Thursday, September 29, 2011

A few steps here... maybe there!


Rydge is 10 Months now!!! the BIGGEST thing he is doing at 10 Mths.. well...watch the video!!! (YES.. taking steps). Honestly I cried a little because my baby isnt so much a baby baby anymore.. he is turning into a big boy. Im sorry that its the wrong direction.. but its hard videoing by myself! haha.. Anyway, He says Dog, its the cutest thing!! He is starting to point a little. He still wakes up in the night :(... Any suggestions to stop that one! Im all ears! He is happy happy boy, loves to play in the dirt, still takes 2 naps a day, afternoon and late afternoon! Two new teeth growing next to his top 2! His hair needs trimmed but Im to lazy to get it done! Its straight on top, curly in the back! haha.. Eating more adult foods than baby foods! Ah, he is adorable.. and I cant believe I will be planning his first birthday so soon (Honestly, I have already stared a little!!) I LOVE you Boogs!!!!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Tamales!!

Tamales are Delic and SO easy, but time consuming! Thanks to my friend Jess, now I know how to make them!!  And I know my hubby will be wanting more!

Chuck Roast Tamales


*First choose your meat, pork, chicken or beef! I did beef, I filled my crock pot FULL of water, then cooked my meat all night in the crock pot. That morning I shredded up the meat in a bowl, then pored my broth into a pitcher (you will use it later.) ..Set aside

*Second stick your Corn husks in a sink full of water so they can soak and get ready for you to use!

Masa

*Third Masa! This is the yummy stuff you make the tamales out of. You can buy it anywhere. They do make a variety, you just pick the brand you want to use. I go with the cheap stuff!!

You need:
11 Cups Masa
3 Cups Butter
1 Tbsp Chili Powder
2 Tbsp. Salt
1  Tsp. Cayenne
Beef Broth (from your meat.)

First you melt your 3 cups of butter on the stove, poor into a little bowl, while letting your butter melt put your 11 cups of masa in a bowl along with the spices. Then add your butter, mix, and add the broth as you  mix your masa. You knead until smooth and all mixed together. (Youll know its done when you can roll into balls and the texture is smooth.) 
**Roll into medium size rolls, you should get around 70-75 rolled Masa. Set aside.


*Fourth: Meat. 

You need:
1 Tsp. Cumin
1 Tsp. Garlic Powder
4 Tbsp. Chili Powder
1 Tsp. Cayenne
3 Cups of Onions
4 T butter
1 cup Masa mixed with 4 cups water. 

You get your butter and let that melt in your pan, add your onions and let cook. Combine your mixes with the onions and stir. Then get your 4 cups water and stir in the masa. Poor into the onion mixture let cook for about 5 min or until it turns to a gravy. When finished with that add to your meat, mix and set aside.

*Fifth: Putting your Tamales together!

You take out your corn husks handfolds at a time, squeeze the water out of them. You will smash (like a pancake) a roll of Masa, you want it sorta thick, not thin! 
You will put it on the corn husk, put some meat in it (I sliced up some potatoes and put one slice in the Tamale, this is optional. ) 
   
then put the 2 sides of the masa together, so they close, then roll it up in the corn husks. Tie the ends of the corn husks with strips of corn husks that you tore. Then make a pile. 
Once you are finished putting your tamales together, you put them in a steamer and let them steam for about an hour, take one out and taste it!!! See if its all cooked, not doughy. 

*Final step:
Put in freezer bags, and store!! You can put 3 or 4 tamales in one bag, so you have meals already.. or individualize them in snack packs OR you can even just put them in the gallon freezer bags. Either way is up to you!!!