Tamale Season (AKA Marcus Gets Kitchen Banned)

Every December, I transform into my grandmother Rosa. Not literally – that would be weird – but I channel her tamale-making spirit. The whole process takes over our kitchen for an entire Sunday, and honestly, it’s one of my favorite traditions.

Tamale Season (AKA Marcus Gets Kitchen Banned)

Marcus tried to “help” by suggesting we could probably streamline the process with some kind of masa-spreading contraption he saw on YouTube. That’s when I politely asked him to take Biscuit for a very long walk.

The perfect fold.

The kids hover around like hungry vultures, which I totally get. These tamales are legitimately famous in our family. Even my picky cousin David asks for them every Christmas.

Quality control team reporting for duty.

By the time I’m done, we’ll have enough to freeze for months, plus plenty to share with neighbors who’ve been suspiciously nice to us lately.