Food is an important factor in familial culture. And, it’s not just about eating.
But…
Majorly about maintaining relations between people and traditions. An important tradition in food culture is Tamale-making.
Tamale-making events have been on the rise to help preserve traditional food cultures. The events pass on amazing recipes to the next generation, training them on how to prepare tamales.
Tamale, like any other food, needs proper storage. The various options for food storage range from refrigerated storage to dry storage to frozen food storage.
The various factors that prolong food storage supply that you’ll find handy for your tamale trail event include:
- Temperature – the temperature at which you store your food is important. It affects the shelf life of your food. Tamale storage is no exception.
Therefore, to achieve a maximum storage period for your tamales, you need to keep them at the right constant temperature.
- Moisture – the same way most foods go for long when dried of the moisture in them, you can do the same for tamales. With some level of moisture in them, place them in dry areas if you want them to last longer.
- Light – light energy degrades the value of foods and other substances. Therefore, store your tamales in areas that aren’t excessively lit.
- Oxygen – foods are best when stored in oxygen-free environments. Stored foods, including tamales, should be oxygen-free to prevent oxidation of the food compounds.
The various ways you can remove oxygen from your tamales include:
- Using oxygen absorbers
- Displacing the oxygen from the food
With regards to choosing food storage solutions for your Tamale event, the following are the factors to consider:
4 Important Solutions for Food Storage
1. Canning
Tamales can be canned. But, you should take care when canning them because tamales expand when canned. Therefore, it’s critical that you don’t fill the jars when canning your tamales.
Leave enough headspace when filling your Tamales in jars to avoid messes like:
- The lid of the can be bulging out
- Corn flour pushing out of the jar
- Food loss
- Seals failing
Tamales need liquid, and when being cooked, they tend to absorb liquid. You, therefore, need to observe sauce ratios. The good thing about canning tamales is that the cans are multipurpose.
They can be used for storing several other items, even non-food stuff.
Opt for containers made from grade plastic, metal, or glass materials. The containers should not contain toxic chemicals that impair health when transferred to food.
Containers with airtight seals are the best.
What’s more, you may find containers with extra storage for your gun, parts, and accessories. You may need to carry a rifle scope for better focus in case of a security lapse during the event.
2. Refrigeration
Refrigeration is another better method of storing Tamales. What you need to do is to place the filled and wrapped Tamales in a dish that’s about 13 by 9-inch.
Cover the dish with a plastic wrap followed by an aluminum foil. You can then safely store your Tamales in the refrigerator for two days.
3. Freezers
Freezers store all kinds of foods, including tamales. It’s possible and safe to store Tamales in freezers for prolonged life. The fact that tamale can be prepared and stored before a party or an event makes it a perfect party food.
Whenever you need to consume the Tamales after freezing, you can reheat them using the following methods:
- Steamer – used to warm food by steaming it.
- Oven
- Stove
- Microwave – uses electricity to warm food.
- Deep fryer
4. Vacuum packing
Vacuuming tamales are also possible.
Under vacuum conditions, foods take longer to go bad. Vacuuming can be used for different food types and other substances that need to be kept safe from aeration.
Conclusion
Tamale events are essential in preserving traditions and passing tamale recipes to the next generations. During the events, people come together to socialize and share histories.
Tamale, being food, can go bad if not well preserved. Before hosting a tamale event, make sure that you meet all the necessary conditions for storing your tamales so that you serve fresh tamales.
There are so many conditions to consider when choosing food solutions for your tamale event. The solutions may have the features you need to store tamales and other foods, including non-foods.
With the conditions and solutions mentioned above, opt for the best food storage to attain the most efficiency.
Your tamale event can benefit the business in many ways.
Whether yours is a small or large business, you’ll benefit immensely from organizing a tamale event.
The event can improve your team morale and retention of staff. It acts as a morale booster for your employees.
Your staff gets the opportunity to interact with other employees. They learn more about your business from each other, including goals and figures.
During the tamale event, your staff experience a boost in motivation to perform better at their job roles.
The event also builds brand awareness of your business. It places your tamale business before prospective customers likely to connect with your brand.
Event attendees develop an interest in your brand. They’re likely to bring their family and friends along to the event. This further increases your business reach.
The experiential event is all about meeting your existing and new customers in person. You talk and interact in person. As a result, the attendees will share your tamale event and business on social media if you give them positive experiences.
Pair your tamale event with other great food accompaniments, games, and any other interactions to engage your audience. This is a great way to make your event memorable.
Other benefits of organizing a tamale event include:
- Generates revenue
- Improves productivity
- Enhances your business culture
- Supports thought leadership
- Promotes team cohesion
- Provides audience insights
- Promotes customer conversion
- Expands your marketing strategy
With proper organization, you’ll successfully cater for your tamale event. Here’re the tools and gear or equipment you need to host a successful tamale event:
6 Tools and Gear for Your Upcoming Tamale Event
- Items for setting up your event tables
Are you planning for a sit-down catering meal during the tamale event?
If yes, you’ll need bread and dinner plates and salad plates. Depending on what you intend to serve during the tamale trail event, you may also need the following items:
- Soup bowls
- Water and wine glasses
- Utensils
- Coffee cups with saucers
- Napkins, tablecloths, and centerpieces
- Pepper and salt
- Butter
- Sugar
- Equipment for serving food
You need serving equipment to distribute food and beverages to your guests or audience easily. Strike a balance between sturdiness and classiness when picking serving items for your tamale trail event.
This increases the chance of your business being successful. Some equipment for serving food include:
- Serving trays for holding food during the tamale event.
- Bus bins for holding dirty dishes and food leftovers post-eating.
- Durable and attractive water pitchers for stocking your event servers because water refilling is integral to your tamale trail event.
- A repair kit
You also need to carry a repair kit to fix basic issues that may arise.
Thread and needles can enable you to fix torn tablecloths and other fabrics quickly. You also need a pair of scissors for basic cutting jobs.
The repair kit should also include welding jackets and MIG welders to fix metallic items that may need welding to get it to work again.
Welding jackets are versatile for use in different scenarios apart from welding. It’s designed to offer you protection from the fire spikes that result from welding.
The protective equipment is also durable for long-term use.
Similarly, you may need a welder to fix broken metallic items through welding during your tamale event. Designed for heavy-duty projects, MIG welders are portable, compact, and lightweight for use on the go.
- Equipment for buffet service
Arrangement for a buffet in your event will differ, hence the need for additional items. The equipment you’ll need for the tamale event allows for quick setup, operation, and removal.
Buffet-style event service can easily cause items to break or drop inadvertently. This calls for extra items to use in such scenarios.
Some equipment you may need for your buffet-style event include:
- Silverware in rolls for easy access
- Fuel cells with matches or a lighter to start or power the chafing dishes
- Chafing dishes to keep your food warm during the event
- Large spoons and tongs for serving food
- Uniform, sturdy plates
- Spatulas
- A sharp knife and cutting board
- A spot cleaner and dishcloths for wiping spills
- Decorations
- Serving baskets for holding bread, fruits or other food items for display
- A station for serving beverages such as coffee
Your tamale trail event isn’t complete without serving beverages.
Well…
No event is.
Your beverage stations require a different setup and equipment. They include:
- Decaf backups for guests who don’t take caffeine
- Air-pots for coffee
- Pitchers with ice and water
- Iced tubs for cold drinks
- Hot water
- Glasses, coffee cups, and mugs for holding soft drinks and water
- Cocoa, tea bags, dairy packets, and sugar
- An organized wastebasket for tossing waste or trash – eases cleaning
- Napkins
- Straws
- Extra items for your event
If you intend to hold the event outside your business premises, you’ll need even more equipment.
For instance, an insulated container or Cambro can keep your foods cold or hot as desired. Opt for coolers if you’re working on a tight budget and need to make cost-savings.
Other additional items include:
- Disposable containers for keeping food
- Garbage bags to store dirty linen used in the event
- Keep leftovers in the coolers for guests to take home later
- Tin or aluminum foil
- Water jugs
- A plastic wrap
- Paper towels
- Hand sanitizers
Whether you intend to hold a tamale trail event once or twice a month, you’ll find all these items speaking for your brand.
Do you have a security plan for your upcoming tamale trail event?
Concert and event security and audience safety are now more important than ever. Post the Manchester Arena bombing, and the Las Vegas’ Route 91 Harvest Festival tragic shooting, the security of events is at the core of every occasion.
Ranging from music festivals to large arenas to tamale trail events, the security of events is the focus of event managers.
Invest in security consultants or services and create a robust emergency plan for your next event. This is key to ensure that your audience is safe.
Visit the tamale trail event venue with your security team prior to the occasion to develop an emergency response plan. It’s key to coming up with a procedure for enactment in case of a sudden disaster.
Make sure that your security emergency plan detail includes:
- Saferoom areas or locations
- How guests will be directed in the event of an emergency
- Various ways to evacuate masses at the occasion
- Staff communication in the face of an emergency
- What to do if an active shooter attacks
- The location for staff meeting if there’s an emergency
- Notifications and signs for guests to guide them when responding to an emergency
Other security details for your upcoming tamale trail include:
6 Security Tips for Your Tamale Trail Event
- Analyze your event’s security risk
Events have similar needs when it comes to security. However, the risk for a security attack varies from event to event.
For instance, the birthday party of a two-year-old may have a low risk than your upcoming tamale trail occasion. However, a politician’s speech for a campaign has a higher security risk.
When planning your event and working on the security detail, determine its risk level. Consider the following:
- If you’re a likely target for groups or individuals.
- The individuals or groups expected to perform, speak, or exhibit at the event, and if they present a distinct security risk or lure agitators.
- The presence of media; large crowds attract agitators.
- The presence of non-human security threats such as floods, highways, roaming wild animals, etc.
- The presence of security vulnerabilities at the events venue such as escape routes in outdoor venues.
- Create a safety budget
Create a budget for your security plan and details.
Determine the scope of your event and what you’re getting yourself into when planning your event. Include the following in your security budgeting:
- Walk-through metal detectors
- Security personnel
- K-9 sweeps, etc.
Mid-level security packages often include licensed security officers working as moonlights or janitors during the day and night, respectively.
Depending on your state, fireguards would offer enough security for your event if it has a low-security risk.
- Hire security and/or gun service
Hire security professionals for a high-risk event. Although your staff would do a good job for low-risk event security, you need experienced professionals to handle high-risk events.
Trained security personnel can easily identify loopholes in your security plan. They also know how trouble-makers and event agitators reason and think.
Therefore, listen to your security professionals.
You can also hire guns for your staff if they know how to use guns and have proper licensing. A security team with the best air rifles will make you an absolute winner at your event.
The rifles will come in handy if there’s a shooter at the event.
- Create and focus on event exits
Getting people out or away from your event venue in case of an attack is key to saving lives. Make sure every attendee of your tamale trail event knows the location of the exit.
Create an emergency exit for security situations. Don’t assume that the main entrance is the only viable exit point. It’s likely to have challenges or sit far in case of an emergency.
Open all exits at the end of the event and get people out as fast as possible in case of indoor venues. Ascertain that all exits are clear at all times.
- Create a communication plan
It’s not enough to include communication in your disaster management plan. Create a communication plan to keep your staff and the security team in touch in case of an emergency.
Create a chain of command and make sure that the communication paths are clear and effective. Let every member of your team understand their role in the plan, know the decision-makers, and how information is communicated.
Make sure the plan includes:
- Copies of the plan
- How to communicate with audiences
- Regular communication with your local fire, police, and emergency departments.
- Practice and prepare for the event
Apart from preparing for your tamale trial event, rehearse, and practice your security and communication plan.
Go over all the safety procedures and do radio checks. Test and practice every aspect of your security plan. This is to ensure that you move to the event with a working security plan.
Although security incidents are unpredictable, a good plan can make the difference in keeping your staff and audience safe.
Plasma cutter is a useful tool for automotive work and metal cutting. You can perform plasma cutting on any conductive material. There are several plasma cutters available in the market today which are affordable to workers. To get cleaner cuts, most plasma cutters depend on Oxyfuel.
Metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, and cast iron are quite receptive to almost all welding methods. Thinner the metals, faster and cleaner the cuts would be. Without a plasma cutter, workers will find difficulties while cutting steel or aluminum.
Build a Steel Table using a cutter
Some tasks are simple while some concentrate on accuracy and craftsmanship. This Kitchen Steel table seems to adopt a principle of “going big or going home,” and we must admit that the finished product impresses us greatly.
Let us take you through the procedure
To achieve cleaner cuts with a plasma cutter, a sufficient supply of fresh and dry air is required. Fresh and dry air greatly improves the quality of the cut. A plasma cutter is a device that uses an inert gas from an activated nozzle which is blasted out at a high velocity. As this gas flows, an arc is added to it which allows you to easily cut through the steel.
Note that while building the steel table, enough precautions should be taken for your eye’s safety. A lot of heat is generated by plasma so use such a frame where the lens that will automatically adjust to shield your eyes. A fire-resistant suit along with safety gloves should also be used which covers the clothing and body together. It will take a lot of patience and composure to build a steel table.
Use an angle grinder to clean the edges. Longer bits measuring 1/5″ X 1.5″ X ¼” are cut with an iron edge measuring 24″. A few other cinches and a square with a right-edge is arranged to fill the crate and welded together. Once everything is put together the last welds of 1″ is done. Take either a sanding plate or a flapper over the table. Take the defensive covering off and uncover the metal. This enables you to transfer the power to the piece laid at the table.
Then, arrange the parts to represent the perimeter of the box with clamps and weld them together. Once it had all been put together, set the final welds as straight and square.
Welding thin steel plate to the bottom of your plasma cutting table may also be considered. This could just turn it upside down to shake off the slag.
Use this table to make cuts with your plasma cutter and don’t feel anxious about the steel table’s backside. The strong table helps you to place even steel plates, make your cutting and do not worry concerning parts hitting the floor.
The Final Result
To conclude, the table works pretty well on top of the concrete floor and provides ample capacity to use.
You cannot judge the safety of well water from just the physical look. Yes, it may look clean but you never know the contents in terms of macronutrients that may cause health issues when you drink or use it to make Tamale. The underlying rock that the well water originates from has a say on the safety of the water. Some of the rocks may have chemicals and metals that can even change the taste of the Mexican dish. You cannot underrate water pollution that may find its way to the water well. It is therefore important to treat well water before you make your tasty tamale. Nothing is disgusting like having an appetite for Tamale and you take your sweet time to prepare it only to get a funny taste just because of your ignorance on the safety of well water. The best well water filter for families is one that has undergone tests and treated in case of microbes then finally given a clean bill of health on its consumption.
How then can you know is the well water is safe for preparing Tamale?
Location
Normally when well waters are constructed there are many factors they put into consideration. First is that they must be parallel to a sewer-like or a toilet (pit latrines). This is an underground natural tank and the soil can easily sip its way to the well to contaminate it. The fact that you are not sick yet you have been using the well for some time does not mean its safe. You may be accumulating parasites and microorganisms that may affect you at old age. In most cases such illnesses are irreversible.
The source of water
Where is the water coming from, is it an underground slippage or it comes from a high altitude area. If that is the case, are there any health risks that might come in contact with the water that may make it unsafe. There are times you just have to use common sense before you even taste the water on its safety.
Maintenance
How often do you treat or test the well water to prove its safety? The well water might have been given a clean bill of health many years ago; are the environmental conditions the same? Definitely, with population increase and pressure on land, this is not the case. Make sure you have a quarterly well water check or when there is a major activity in the area.
Mode of construction
The water itself may be safe but the challenge comes when there is contact that may contaminate the water. If there is not, then there is no cause for alarm. In case the well water is sealed and it is just the source that drains water from it is also safe then, you are free to use the water to cook your Tamale.
Human and animal activities around the area
Water pollution is a result of various human activities which include industrial waste management. In case you have such activities around the well water then unless you test the water. The water is unsafe for domestic use.
Although people think that when you cook you kill the bacteria and parasites in the water; as much as that may be the case, this is not the only risks involved in water safety. There is also the presence of heavy metals like Mercury, Lead, and Magnesium that have adverse health effects. Their presence cannot be removed even by boiling at extreme temperatures. Instead, it even breaks them into smaller molecules that are easily absorbed in the body.
There is no way you will wake up in the morning and become a welder, you not only need the skills but also the passion for it. Tamale factory-made from a welder depicts a touch of class and glamour this restaurant will be. Whether you have a simple welding design or you want to exercise welding as a hobby you have something to do with the skill in tamale factory.
Mexican understands the zeal people…
have for tamale meals and they will want to be at the restaurant as long as time allows. Apart from the meals, the design and the physical outlook of the café matters a lot. You are in a competitive business. You need to ask yourself, what will make people come to my restaurant and leave the rest. Once you have the answer then capitalize on it for maximum sales revenue. Lets us focus on the welding skills that come in handy to achieve this objective.
There are must-have job skills…
that you have no option but to have or learn to make sure the tamale factory is the talk of the town. First, your arithmetic skills need to be top-notch. You have a design on paper or a digital platform. Remember this is a hands-on skill that you cannot afford to waste even a single dimension. When you cut the metal in a small or a big size then you are sure you have messed the design. You must use logic and reasoning to interpret the measurements and even detect any errors. There is no room for margin of error in welding. It has to be exact to get that glowing and appreciated design for all the areas of the tamale factory.
Bad design to have a beautiful look
Secondly, it is not just a matter of putting metals together or rather cutting the metals. You have to cut, smoothen then, remove any form of corrosion as well as take good care of the environment. A welder must be keen in detail. It is the details that will make even a bad design to have a beautiful look. Poor attention to details can also mess up a good design.
Thirdly, a welder must be of a good state of health in terms of the physical body. This is a physically strenuous activity that involves lifting of metals here and there. Your agility levels must be high to sustain this big tamale factory building project.
Professional Mexican Welder
Besides, a Mexican welder must be professional and posse high level of integrity. This is a corporate industry. The way you handle this project determines your future. You will get referrals from a good job done. We are in a digital world where communication is just on the keyboard. Even if your work is the best and you lack the right work ethics. Your skills will just help you at home and not in handling massive projects like this.
Welding has not been left out…
in advanced technology. A welder must always be in line with the current welding trends. If there are new tools available for the job, you must make sure you have them. There is a reason why they were developed. You will notice, it makes work easier and faster than the ancient methods. Even in the documentation and corporate communication, you must have a presence in the digital market. This determines how clients will take you seriously in the welding industry. If you are left behind then trust me, you will lose the percentage of your market share.
Welding is one of the toughest jobs and involves thousands of people across the
The extreme hot condition at work may cause dehydration and it is advised that welders drink water at regular interval to avoid dehydration and fatigue. If a welder is hungry all the time, he can’t work well and can commit mistakes which not only hampers the flow of work but can also be dangerous for him as well as his co-workers. In this food guide for welders, we will discuss
Tamale
Welders’ diet has always been a point of discussion as the profession is very hard labour oriented and demands heavy diet. But if the welders will consume too much then they will feel lethargic and will not be able to work properly. On the flipside, if a welder consumes light food, they may not keep up with the endurance and resilient required in this job. Tamale, the popular Mesoamerican dish is considered as a prime food for welders as it is made up of corn which is rich is starch.
The corn or starch is the principal source of energy and does not make the workers lethargic after meal. The stuffing of the tamale can be fruits and vegetables, cheese, chillies, or any preparation according to the choice of the welders. Tamale is easy to eat in welding sites as it is steamed and make the workers feel light at the work.
Enchilada
Another important food for welders is Enchilada. It is a corn tortilla that is rolled around the filling according to how you want it For welders it is generally advised to have a filling of vegetables and meat to keep them active at work. The filling is usually kept simple as the enchilada is covered with chili pepper sauce which enhances the taste.
Pozole
This is a traditional soup from Mexico that is loved by welders throughout the globe. The soup consists of meat and
Tostada
Another corn preparation which is very popular among welders is tostada. It is basically a flat or bowl-shaped base that is either toasted or deep fried. It can be consumed as
This food is quite famous in Latin America and Mexico. The tostada is often stuffed with vegetables and meat according to the choice of the welders. The food not only supply essential nutrients but also helps the welders lively during the work.
Mole Sauce
Welders need food to make them energized at work and Mole Sauce is the best option to be light and energetic at the same time The main ingredient of the sauce is meat which is a good source of protein and fats.
The mole sauce includes spices like black pepper, cinnamon, cumin, which is very important for the digestive system of the welders.
To work on profitable welding projects, welders have to have enough energy in their everyday work. If you have loved ones or friends who are welders, share this to them or better cook those foods for them when they go to work.
The Zenchilada, a new online magazine out of New Mexico, features a wonderful piece on Delta tamales and the Tamale Trail in its inaugural issue. The article is written by SFA friend and Craig Claiborne Lifetime Achievement Award winner Ronni Lundy. Scroll through the pages at the bottom of the website to get to the tamale article, which appears on pages 48-55.
This weekend, July 9 and 10, is being billed as “The Most Southern Weekend on Earth.” The Oxford American magazine is hosting a series of events in Clarksdale, featuring food, lectures and, of course, live music. As part of the event, Amy Evans Streeter, chief architect of the Tamale Trail, will be moderating a Mississippi Delta Hot Tamale Trail Talk & Tasting at Delta Amusement on Saturday, June 9 at 11 a.m. The event is free, so come on down, if you’re in the area!
Visit the Oxford American website for more info.