Tamales!

For a decade while living in southern Arizona, a culinary highlight of the holiday season was eating tamales.

Tamales, for those who are unfamiliar, are made with "masa," a corn dough and are filled with spicy meat or cheese and green chili  peppers.

They are steamed in corn husks. 

I used to look for a Mexican man in front of Bookman's, one of several fabulous used book (and more) stores, and buy homemade tamales from him.

(Oh Lord, I desperately miss Bookman's.)

Since moving to the east, the chances of finding someone selling tamales on the street is zero.

However, my daughter surprised me with some wonderful news!

She made tamales and saved several for me.

Oh, it was so wonderful biting into those luscious pockets of yumminess.

They have olives in them, too, and I add Herdez salsa, lettuce and a dollop of sour cream.

By the way, Herdez is the only salsa that will do. 

It's so delicious.

 We buy ours at Wal-Mart, of all places!

So now, the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays may officially begin!  The tamales are ready.

ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH TAMALES?