Mexican Tamale Pie (Tamal de Cazuela)
Have you ever had a trip that could be described as one of the best and worst at the same time? You know the favorite ones when you come back with all the stories to tell and you don’t even need to show a million pictures. My recent trip to Mexico was full of the highs and lows a person could expect when they decide to travel during a pandemic. Where do I start? The night before? No, the night before the night before? Otherwise known as New Year’s Eve and a much-anticipated wedding. The many reasons I wasn’t packed yet kids, house, day job, night shifts, and my friend’s wedding. The wedding was a beautiful experience. They had it at their recently meticulously renovated historic house on acreage. A beautiful background for a beautiful couple. The wedding was a true pleasure it was getting home that was a struggle.
Amazing photo by Paul Kieu
In short, I sat there in a camper van lovingly referred to as “ Champagne Wayne” looking out to the bonfire in the distance wondering once again “ How do I get myself into these situations”?. Knowing full well it is because it is due to my love of chaos and my inability to ever fully want to grow up. After spending over an hour trying to herd cats i.e. my fellow chaotic friends after a night of drinking I gave up, sooner or later they will find me. Or at least my boyfriend will notice my absence and I can snag myself a sober ride home. Thank you Leslie for the switch to house music, it drove the non-dancing boys out to the darkness to seek refuge. Champagne Wayne was their lighthouse to get home.
I should have known it would end this way when one of the first sights I saw was an endless line of ice chests on the side of the house. In true Louisiana style, we take BYOB very seriously. Even though it sounds like I am complaining I am aware that I also know how it will end when you are the shuttle bus to a wedding full of your nearest and dearest. Would I trade an easy exit and quiet ride home for hustling all my drunk friends into a van and proceed to have inane conversations with bursts of musical interludes as you slowly drive your poor sober driver crazy? Nope, because that 30 minutes of insanity is worth the almost two hours it took me to get them there.
We got home safe and sound. i walked into a room with an almost empty suitcase staring at me with its gaping open mouth as if to yell “ I’m not going to pack myself” Shhh sir, I am getting to it but now we sleep. The next day the timeline and hangover hit. I have to work tonight and then drive to the airport immediately. Knowing full well that managing a restaurant/music venue while bartending is like trying to fix an overstuffed sausage, there is no saving it, you just do your best to contain the mess. So I did what any responsible traveler does. I threw things into the suitcase at a lightning speed, Patting myself on the back for being able to make such wise decisions in such a short time. Yes, it takes a genius to pack exactly the opposite of what you will need on a beach trip in a mainly hot climate. All those cardigans that perfectly matched my suffocating polyester vintage dresses were a form of packing idiocy the heights of which I have not reached before.
It is Midnight and I throw my completely useless 50-pound suitcase and just as useless self in the back of Champagne Wayne and off we go to the airport. We arrive at long-term parking and instantly question my decision to sleep in the van until time to check-in. I did not consider how many caffeinated drinks it would take me to get there and the lack of restrooms in a parking garage. Let’s just say this would not be the first time on the trip I would have to get inventive in a dire situation. We survived the bitterly cold night in the back of the van, the bottle of wine I am sure was an appropriate sleep aid.
The trip to Mexico was largely uneventful. There was the left phone and the scramble to get back to the van and retrieve it. We will skip the part where it took two grown adults way too long to figure out how to get back to the very large parking garage with signs pointing the way. We made it through,
As we walk out of the Puerto Vallarta airport after dodging the entire hallway of people trying to give us a ride. Tip #1 avoid them, there are plenty of cabs outside. There sits Kelli who had arrived before us. Of course, she has made friends and is now enjoying a beer and conversation. She is strangely dressed for the weather, it’s like she is still dressed for the 22 degrees Dallas she had just left. Well, that is because they had lost her luggage and it didn’t look like she would be getting it soon. I pulled my emergency dress out of my bag for her to change into. Tip #2 - Keep an emergency change of clothes in your carry-on for me a comfortable house dress or yoga pants and t-shirt. Then we were off to find this elusive Uber pick-up location we were told about. This is where the adventure of bad luck and bad decisions collided. What does this have to do with tamales? Absolutely nothing. but you can google tamale and get plenty of info. Can you google what happens when you cross a Mexican interstate to a shadier part of town to catch an Uber?
Fine, Fine, something about the recipe. I had a lot of great tamales but honestly I prefer when someone else does all that labor for the individual ones. To satisfy my craving but with less work I make this version. Casserole style and you can change the fillings just like traditional tamales.
