Chilly Today, Hot Tamale
Author: Ellen Fenter
"It's my own fault." Carl Fenter tugged his jacket closer against the abnormal bite of cold morning wind. "The rest of the family is home, where it's warm."
Just another one of his brilliant ideas - a big tamale feast after tonight's Christmas Eve service at church - and look where it landed him: waiting in a line 50 people deep.
Who would've guessed that every tamale shop in the city would be sold out the day before Christmas? But they were, as Carl knew. He'd been driving all over El Paso that morning. Determined to bring home the tamales, Carl tried one last tienda, an old favorite out in Canutillo.
When he arrived, a fresh batch was due off the steamer in 45 minutes. Taking his place at the end of the snaking line of tamale-seekers, he watched the woman in front of him remove her jacket to drape around her shivering youngster. It wasn't long before she, too, shuddered in the chilly wind. After only a moment's hesitation, Carl shed his own jacket and offered it to the grateful mother.
Together, they cheered when the line crept forward at last, and smiling people exited the shop toting steamy bags. Finally, Carl got inside the door and inched his way closer to the counter, the woman now first in line.
"Sorry folks," the clerk announced, "that's the last of the tamales."
"No way!" Carl groaned with everyone else lined up behind him.
"But," stressed the man at the counter, "we'll have a final batch ready in, oh, about two hours."
Defeated, Carl backed away, but the young mother grabbed his arm.
"You're leaving?"
"I have to," Carl glanced at his watch. "I promised to put up luminarias at my church."
"I'll get your order of tamales and bring them to your house."
Carl's brow furrowed. "I couldn't ask you to do that."
"But it's the least I can do. You lent me your coat." Her smile overrode his objections. "Just give me your address." She and her little girl settled in for the long wait.
And at exactly noon on Christmas Eve, they delivered four dozen fragrant tamales - along with Carl's brown jacket - to his home. 
Rebecca Lin 2009 Fall In USA |
I will write soon *_*
Enjoy your beautiful automn with your family,
静谧海湾
My weekend is so far so good. I am going out soon.
Would you like to write about your fun time in "墨西哥" ? I could not wait to read it. I have never been there.
Happy weekend and nice week ahead to you and your family,
Rebecca
Thank you so much.
Have a fabulous Sunday and good week ahead,
Rebecca
I am tired to read tonight but like your picture and music.
Wording "墨西哥" reminds me the fun time we had in there last xmas.
Enjoy your Sunday with your family,
睡觉前，来道个晚安！：）
问好,谢谢阅读.
周末快乐,
Rebecca
大概只有你制作的，这样有质感的背景，才能让我静静地赏读墨西哥食物作为标题的文章！谢谢，林林！
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A tamale (Spanish tamal, from Nahuatl tamalli) is a traditional Mexican dish of Mesoamerican origin, namely from the Aztec empire, which was soon widespread by Spanish conquistadores throughout their other colonies of what is now Latin America, consisting of steam-cooked corn dough (masa) with or without a filling. Tamales can be filled with meats, cheese (post-colonial), and sliced chillis or any preparation according to taste. Tamales are generally wrapped in corn husks or plantain (post-colonial) leaves before cooking, depending on the region from which they come.
Their essence is the corn meal dough made from hominy (called masa), or a masa mix such as Maseca, usually filled with sweet or savory filling, wrapped in plant leaves or corn husks, and cooked, usually by steaming, until firm. Tamales were one of the staples found by the Spanish when they first arrived in Mexico. Alternatively, tamales are said to have been used as a portable ration for use by war parties in the ancient Americas, and were as ubiquitous and varied as the sandwich is today. The diversity of native languages in the pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica led to a number of local words for the tamal, many of which remain in use.
Thank you, too.
Have a nice weekend,
Rebecca