First, imagine an assembly line. Now, imagine that the line is not a line at all but a criss-cross of paths across a kitchen island in a house within an Arizona subdivision. Next, imagine that even the paths can change over time (depending upon which uncle is taking a break, which cousin is taking over, etc.) such that the assembly line metaphor itself dissolves and ceases to be useful at all.
Now, in that context, the first person flattens the rinsed corn husks (ribbiest side down) onto a square of waxed paper and applies a relatively thin layer of masa in a curvilinear pattern near the center of the fan-shaped husk. Arc-shaped margins are typically left along the upper and bottom edges. These margins might be missing, however, if the first person is distracted by, or is the source of, whatever loud, non-tamale-related discussion is …show more content…
Of course, only a rookie would place the olive in the direct center. It must, for reasons unknown to me, be placed approximately on-third of the way down from the top. If we are reaching the end of the masa supply, go ahead and include two olives because, what else are you going to do with a Costco-sized jar of olives?
Finally, prior to steaming, the entire package is folded together in a manner that apparently needs to be relearned every year and may be accompanied by a fair amount of argument between veteran team members.
At this point you might be picturing an idyllic Mexican family working together to make a traditional holiday meal. You would be (mostly) wrong. In fact, it is my Chinese grandmother (“popo,” I call her) who dispenses the chili with a giant spoon while standing on a foot-stool whose unlikely height (five inches max) seems designed for nothing more than allowing an Asian woman to reach into a giant pot of chili. Popo also acts as drill instructor, Department of Weights and Measures, and quality control (see above discussion on folding
Now, in that context, the first person flattens the rinsed corn husks (ribbiest side down) onto a square of waxed paper and applies a relatively thin layer of masa in a curvilinear pattern near the center of the fan-shaped husk. Arc-shaped margins are typically left along the upper and bottom edges. These margins might be missing, however, if the first person is distracted by, or is the source of, whatever loud, non-tamale-related discussion is …show more content…
Of course, only a rookie would place the olive in the direct center. It must, for reasons unknown to me, be placed approximately on-third of the way down from the top. If we are reaching the end of the masa supply, go ahead and include two olives because, what else are you going to do with a Costco-sized jar of olives?
Finally, prior to steaming, the entire package is folded together in a manner that apparently needs to be relearned every year and may be accompanied by a fair amount of argument between veteran team members.
At this point you might be picturing an idyllic Mexican family working together to make a traditional holiday meal. You would be (mostly) wrong. In fact, it is my Chinese grandmother (“popo,” I call her) who dispenses the chili with a giant spoon while standing on a foot-stool whose unlikely height (five inches max) seems designed for nothing more than allowing an Asian woman to reach into a giant pot of chili. Popo also acts as drill instructor, Department of Weights and Measures, and quality control (see above discussion on folding