AFS San Diego

The activity was tamale making, organized by Grace, and hosted by Aurora, sister of Grace, and husband Jesus at their home in Perris, about 20 miles north of Temecula. Attendees were Christian , CB from Germany and host mom Darla from Menifee; Ksenia, FLEX student from Russia, hosted in La Verne, Tohari, YES from Indonesia, hosted in Apple Valley; and Nur, YES from Philippines, hosted in San Marcos.

All kids were involved...

... in preparation of vegetarian tamales, including cutting cheese strips and celery, and washing and shaping the corn husks. Grace had purchased already prepared masa (corn meal mixed with lime, spicing ingredients and water to a paste like consistency). The assembly steps were to spread the masa on the corn husks, then stuff them with cheese and celery, then fold in preparation for steaming. The prepared tamales were stacked around the perimeter of a bucket with a perforated false bottom. After filling the bucket with some 200 tamales (ten pounds), hot water was poured into the space below the false bottom; the bucket was covered and placed on the stove for steaming for one hour.

The hardest part was waiting to eat them, but we did have some grazing item and some tasty sopes to fill the downtime. And everyone got a generous helping of tamales to share at home.

Jim D.

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Jim Dooley
SD Area AFS Volunteer Area Team Chair
760-728-5682
ref: www.afssandiego.org