The Twelve Tamales of Christmas

Photo lossombreros.com

Order now if you want to take home a few dozen of these delicious tamales for Christmas Eve.  Tamales may be the original Christmas food, at least in Arizona, as the tradition dates back 2,000 years.  Why are tamales associated with Christmas?  Well, first you select either red or green.  Next, making the tamales is extremely time-consuming, so having the family around helps the two-day process move along.  I had the opportunity to participate in a tamalada (thanks, Nancy), but most of the work had been done ahead.  Husks had been soaked for 24 hours to become pliable.  Masa (corn dough) prepared.  Filling slow-cooked for hours to infuse the flavors into tenderized meat or beans.  Just the assembly of the tamales takes hours.  Spreading the masa smoothly and not over-filling the husk is the key to an attractive tamale.  Once completed, they still must be steamed before eating.  The experience is a lot of fun, like playing board games, as the conversation and teasing is priceless.  I suggest you contact Los Sombreros and order them already prepared, either savory or sweet, red or green.  Los Sombreros made about 24,000 tamales last year, so please order ahead.  Tamales have become a wonderful Arizona holiday tradition.  Oh, and don't be a gringo - remove the husk before eating.

Order any flavor you prefer, but the Twelve Tamales of Christmas include one of each: fresh green corn, spicy pork, chipotle pork, beef and cheese, chorizo and black bean, rajas and cheese, red chile beef, tomatillo and chicken, smoked chicken and chipotle, pineapple and raisin, dark chocolate, and canela (cinnamon).