Killer Characters: A Tamale Tradition

by Mel Langston from Sparkle Abbey’sPampered Pets Mystery series

Hey everyone! Mel here. Holidays and traditions go hand and hand. Normally this time of year, I’m planning a festive Christmas dinner for two. Turkey, corn bread, creamed spinach, and sweet potato pie. But now that Grey and I are splitsville, and it’s just me and my trusted bulldog, Missy, I don’t have the heart to slave over a fabulous meal. Seriously, where would I even find a turkey small enough for one person? So I’m at a loss. What do I do for Christmas dinner?

Mama wants me to come home to Texas for the holidays. To be honest, I’m feeling a little homesick for my family now that Grey and I aren’t together any more. Growing up, the week before Christmas was when Mama always held a tamale making party for her girlfriends. Tamales are a big deal in Texas. And tamale parties…that’s basically eight hours of gossiping, wine drinking, and tamale making.

Mama and her friends made dozens and dozens of tamales. It never seemed to take long before the aroma of slow-cooked pork filled the house and somehow Daddy always managed to “taste test” the first batch before any tamale could leave the kitchen. Just thinking about it now makes my stomach rumble.

Tamales and black-eyed peas for Christmas Eve dinner was as much of a tradition growing up as Daddy stomping through the house, muttering about a lack of tape. Maybe I’ll try my hand at Mama’s tamale recipe this year.

Do you have a traditional Christmas Eve or Christmas Day or other holiday meal?

Killer Characters Season's Readings fun has begun! We’re giving away these fabulous dog butt magnets and a book of your choosing from the Pampered Pets Mystery series. Leave a comment today through Saturday and be sure to include your email. We’ll do a random drawing and announce the winner on Sunday!

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Our latest release is: Downton Tabby
Tea & crumpets...& murder!

100 comments:

Mary PrestonDecember 11, 2015 at 2:37 AM

Such a fun cover & giveaway thank you.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
1. Sparkle AbbeyDecember 11, 2015 at 4:31 PM
  
  Thanks, Mary! We have loved what the publisher has done with our covers. :-)

Jen ScottDecember 11, 2015 at 4:08 AM

I didn't realize there were doggie butt magnetics. They are too cute. LOL! I don't think we have a traditional Christmas meal anymore. When the family members get together, the meal could be smoke turkey, Chicken, soup, salad, cookies, cakes....
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
1. Sparkle AbbeyDecember 11, 2015 at 4:32 PM
  
  Jen - All that sounds wonderful! We didn't realize there were doggie butt magnets either until we saw these. On the back of the package it says the same company also makes kitty butt magnets as well. Who knew, right? :-)

skkormanDecember 11, 2015 at 6:44 AM

I'm usually alone on Christmas so my traditional meal is Chinese food—LOL!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net
1. Sparkle AbbeyDecember 11, 2015 at 4:33 PM
  
  Chinese food is a Christmas tradition.

Sparkle AbbeyDecember 11, 2015 at 4:42 PM

We were just talking about how even if you've got other food, our families seem to want ham. We're thinking of trying ham balls this year. Wonder how that will fly?

Sparkle AbbeyDecember 11, 2015 at 4:45 PM

Anne - That's a great way to accommodate the tendency to graze throughout the day. At least that's what happens at our house. One of the daughter-in-laws brings peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids. She cuts them up in cute shapes and they love it!

Sparkle AbbeyDecember 11, 2015 at 4:46 PM

Thanks for your kind words about the series. We have a ton of fun writing it! Honey-baked ham is a great Yule tradition. Our families seem to think it's a must have. :-)