Tamales Research Paper

There are many misconceptions of the Hispanic diet. Many people think that all people who speak Spanish eat tacos and enchiladas. You most likely will not find those foods in most regions other than Mexico. Central American and Mexican cuisines only use tortillas. Foods such as tamales and salsas can be found in many regions. Rice and beans are staple dishes in many Latin American cuisines, but rice, beans, salsa, and

Cooking tortillas at home is a common family tradition in Hispanic homes. Families pass down special recipes

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,

Traditional Hispanic food can be identified by the appearance of the tortillas and the thick, rich enchilada sauces that can be green, brown or red and resemble a thick gravy. Rice and refried beans typically are served inside of the tortillas or on the side, and this dish can be referred to as an enchilada or as a chimichanga if it is deep fried on the outside. Melted cheese over the top of the dish is also a good indication of Hispanic food.

In this essay, I will discuss the history of tamales; their origin and reason for existence. I will review the traditional tamale and its construction as well as introduce the ever-growing market of new and improved types of tamales. I will entwine different perspectives and narratives of personal encounters with tamales, their production, and how it has come to affect their personal lives in relation to race, gender and family or community roles. Finally I will discuss the differences and similarities in tamales in my native state of New Mexico, and in my new home state of Colorado, and I will introduce tamales from and around the world in Spanish speaking countries, including a focus on such ethnicities as Mexican and Native Americans. I hope to prove that tamales are more than just good food; they belong to a people who work diligently for the sake of their family and their heritage.

rainy nights to the smell of homemade tamales on the works. My siblings and I would help my

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

Should the US have all of Texas and California or should we not have them? The US went to war with Mexico in 1846. In this war the US wanted to have the Manifest Destiny come true, so the US fought over land which is now called Texas. After the war had been fought over Texas, the US had a little later had attempted to take more land. In which, they were successful and now we call the land they fought for part of California. The US was right for going to war with Mexico for three reasons, Manifest Destiny, there was a vote on it, and Mexico attacked first.

Do you like ordering chicken enchiladas at your favorite Mexican restaurant? This meal is not difficult to make at home, but what do you do when you crave enchiladas when camping. The solution is to use a hot campfire to make dutch oven enchiladas.

They make tamales which you can get from stands and at the stands are a huge steel bucket full of steaming tamales and two pots with atole (a sweet breakfast drink of strawberry, chocolate, or rice thickened with starch) every city makes them different.

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.

The staples of Mexican cuisine are typically corn and beans. Corn, traditionally Mexico's staple grain, is eaten fresh, on the cob, and as a component of a number of dishes. Most corn, however, is used to make masa, a dough for tamales, tortillas, gorditas, and many other corn-based foods. Squash and peppers also play important roles in Mexican cuisine.

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

For lunch, the traditional meal is called a casado. It again consists of rice and beans served side by side instead of mixed. There will usually be some type of meat (carne asada, fish, pork chop, or chicken) and a salad to round out the dish. There may also be some extras like fried plantain (patacones or maduro), a slice of white cheese, and/or corn tortillas in

Tacos…. What are they made up of? Well to start of their is a corn or wheat tortilla which is the base of the whole taco and in the taco there's a variety of fillings going from beef, pork, chicken to lettuce, salsa, onions, and cilantro(coriander leaves). A taco basically has a variety of fillings that makes it unique. My type of taco is made up of a soft corn tortilla, carne asada,and lastly onions and cilantro which is sprinkled on it and then ta-da, you have the type of taco I prefer which kind of resembles my family actually.