Tamale Time

Ahhh...I totally forgot to share with you another project that I completed like 2 weeks ago! We have a major obsession with taquitos and other mexican snacks at our house! Problem- they are like $5 a box and we were buying 2-3 a month...so, I decided to try my hand at making tamales. Just wanted to share my experience because with that much time and energy going into these things, I was afraid that I would hate them. FYI: I am in love!

These are not mine, but similar.

I had a lot of frozen pork and chicken that needed to be used so that was practically free? I had to buy quite a few things but the spices, oil and masa can be used quite a few more times. So, I used the recipe found here. Super easy, although the rolling instructions confused me. So, here is another way to roll them at Make and Takes, and the next recipe I am going to try.

I ended up with like 4 dozen frozen tamales, 2 bags of frozen meat and 2 dozen we ate fresh. This was not too hard, except the fact that I had a toddler hanging on me the whole time. At least we will be enjoying our tamales for months :)

So, go on out and make yourself a whole bunch of tamales and share your results!

Enjoying Autumn...

I call it autumn because Dustin thinks saying fall is kind of weird...I know, there are only two seasons in Utah- Freezing and Blistering hot. I love the way too short in between seasons, except for Halloween. I hate Halloween...I know, it's almost worse than hating Christmas to some people!

We have been out and about enjoying the good weather that has now left. The highlight was playing outside in the sand box with trucks. Entertained my little man for almost 2 hours!

Today we went to the Pumpkin Walk. It apparently ended last night (why so early?!) Anyways, between the freezing cold, having my keys locked in my car and a slightly runny nose...Ryker and I survived and had some fun with his cousin.

I was very proud of myself today. I had my niece who is almost 3 and Ryker. Somehow, I managed to still pull off my "autumn supper". The menu included potato corn turkey chowder and pumpkin rolls. Seriously DE. LISH! and super easy. Check out the soup recipe here. Try to withhold your laughter when looking at my rolls. They look a lot like the carved pumpkins are looking this late in the season...droopy, misshapen, just plain ugly. Oh well, it was fun! I just rolled them in orange food coloring and then put a stem on top...ta da!

It's okay to look away :) Dustin refused to eat them...

I LOVE AUTUMN! Seems that it has now passed...oh well, there is still Thanksgiving to look forward to before I have to submit to winter fully!