Tamales

We are learning how to make TAMALES. Our Ranch cocinera Juanita and her mom are teaching our girls a lesson on making traditional tamales enjoyed by many here in Mexico. It was fun watching all the girls learn about kneading the masa, prepared the sauce, and putting the secret ingredient the olive (To traditional Christian believers, each tamale can be considered a metaphor or symbol for the Holy Virgin. After all, every real Mexican tamale must have an olive in it. On one level, that olive represents the Christ child waiting to be born -- as he is every year at Christmas. On another level, the olive represents the promise of the new year which will be reborn with the passing of the winter solstice, as days start growing longer (right around the time of Christmas) plus lots of love into each tamale. It was an experience watching 4 different languages shared in the kitchen (English, Spanish, American Sign Language, and Mexican Sign Language). Enjoy the video.