Disneyland is already a magical place, but now that California Adventure is celebrating Viva Navidad…. it has seriously taken the experience to a new level of happiness. This holiday season (November 15th to January 6th, 2014 – with a special Three Kings Celebration from January 3rd to 6th) California Adventure is serving up some amazing delicious Mexican food, and I got the opportunity to learn from one of the Viva Navidad Chef’s (Chef Nubia Renteria) how to make her version of sweet pineapple raisin tamales. Watch the video above to see how easy they were to make.

For the recipe and instructions click over to Babble!

I feel like I’ve been working my way up the tamale making line my whole life.  When I was a little girl I wasn’t allowed to get my tiny hands in the tamale making process along with the other women in my family.  The spreading of the masa or filling the tamales was reserved for the adults.  I was stuck soaking the corn husks and then putting them in a strainer to dry.  When I got a little older I was then asked to label the bags so we would know which were red, green, or sweet.  It wasn’t till I became a pre-teen that I was allowed to sit at the table with the grown ups.  I remember my aunt saying to me “If you can master the spreading of the masa, then you are ready to make tamales.”  I learned quickly and never had to watch over soaking corn husks again.  I was now sitting in the prize spot with my family, listening in on all the tidbits they shared about life and days of their youth.

I am now able to make tamales from start to finish with no help or extra assistance from anyone and have somehow become the ring leader of the entire process with the ladies.  Every year, my aunts vow that they are done making tamales and are happy that they have taught me well to carry on the tradition, but the minute December rolls around they all start looking at the calendar to see if there is a day when we can all meet.  None of this unity would be possible without Maseca, and for that, I am grateful for the amazing tasting corn flour.

This year I spent the day showing my little cousins and nieces how to spread the masa on the corn husks the way my aunts showed me.  Hoping that one day down the line they too will be able to make tamales for their families and show their daughters and sons……

Photo & video by: Mando Lopez

Disclosure: This is a sponsored campaign for Maseca and Latina Bloggers Connect.

As the holidays circle around us and I start to organize my schedule counting down the days till the next celebration, the one prominent thing I have on my mind is making tamales with my family.  It’s a tradition that goes hand in hand with the holiday season.  There’s something about making the chile, preparing the meat, the smell of Maseca masa as you spread it on the husk, and the feeling of unity as my family and friends gather for this ritual.  My tribe flocks together every year at my Tia Rosie’s house to embark on 35 dozen or so tamales.  We set up an assembly line and everyone is responsible for a different task.  Red chile with beef, Green chile with pork, vegetarian, and sweet tamales for all to enjoy come Christmas eve.  We make them fresh, package them neatly, freeze them and steam them once Dec. 24th rolls around.  This is the opening of my holiday season, and I consider it one of the best gifts.  There is one difference I must share this year… I am delighted to announce I am part of a campaign for Maseca called Blog Amigas.  Can you imagine the joy it brought me to be involved with a product I whole heartedly celebrate along with my family every year already?  Now it will be something I’ll share with you too.  Hopefully you feel the same warmth it brings me.

Let me invite you over to the New Mi Maseca website. You can find all types of recipes there from tamales to tortillas and some healthy recipes for you and your family to enjoy. Click here to look around.  Or you can play “Raspa y Gana” sweepstakes for a chance to win free groceries!  Sweepstakes ends Dec. 12th so you better hurry.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored campaign between Maseca and Latina Bloggers Connect.