Making tamales requires a lot of prep work, plenty of helping hands, a big old pot, and some would ... a cookbook that details a wide range of Mexican recipes, and we got his advice on how to ...

Perfecting a recipe Ortega ... Maria Estrada draws on that Mexican tradition, she learned to make tamales from her grandmother in Durango, Mexico, when she was 6 years old. Estrada, now 57 ...

You ate a tamale, husk and all? ¡No manches! There is no real rule on how to eat a tamale – other than make sure YOU DON'T EAT THE HUSK! And before I go on, I need to clarify something.

Tamales, said chef Pati Jinich of Washington, D.C., are both "everyday food" and "celebratory food." Jinich is a chef, cookbook author and the host of "Pati's Mexican Table" and "La Frontera" on PBS.

Keep in mind that while tamales can be eaten throughout the year, Christmastime has become popular for this traditional Mexican dish primarily made with masa, a dough made from ground corn.