STORM2K

Do you have any Christmas Eve Traditions at your house? We go to church for the Christmas Eve Candle Light Service, then we come home and make DOZENS upon DOZENS of Tamales, tamales are a Christmas tradition in the Southwest.....this year we're making Green Corn Tamales, pork, Hatch green chilies with cheddar cheese, "Mmmm, Mmmmm!" Can't wait!

Dennis

Got an extra seat at the table this year Snowman??? They sound wonderful. I see that you are really gettin'into the spirit here huh? Dennis? Merry Christmas to ya.

Christmas eve is spent with me, my wife and our two kids. They get to open their gifts from us. THen on Christmas morning, Santa gifts and off to my Dad's we go for the family get together. Prime Rib dinner and the works. This year will be a little different though. I have to work until 6:00 pm on Christmas eve and then be back to workat about 8:00 Christmas night.

Our family traditions have been in place for many years - first we go to Children's mass at church - then we go to my sister's house for sandwiches and snacks. Then we read the night before Christmas Story - its to the point now where all my nephews and my daughter know how to read - so we let the kids do it. Then its off to bed. Then we get up Christmas morning and head to my mom and dad's to open gifts and eat breakfast of eggs, biscuist, SOS, toast and cinnamon rolls. Then we open gifts.

Sure blizz.....come on out! A word of *warning* however, bring the Rolaids, the Hatch New Mexico green chilies are HOTTER than HADES this year!

Dennis

Don't ask me why it started, but mom always made spaghetti for Christmas Eve and I still do it to this day. Considering my family lines are French and Irish, it's kinda weird but I get all kinds of grief if I don't make it, and I mean a big pot. Then we snarf that down, drink mass quantities of eggnog and each person opens one present. Then we all eat a huge chunk of chocolate cake and usually talk about Christmas past. Everyone then slides off to bed and Santa (me) cruises through the house in the middle of the night filling each stocking with candy while trying not to consume more chocolate cake. I am ALWAYS the first one up on Christmas Day and have to force everyone else out of bed to open presents. The rest of the day is spent eating, drinking, eating, drinking and calling every family member on the phone. No wonder I look like Mama Cass after christmas!

azsnowman wrote:Sure blizz.....come on out! A word of *warning* however, bring the Rolaids, the Hatch New Mexico green chilies are HOTTER than HADES this year!

Dennis

I'll pack extra Zantac too....lol
I haven't had real tamales in a coon's age. Since '90 when I was livin' in El PAso. Jeeez I miss 'em, pass on the recipe buddy, so I can have a a taste of the south.,mmmmmmmmmmmmm

LOL!!

Well, I have two families, moms side and dads side, so I celebrate twice. (Well on the years my mom isn't being a scrooge I celebrate twice- but hey, we put up the 9 foot tree last night so I think we just may celebrate this year!!)

It goes as follows.....I always celebrate Christmas Eve at my dad's, and Christmas Day at mom's. At my dad's we all get together and order pizza, and open our presents that evening. Sometimes we go bowling, but I think this year we're just gonna stay at the house. Then on Christmas Day I celebrate at my mom's, but go back to my dads in the afternoon for a second Christmas dinner!! (LOL, hey, Thanksgiving was NON-existent for me this year, I can eat 2 meals if I wanna!)

Being away from my family is really tough this time of year.. I miss them all so much. This is the first year it will just be hubby, son and myself... so I guess its time to start our own Christmas traditions.

One thing I have always done though is read the Christmas story out the bible on Christmas eve.. Oh and I have found out what Eggnog is... YUMMO guess I will have to make that a new tradition... see how much I can drink in one night

StormCrazyIowan wrote:LOL!!

Well, I have two families, moms side and dads side, so I celebrate twice. (Well on the years my mom isn't being a scrooge I celebrate twice- but hey, we put up the 9 foot tree last night so I think we just may celebrate this year!!)

It goes as follows.....I always celebrate Christmas Eve at my dad's, and Christmas Day at mom's. At my dad's we all get together and order pizza, and open our presents that evening. Sometimes we go bowling, but I think this year we're just gonna stay at the house. Then on Christmas Day I celebrate at my mom's, but go back to my dads in the afternoon for a second Christmas dinner!! (LOL, hey, Thanksgiving was NON-existent for me this year, I can eat 2 meals if I wanna!)

I know what you mean about multiple Christmases. For awhile we had to celebrate four different times. My wife's parents were divorced and so are mine. So four celebrations. My wife's mother has since passed away and her Dad lives in Michigan. Both of my parents get along well enough for us all to get together for one huge happy family to celebrate the birth of Christ together. But I guess after 18 years of being divorced, they can be civil for a day a year anyway. Actually they get along pretty well all year long.

Here, the Christmas Eve tradition is to see which of us gets control of the remote...Debi, wanting to watch "It's a Wonderful Life" for the umpteenth time, or me getting to view "Conan the Barbarian" and hear those famous words of wisdom once again...

"Conan! What is best in life?"

"Krosh your enemies, see zem driffen before you, und hear ze lamentaions of zer vimmen."

Now, THAT'S entertainment!

we usually attend the candlelight service, but after last years marathon service, that quickly changed our ideas. I have 3 rounds of christmas this year (boyfriends family, moms, and dads) on top of christmas this saturday for my relatives on my mom's side (her 4 brothers)

The co. I work for is Scrooge, so I will be forced to work,unless I find someone to work for me. sad isn't it??????????

This is a recipe I pulled of the net, it's a GREAT one, just add 2 lbs. roasted Hatch Green Chilies and 3 lbs of shredding cheese!

Authentic Mexican Tamales
Recipe Ingredients
5 lbs. lean pork or beef, cooked and shredded

6 to 7 lbs. fresh masa

1 1/2 lbs lard
1 tbls. salt
1 1/2 pts. red chili sauce

1 bundle oujas (corn shucks)
How to Make Tamales

To make tamales, cook meat by boiling in a large covered pot with enough water to cover completely. Add salt to taste and slow boil till completely done. Cool meat and save broth. When meat has cooled, shred and mix in the chili sauce. Clean oujas (corn shucks or outer husk)in warm water. (make masa by hand or with mixer) Mix the masa, lard , salt and enough broth to make a smooth paste. Beat till a small amount (1 tsp) will float in a cup of cool water.

Spread masa (1/8 to 1/4 inch thick layer, or to preference) on ouja, add a small amount of meat and roll up. Fold up ends of ouja and place(fold down) on a rack in a pan deep enough to steam. Add 1 to 2 inches water, cover with a tight fitting lid and steam about 1 1/2 hours. (a cloth can be used under the lid to make a tighter fit)

Many variations of ingredients can be used in making tamales. You can use a combination of beef and pork, use chicken or even fried beans. One or two olives may be added to the center or try adding a few raisins.
This recipe will make 4 to 5 dozen Mexican tamales




Dennis


PS.....DON'T forget the olives, not pitted, WHOLE green olives, it's for luck!

thanks Snowman, you really didn't have to, but it is much appreciated. I am going to have to try them soon.

Azsnowman.....ummmmmm what is masa??????

I think it's like a flour or cornmeal isn't it, Dennis.

Debbie

Yup, it's a dough made of cornmeal. You can find it here in TX grocery stores easily. But I'd never seen it before when I lived in KY. So, it could be a regional product.

THey sell the corn flour to make masa around here. I have never made it from scratch, but am willing to try. I can't stand the canned tamales. Fresh, or none at all for me.

Yup.....fresh ground corn, they sell it dry here or fresh, I always use the fresh, it's faster, a LOT faster!

Dennis

Well we go out for a nice big and jucy early steak dinner. Then back to the house for our hot tub and some drinks. Maybe light off some fireworks. We don't do church.