A Florida Tamale???

So I had a Florida tamale today. I know, kind of sounds like an oxymoron to me too. I usually shy away from tamales because typically they are made with pork and I don't eat pork because I'm really Jewish. I'M KIDDING! Although, my father was a Jewish carpenter! But I really don't eat pork. And I've actually MADE tamales before and after you make them, trust me, you'll never want to eat them again! But I used to work with a girl who would bring me BEEF tamales and despite the tub of lard that went into them, they were DEEEELISH! (Do you remember our attempt to make tamales Mom??? I think I was like 10!!!) So before I give you my report on the Florida tamale, I must tell you WHY I had a tamale, because I know you care. I have had the most WRETCHED craving for Mexican food for the past 3 weeks. I've tried to fulfill my craving by cooking fajitas at home, Cary even bought me one of those $1.50 Banquet (frozen) enchilada dinners (GAG) and my craving would not subside. So this past week, I suggested that we save ALL of our eating out allowance and go eat at our favorite Mexican place here, Aztecas. It's not Tex-Mex, but it will do! So yesterday, after church, we went to Aztecas and had A FEAST I tell you, A FEAST! Oh, it was heavenly. Cary brought half of his home, which ended up being my lunch today.

Now, on to the tamale. And let me preface this by saying I KNOW MY MEXICAN FOOD. There was this BIG ROUND thing in the container and I had NO IDEA what it was. I thought, maybe a chimichanga, maybe a burrito??? So I tasted it. And I still couldn't figure out what it was. It was good, but I had no clue what I was eating. I took another bite. And then another. Still, nothing was coming to me. It definitely was not an enchilada. About half way through, I asked him, "Honey, what the heck is this thing???" And he replied, "Oh, that's my tamale!" ("You mean, MY tamale, right?" Heeheee.)

So that was my first experience with a Florida tamale. I didn't even know what it was!!! He assured me it was a BEEF tamale. Shew! Good thing! I wouldn't want to eat Babe. But still, it made no resemblance to any tamale I've ever seen. Except that it was round. And full of meat.