Originally Posted by
youreadyfreddie
A slight veer off topic, but still within the same barrio as enchiladas, I'm going to try my hand at tamales for the first time. I found this wonderful family history and illustrated (photographed) recipe:
Grandma Salazar's Tamales. It's worth a read even if you aren't going to make the tamales. I'll let you know how they turn out.
I'm not sure tamales can be "made" by one (1) person. Four seems about the minimum number for the traditional "production line", allowing the substantial social interaction and disparaging commentary on the decline in social values, criticism of acquaintances and relatives, and event planning. In most tamale-oriented households and commercial operations, men are unlikely to be included in the crews. Only when qualified personnel (of a certain age) are unavailable are younger women allowed to perform essential tasks "on the line". These factors are especially true when it comes to the preparation of the legendary sweet "Christmas" tamales, a task calling for extensive prior training, long apprenticeship, and widow status or the possession of great-grandchildren (or age equivalency for the occasional spinster).