooled, it's done. 

Yummy

Late night snack

Thoreau (edited)

Late at night, I write. This is an entry to Storyworth, a collection of my life stories to eventually be bound.

Who inspires you?

Many people will name their parents or a relative who inspired them, perhaps a teacher, other adult or religious leader who made an impact, who of course are an important influence while growing up. I could name many, but once I reached adulthood my ideology matured.

The first name to pop into my head is Henry David Thoreau, best known for his book Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings,

and his essay “Civil Disobedience”, (originally published as “Resistance to Civil Government”), an argument in favor of citizen disobedience against an unjust state (an essay for another time).

I first learned about Thoreau in High School English class, reading his book Walden. It sounded like a perfect place to live. As a child, I imagined becoming a naturalist, studying the natural world through observation and study of relationships between living things and their environment. I didn’t know it at the time, but that was a precursor of today’s study of climate change and its effect on living plants and animals. While growing up in Port Clinton OH, when I was too young to go out exploring on my own, I would sometimes hang out in the narrow space between 2 garages, protected from the rain and dream about my future being immersed in and studying nature.

Throughout my life I’ve always been drawn to the outdoors and once upon a time dreamed of living off-grid, not depending on anyone and leaving no footprint. It never happened, but I still embrace the concept. The closest I ever lived off-grid was in a 2nd floor apartment on Pattison St in Evans City PA,  surviving with no phone at the time (a challenge for sure). Years later, I lived in a motorhome for 5 years, not specifically off-grid due to technology, but we tried to leave no footprint wherever we went.

I’ve always tried to be self sufficient, canning provisions for winter, sewing, making soap and laundry detergent, preparing food from scratch so I know exactly what ingredients go into a recipe. I’m not always successful, but I try to be conscientious when I shop.

So it all goes back to Thoreau. To anyone who lives the uncomplicated life, leaving minimal footprint, kudos to you.

Someday I'll visit: