Title: Tamales nortenos 1 of 2
 Categories: Meats, Mexican
      Yield: 6 Servings
 
      1 pk Dried corn husks

MMMMM----------------------CHILE SEASONING---------------------------
      2 oz Ancho chile -- dried
      2 oz Pasilla chile -- dried
      2 oz Guajilla chile -- dried
      2 oz New Mexican red chile --
           Dried

MMMMM------------------------THE FILLING-----------------------------
  1 1/2 lb Pork shoulder or beef
           Shoulder roast
    1/2 lg Onion -- sliced
      5    Cloves garlic -- peeled &
           Smashed
      2 ts Salt
     10    Peppercorns
      1 ts Cumin seeds
      4 tb Ground chile seasoning
      4 tb Lard or vegetable
           Shortening
 
  The Corn Husks
  
  The dried husks are brittle and must be soaked in water to soften them
  before they can be rolled into tamales. In the package, the husks for
  a whole ear of corn are usually pressed together. Separate the
  individual husks being careful not to break them, since they are
  fragile when dry.
  
  Place the separated husks in a large pot and cover with hot water.
  Leave them to soak for about one hour. You can put a plate with a
  heavy object on it on top of the tamales to keep them submerged. When
  soft, rinse the husks well and put back into a pot of clean water.
  
  The Filling
  
  While the husks are soaking, prepare the meat filling. The chile used
  to season tamales is the ancho. The ancho is the ripened, dried form
  of the poblano. It has a rich, smoky flavor. While other dried chiles
  can be used for seasoning, the ancho provides an authentic flavor. I
  like to use a combination of chiles for seasoning tamales.
  
  Toast the dried chiles on a hot cast-iron griddle for a few minutes
  on each side. Be careful not to burn the chiles or they will have a
  bitter taste. As the chiles toast, they will become soft and pliable
  and may puff up. Put aside to cool. The chiles will become very crisp
  and brittle when cooled.
  
  When cool, remove the seeds and stems and crumble into small pieces.
  Put the pieces into a coffee mill or spice grinder and grind into a
  fine powder. Store the ground chile mix in a jar to use for seasoning
  other Mexican dishes.
  
  You can use a variety of meats for making tamales. I use either beef
  or chicken, but pork is traditional. I also use vegetable shortening,
  although again, lard is traditionally used in Mexico. Cut the meat
  into 1" to 2" chunks. Heat the lard or shortening in a heavy bottomed
  pot and brown the meat. When brown, add enough water to cover the
  meat and add the onions and garlic. Simmer until the meat is fork
  tender and flakes apart. For beef shoulder roast this will take about
  2 - 3 hours.
  
  While the meat is cooking, toast the cumin seeds on a cast iron
  griddle and then grind into a fine powder using a coffee mill or
  spice grinder and set aside.
  
  When the meat is cooked tender, set aside to cool. Separate the meat
  chunks >From the broth, reserving the broth. Shred the meat into
  small strands.
  
  Heat 2 tablespoons of lard or shortening in a heavy pan, preferably
  cast iron. Add the chile seasoning and cumin and stir for a few
  seconds. Add the meat and fry for two or three minutes. Add the
  reserved broth and simmer until the liquid level is reduced. The
  mixture should be soupy. Set aside to cool while you make the masa.