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Answers: can you help me?

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Hot Tamales
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup chili powder
2 Tablespoons paprika
2 Tablespoons salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 Tablespoon onion powder
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
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Cut the meat into large chunks and place in a large, heavy pot. Cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the meat is very tender, about 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Remove the meat and reserve the cooking liquid. When the meat is cool enough to handle, remove and discard any skin and large chunks of fat. Shred or dice the meat into small pieces. There should be about 14 to 16 cups of meat. Heat the vegetable oil in a large, heavy pot over medium heat. Stir in the chili powder, paprika, salt, pepper, cayenne, onion powder, garlic powder and cumin. Add in the meat and stir to coat with the oil and spices. Cook, stirring often, until the meat is warmed through, about 7 to 10 minutes. Set aside.


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CORN HUSKS
While the meat is cooking, soak the husks in a large bowl or sink of very warm water, until they are softened and pliable, about 2 hours. Gently separate the husks into single leaves, trying not to tear them. Wash off any dust and discard any corn silks. Keep any shucks that split to the side, since two small pieces can be overlapped and used as one.

corn MEAL dough
8 cups yellow corn meal or masa mix (available in most grocery stores)
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
1 2/3 cups lard or vegetable shortening
6 to 8 cups warm meat broth (from cooking the meat)
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Stir the corn meal, baking powder, salt and lard together in a large bowl until well blended. Gradually stir in enough warm liquid to make soft, spongy dough that is the consistency of thick mashed potatoes. The dough should be quite moist, but not wet. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth.

assembling the tamales
Remove a corn husk from the water and pat it dry. Lay the husk on a work surface. Spread about 1/4 cup of the dough in an even layer across the wide end of the husk to within 1 inch of the edges. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the meat mixture in a line down the center of the dough. Roll the husk so that the dough surrounds the filling and forms a cylinder or package. Fold the bottom under to close the bottom and complete the package. Place the completed tamales in a single layer on a baking sheet. Repeat until all dough and filling is used.

COOKING the tamales

To simmer: Stand the tamales upright, closed side down, in a large pot. Place enough tamales in the pot so that they do not fall over or come unrolled. Carefully fill the pot with enough water to come just to the top of the tamales, trying not to pour water directly into the tamales. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the dough is firm and pulls away from the husk easily and cleanly, about 1 hour.

To steam: Stand the tamales upright, closed side down, in a large steamer basket. Cover the tamales with a damp towel or additional husks. Steam the tamales over simmering water until the dough is firm and pulls away from the husk easily and cleanly, about 1 to 1 1/4 hours.

Serve tamales warm, in their husks. Remove husks to eat.

This is something that takes a long time to make but it is well wort it to me. I love them!!!!

nfd?

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HOT TAMALES

MEAT FILLING:

1 lb. ground beef, cooked
1 garlic clove, minced
2-3 tbsp. chili powder
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 c. broth

Combine all ingredients and mix well.

MUSH:

3 1/2 c. yellow corn meal
1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. soft shortening
2 1/2 c. beef stock
1 lb. dry corn husk or parchment

Cut off ends of corn husks and cover with cold water while preparing corn meal. Combine meal, flour, salt, shortening and half the stock. Beat hard. (About 5 minutes at high speed of electric mixer.) Dry corn husks on inside and spread with about 1/4 cup corn meal mixture. Add about 1 tablespoon of meat filling and roll lengthwise. If necessary cover with extra husks. Tie ends with string. Stack on end in steamer and steam about 45 minutes, using the rest of the stock and extra water if needed. Makes 24.

Chicken can be substituted for beef and chicken broth for beef broth.

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