EL PRECIO DE UN TAMAL
By Elodia Esperanza Benitez
And Mary Lou Perez said they took her mom into the emergency on Wednesday. She’s been in a home since she had that stroke…”
“Ay, I’ll light a candle for her. Mary Lou’s mom was always so nice at bingo.”
Boil the meat. Boil the chiles. Don’t forget to season. Soften the corn husks in water. Pick out los feos.
“Did you hear about Dolores’ son? His wife just left him.”
“No! Didn’t he marry a Valdez?”
“Si si, he married Tony’s daughter. Well, Carmen was over there visiting with Dolores and she said the wife pulled up dumping all his clothes y todo at her house!”
Drain the meat. Save the stock. Melt the lard. Blend the chiles up in the other blender. Some for the meat. Some for the masa. Mix the masa good. Get in there, not too dry, not too salty.
“Lala’s daughter just started school down south. Lala said they dropped her off last week.” “She was always a good little girl. Nothing like Lala at that age…You remember?”
Spread the masa on the husk. Put some meat. Put an olive. No, no olives in this order. Line the tamales in the black pot. Make sure the bottom has enough water to steam.
Spread the masa, chismoleras. Keep our stories tucked away for the next order. Price of a good tamal is a good chisme.
