Faith and Tate make any occasion fancy! Tonight we gathered to make homemade tamales and watch Vintage: The Winemaker’s Year, which was on PBS last night and all about Virginia wine.
The tamales were so easy despite their process and were so much fun – and delicious!
Jicama for an appetizer
Faith picked up the ingredients at a local Latin store – corn husks and masa cornmeal dough
In the mix:
- 4 cups cornmeal
- 3.5 cups broth (mushroom)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup olive oil
Stuffing flavors!
Assembly!
We stacked the tamales into a metal colander (because we don’t have a steamer basket!) and steamed them over boiling water in a large pot for 30 minutes.
They were delicious!
On the side we sauteed the rest of the collards from the stuffing
And made a big green salad with the leftover black bean filling and Garlic Gold vinaigrette and goat cheese!
Given our choice of movie, it only felt right to have a little Virginia wine. Sadly all we had in stock was a Rose from Jefferson Vineyards.
However it ended up going pretty well with the meal!
For dessert, Faith made these coconut oil truffles – the recipe is on her blog!
Two landed right onto my tongue!
Vintage was beautifully made and certainly made me appreciate the effort that goes into a bottle of wine. We all agreed we couldn’t WAIT for springtime when we can go out on wine picnics and all of the outdoor events start up again!
Goofballs!
Check out the headshots I did for Dr. Tate today for his business!
Tomorrow is super-duper packing day. Our flight leaves at 6AM on Saturday, so we have to pack it all in – literally! – tomorrow.
Montana [and snow and ice and bears and Moose Drool], here we come!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
I’ve never had a tamale and every time I see one, I am reminded how deprived I am!
Paige @Running Around Normal says
I feel very ignorant asking this…but do you actually eat those corn husk things? The actual tamales (skins?) themselves? I’ve no idea. I’m a bad Mexican food eater…
Kath says
Nope, you peel them off and eat the inside!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
My host family fed me so many tamales when I was in Mexico studying abroad. I liked the sweet ones, o’course.
Nice head shots, Kath!!!
Maryann says
Dinner looks so fresh and delicious! Dessert too. I actually saw Jicama at the store and contemplating buying it but didnt know what to do with it!
Chelsea @ Strawberry Sweat says
I had a tamale for lunch today! Granted, it was from the frozen section of Trader Joe’s, but just this afternoon, I was wondering how to make one from scratch. Is there a recipe or website you looked to for guidance on how to make them??
Kath says
Faith did the research – but they really were as easy as they seem here
Michele @ Healthy Cultivations says
I’ve never seen tamales made until now. Interesting!
Sarah (Sarah Learns) says
after seeing the tamales on your blog and on the fitnessista’s recently i am challenging myself to make them at some point this year. they look so good!
Dorry says
I love homemade tamales! Being from Texas, my husband got used to making his own Mexican food when he lived in London several years ago, so masa is a staple in our kitchen. He makes the best homemade tortillas.
Christin@purplebirdblog says
Tamales rock. I love having a Hispanic roommate because her mom hooks it UP! 🙂
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
I grew up on tamales. There a tradition in my culture. I love them 🙂
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
Have fun in Montana!
Vanessa says
I frickin’ LOVE tamales!!!! Those look SO good. At work some of the latin ladies bring homemade tamales sometimes.. heaven!! Love jicama too.. So good as a slaw!
The Peanut Butter Addict says
Those tamales look delicious! 🙂 It’s funny because I was teaching my ESL class about cooking recipes today and we went through the process of tamales, although I love the substitutions you guys made for yours!
Lauren says
I’m having a serious craving for mexican food now! I never really like tamales but yours look delicious!
Maryea @ Happy Healthy Mama says
Ah, authentic tamales. I miss those.
Char says
That’s such a pretty label on the wine bottle.
xoxo
carlee says
I LOVE TAMALES! I have never attempted to try them though bc people always tell me how hard they are to make!
Forget them! LOL
Christine says
Ahh local wine! I 100% approve!
Stacy @ Every Little Thing says
I love the husks on tamales! Awesome photos. The head shots look great!
Katy (The Singing Runner) says
I’ve never had a tamale but they look AMAZING! 😀
Madeline says
I have only had tamales once – at the Farmers Market, soo good! Would love to make them sometime soon!
Kat says
Wow those tamales look tasty. I’ve never had tamales but now I really want to try them
Erin @ Shortcut to Bliss says
Those tamales are making me super home sick for Texas!!! I am going to have to do some research and make them*
Gina says
Mmmm, never had a tamale. I always thought you ate the corn husk and the thought was so unappealing!
Cathy B. @ Bright Bakes says
grew up with tamale-making “aunts”…and I’ve been longing to tackle them myself…love the new twist you put on the filling for these!
love,
cathy b. @ brightbakes
Heidi - apples under my bed says
I’ve never had tamales! I’ve only heard of the saying “hot tamale” 🙂 looks delicious!
Heidi xo
L says
Owning a camera, does not make you a photographer.
Jessica says
Being on the internet, is the only way you would be impolite/brave enough to say something like this. No one forces you to look at her photographs.
missy says
commenting anonymously, does not make you worth a reply.
Alaina says
I love tamales!! I bought some at Target and they taste just like what I had in Mexico. Definitely a favorite dish. 🙂
I’m going to have to check out those truffles that Faith made!
Ashley says
Tamales are one of my favorite things everrrrr. I just LOVE the flavor + texture of them….mmmmm
Laura (On the Threshold of Greatness) says
I must see this!!!! I adore Virginia and love that our wines are getting the recognition they deserve!
Hannah says
Oh wow, I’ve never had tamales! They look amazing!
megan says
So envious of your Great Harvest affiliation! I visit the one close to me a few times a week. SO DELICIOUS and the nicest people!
Megan says
I may not have made tamales, but I made a fantastic and super easy potato soup — recipe on my blog!
Justeen @ Blissful Baking says
those tamales look delicious! what a great meal!
The Robertsons of Mumbai says
I am just beside myself over how easy this looks! I would sell a kidney for some tamales right now! Been years! Thank you for showing us how it is done! Now, how do I score an invite to Tamales Night, Part II?!
Safe travels!
Gill (snaxandthecity) says
Woah tamales look really good – I’ve seen them on a few blogs recently but had no idea what they actually are! There is pretty much no Sth American restaurants in London at all 🙁
I’ll have to get cookin’!
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
I’ve never had a tamale! They look delish.
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
Mmm…tamales. I’ve never had one, but they sound (and look) delish! 😀
Katie says
LOVE HOW YOU SHOWED THE STEPS ON THIS RECIPE WITH THE WORDS ON THE PICS! I think you should do that more! I like the way it looks! The meal looks amazing, the wine does even more, I can never pass up a bottle of good wine : )
Hope you have a great Friday and safe trip to Montana tomorrow morning! How exciting the trip will be!!!
stacey-healthylife says
Nice dinner idea and something totally different. The tamales look so good. I’ve never had them before. But yours look healthy and delicious.
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Looks like a great night Kath! Dinner looks delicious!
Stephanie @cookinfanatic says
I made tamales for the first time on Sunday and they were so good!! Love your filling ideas too. I made my masa w/ veg broth and butter then topped with cheese & roasted poblano. Mmmm.
http://cookinfanatic.wordpress.com/2011/01/02/total-tamale-success/
Meagan says
For some reason I never knew that you could eat the corn husk part of a tamale. I don’t know why. Maybe because it seems so tough and indigestible? Hmm.
Hope says
I love Mexican food so those tamales look delicious! Have a safe flight! I can’t wait to see pictures from Montana!
Marina says
Tamales intrigue me, it all looks really delicious!
Have a safe trip!
Kara says
The only time I’ve ever had a tamale, I peeled off the outside and just ate the stuffing. I didn’t know the outside was edible! 🙂
MaryBe says
Ha I’ve never had a tamale either because I wasn’t sure of the whole ‘do you eat the outside’! Glad I’m not alone! They look great.
Erica says
I was glad to see others ask about eating the outside of a tamale, not I don’t feel so doofus-y! Haha! Have a great trip!
Jess says
I LOVE tamales! Have fun on your trip!
alana (at) the food says
in mexico a few weeks back i was on a SEARCH for tamales…i found em…wasn’t dissapointed! the texture is like nothing else…
sami says
that looks totally intimidating to me…cooking those tamales! does that make me a loser of a foodie? haha.
ps- is dr. tate single?! lol.
xo.
faith @ gracefulfitness says
Nope, he’s married…to me!
(Yep, I got myself a HOT husband :))
Sarah @ See Sarah Graduate says
Looks like a fab dinner!
And safe travels to Montana! Can’t wait to see what you guys get into there! 🙂
Camille says
Tamales seem to a blogger thing of late! I have been craving them like mad 🙂
Robyn @ Frugal 'n' Fit! says
Safe travels! I look forward to reading about your snow-filled journey 🙂
And I know this is unsolicited, but I am offering my opinion anyway lol My favourite Dr. Tate head shot is the middle one in the bottom row. Very professional!
Kath says
Ha – appreciated!
Melomeals: Vegan for $3.33 a Day says
those tamales look perfect. YUM!!
Dee says
Oh my gosh! These tamales look incredible! Actually the whole meal looks so good! Happy Packing!
Michelle @ Turning Over a New Leaf says
Wow, I must really take for granted my location. We can get masa (which is technically what you have there. Masa is corn that’s been treated with lime and then ground into a meal, so it’s technically not cornmeal, which isn’t treated with lime) at any ol’ supermarket here. In fact, just about every Texas supermarket chain has a latin supermarket under its name (H-E-B has Fiesta, United has Amigos…). I guess I’ll need to adjust to less latin food access when I move out of the southwest someday!
Oh, and I LOVE tamales! They’re my favorite Mexican food EVER! Yours look pretty good! 🙂
Cait @ A Bicycle Built for Two says
LOVE that you made tamales! My family is Mexican and ever since I was a little girl we get together every Christmas and make hundreds of tamales. We always make pork & chicken, using a secret family recipe that only my aunt holds right now. Hoping that one day it will get passed down to me!
Nicci says
I love tamales, I think I have one every other week. Your recipe looks so delicious, the best tamale I ate was a spinach and chicken.
Sof says
I’m Mexican and I had no idea making tamales was so easy, thanks for showing us! Dinner looks so good, have a safe trip.
Jessica says
Those tamales look super delish!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
I’ve never had tamales, but after seeing them on your blog and on Gina’s blog this week, I want to try them!
Anna @ ciaotochow says
I’ve never tried tamales — but these look fantastic! Good lucking packing everything up for your trip!
Susan Mc says
It’s official, I’m now making tamales this weekend, you’ve made me homesick for Arizona!
Ever had green corn tamales? OMG… amazing! White corn, green chile and cheese filling, must-find-recipe…
Have a great trip, can wait to follow along!
The Healthy Apple says
Yum. That’s all I have to say… Wow, I’m lovin’ your eats, Kath.
Mrs. Life says
I LOVE tamales! I’ve always been too intimidated to try and make them myself, but your directions don’t seem as difficult as I imagined. Can I make a tamales made of fish?