Tamales Research Paper

In Tamales or Timbales: Cuisine and the Formation of Mexican National Identity, Pilcher also looks to the history of Mexico and national identity through cuisine. Historically, Mexico is a conquered nation even after reaching independence in 1821. And while Mexico is a country with heavy influence from Europe, it has created its own national identity through foods with the use of Spanish, indigenous, and French ingredients. The elites believed that Mexico would only advance and progress when they abandoned Native American techniques and adopted the European

Although their tastes differ when it comes to types of chiles, the grandmother and the speaker share a love for the traditional Mexican-American garnish. They also respect each other, simply based on their actions. Here we have two individuals, from different generations, that bond over the age-old tradition of food and love.

When most people hear the word “Mexican”, a person instantly thinks of food. This is because Mexicans have been known through out America as a culture to have a variety of some of the best dishes. Hispanics males take pride in working, just as the females take pride in cooking. The women don’t do it just for the heck of it, they make a form of art and also competition. Every Mexican family has a person who competes with another, to see who can make the best dish. Mexicans have different dishes from soups to rice. The one soup you will here in the Mexican generation is pozole. This is a soup that consists of pork, hominy, and spicy herbs. This recipe has been in my family for a more then a decade, and now I share it with you. In

Tamales have the power of merging family. Christmas eve in Mexico means interacting and bonding with the whole family. When the holiday season begins and everybody gathers at Grandmother’s house you can trace the smell of tamales getting cook in the kitchen mixed with the smell of cinnamon. The Christmas tree is bursting with presents and on the side the nativity scene which is always present in a Catholic Mexican family. The table is brimming in flavors, with a variety of dessert and snacks and delicious hot drinks. As appetizing as the table looks the whole family is barely touching the food because the tamales are almost ready and everybody wants to eat as many tamales as possible. When the tamales are ready it means that Christmas Eve celebration is staring. Everyone from the oldest in the house to the youngest gets a plate and eats as many tamales as possible while sharing stories and laughs. The tamales are the main guest of the celebration. The tamales are a traditional Mexican food that can be traced to the Aztecs. The word tamale comes from the Aztec word tamalii which means wrapped food. The Aztec women would cook the tamales for the soldiers because they were easy to carry and eat. Today making tamales is a bonding event for all the women in the family,

My parents have always introduced me to all types of food. The type of food I eat is one of the ways that I feel closely ties me to the mexican side of my culture. Mexican food is my favorite. I love how spicy it can be. One tradition

Being born into a small town in Texas where a heavy influence on Mexican culture applies to almost everyone. It makes me realized that food really plays a major part in identifying myself as a Mexican. Because the food, makes our culture unique. In addition, learning to make my very first ever batch of tamales made me realized that it was a memorable experience.

One thing that Peruvians do not consume is tortillas. A tortilla in Peru is like an American eating guinea pig, it’s hardly seen or even spoken of. One thing the people of Peru love to eat is guinea pig. Eating guinea pig for an average person in the country is like us eating chicken. Mexicans on the other hand have a distinct eating habit. They eat a lot of tortillas, beans, cacti, beef, and small insects to snack on. Most Mexican dishes Americans have heard of are not true Mexican cuisine, and

Tradition has been said to mirror a way of life. Observation has concluded that participants in tradition “actively construct as well as reflect culture and community” (Sacks 275). For most people in the 21st century, tradition only reveals itself during special times or certain seasons. For others it is simply a way of life. The foodways of Mexicans and Native Americans are of particular interest in this study because of the food that grew from necessity and is maintained as sacred or reserved for only special occasions. The tamale is one such food. Significantly changed and altered throughout history it has remained a

me, my family only makes tamales once a year, on Christmas. We had to sacrifice and consider

The land of Texas was initially owned by Spain, but became a part of Mexico when they won independence from Spain. The Mexican government allowed U.S citizens did they: promised to become citizens of Mexico and worshiped the Catholic Church. By 1825, 25,000 Americans lived in Texas in comparison to the 4,000 Tejanos, or Mexicans living in Texas. Americans living in Texas complained that they were used to governing themselves and resented taking orders from Mexican officials, that it was not suitable to them that Mexico outlawed slavery, and that all official documents were written in Spanish, a foreign language to them. The Tejanos complained that many settlers came without permission and showed little respect. The Mexican government then closed

Not only are tamales good to eat, but they bring so much more to the table, they bring laughter, memories and most important family. They bring families together every year across different communities throughout the nation, and abroad to me, tamales are a combination of good times, love, and togetherness all wrapped up and presented like a gift for the soul around the holidays.

When first beginning this assignment, I thought of choosing Vietnamese food because I miss having Vietnamese food for most of my meals, which was a luxury when I lived at home with my parents. Also, I have not fully prepared a Vietnamese dish or meal myself, as cooking never appealed to me. However, as I thought more about it, I would just be returning to the comforts of what I had already known instead of challenging myself and expanding my experiences. Eventually, I decided to pursue learning more about the Hispanic food culture because I greatly enjoy Hispanic food, whether it is Americanized Hispanic foods such as burritos or enchiladas from restaurants like Taco Bell or La Paz, or traditional, authentic foods I have had at my Hispanic friends’ houses. I love exploring the infinite variety of ethnic dishes this world has to offer, but I do not pay much attention exactly to what I am eating, what is in it, and how to prepare it myself. This assignment gave me the opportunity to go out and adventure into Guerrero’s Market on 11th and G street. I brought David with me, a friend from Honduras who has exposed me to most of the authentic hispanic foods I have eaten. I decided to make ceviche, and the two ethnic ingredients not used in mainstream American cuisine I selected were avocados and tostadas.

Another great sense of food is the warm soft tortillas that carry delicious pieces of juicy beef fajita. At restaurants, the sight of the steam leaving the food, creates a mouth to water as well as a pleasant feeling of home. However, not every place is going to capture the appetizing taste of food. Say for example, school. I remember one time in elementary they were serving tamales. I was so excited to see a Hispanic dish, I know I had the biggest smile on my face. I continued to my class table and sat down. All of a sudden my friend sitting across from me, a friend that happens to be Asian, questioned, “You like that?” Bluntly, I responded “Yeah, why?” In which he responded, “Oh, I didn’t like it.” Tamales, might I add is special occasion meal, that is prepared in a dried corn husk. Masa de Maize or the dough would be spread against the dried corn husk. Then it would be filled with chicken, pork, or cheese. Then the components would be wrapped by the corn husk to be

The Mexican culture is typically characterized for being colorful and flamboyant, and I believe that Mexican food allows us to find a way back to our roots. I was reminded of the vital role food plays into every culture after analyzing “The Secret Latina” by Veronica Chambers. Chambers states “Because of my mother, we ate Panamanian food, listened to salsa and heard Spanish at home.” (Chambers pg 1) Just like Chambers I to would come home to a Spanish-speaking mother who cooked spicy Mexican food and played Mexican folk music. I believe that like, in Chambers case my mother also ensured that my Latin identity remain intact despite Americanization.

Today, I went to Church mass tonight around at 6pm ready for dinner to celebration has Tamales Day being on February 2nd later at 8pm. It's was on January 6th is special for bread inside has baby Jesus for the Three Kings Day. But, I nothing inside has to my bread with baby Jesus make to my god to touch me and my mom and sister has baby Jesus so lucky get tamales for the days same to my family sometime or not have inside for baby Jesus. Then enter to church arrive and she gives me for candles of the day is blessed and I saw people has brought to child christ is baby Jesus and some virgin of Guadalupe in the mother's Mary put on a floor in the front. We have blessed to be church is a presentation for us with their people of the includes has