Assembly required

Carmen texted at nine this morning: “Bringing everything for tamales. Clear your counter.” By ten-thirty my kitchen looked like a masa explosion had gone off, and somehow we’d recruited Sarah, Jake, and Michelle into what Carmen cheerfully called “Christmas bootcamp.”

Assembly required

Five adults, one tiny galley kitchen, and approximately zero experience between us (except Carmen, who kept muttering things in Spanish that I’m pretty sure weren’t compliments about our technique). Michelle kept adding too much filling, Sarah was convinced her husks were too small, and Jake somehow managed to get masa in his hair. I spent most of the morning untangling corn husks and trying not to laugh when Carmen would dramatically demonstrate the “proper” way to spread masa for the fifteenth time.

The aftermath tells the whole story.

Three hours later we have two dozen slightly lopsided tamales steaming away, my counter looks like a crime scene, and everyone’s arguing about whether we should start a batch of sweet ones. Carmen’s already planning next year’s menu, and honestly? I’m already looking forward to the beautiful disaster.

Merry Christmas from our chaotic little assembly line to yours.