{"id":19188,"date":"2021-12-07T15:59:14","date_gmt":"2021-12-07T15:59:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/familiakitchen.com\/?p=19188"},"modified":"2022-12-12T22:57:20","modified_gmt":"2022-12-12T22:57:20","slug":"casa-m-ultimate-pork-tamales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/familiakitchen.com\/es\/casa-m-ultimate-pork-tamales\/","title":{"rendered":"Tamales de Cerdo Ultimate de Casa M"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

These pork tamales<\/a> are served\u2014and, of course\u2014spiced with mucho amor and attention to quality by Mike and Manny Hernandez, married in life and business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, they are the \u201cM\u201d in Casa M, a fast-growing artisanal brand devoted to adding the heat you need (whether you know it or not: try their spices and you’ll see!) for all your favorite dishes and recipes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It all started after another of their legendary dinner parties, starring a scrumptious Texas-style brisket made by Mike, who was torn between going to cooking school and pursing a Ph.D. in chemical physics. Dr. Mike chose the latter, but food never let go of him. So, he brought his love of science into the cocina, alongside Manny, to pursue a combo path he calls Chemistry in the Kitchen.\u00ae <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their friends and families soon took note of the deliciousness served on the regular in their house. As Mike tells the story: \u201cThroughout the years, it became customary, as folks were leaving after a meal, that we were asked \u2019What did you use on this?\u2019 or \u2019What was that flavor?\u2019 Almost inevitably that turned into \u2019Will you share the recipe?\u2019 or \u2018Can I buy some somewhere?\u2018 And it got to the point where Manny joked \u2019We should think about going legit instead of selling dime bags\u201d of his signature spice mixes from their house in Dallas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manny\u2019s quip got the the couple thinking. The worked up legit labels and packaging. Soon, a thriving business was born from their spicy side hustle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone, say hola to Casa M Spice Co<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet the Casa M Spice That Started a Chain Reaction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first blend emerging from Mike\u2019s spice tinkering is their best-selling Chain Reaction mix<\/a>. It\u2019s a secret blend of natural ingredients including paprika, salt, pepper, garlic, onion, spices, and ground chiles. Of course, it didn’t stop there. Casa M kept developing bold seasonings with ever-witty names like: Cattle Drive<\/a> (for beef), Whole Hog<\/a> (for pork), Free Range<\/a> (for chicken), Hooked<\/a> (for fish) and Good Shepherd<\/a> (you guessed it: for lamb). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Manny then puts these spice mixes to work in the weekly recipe he cooks, shoots and posts on Casa M’s blog, often tapping into his Mexican heritage with his mother and abuela\u2019s traditional family recipes. \u201cIt was very important to both of us that the brand represent the hospitality of being at Casa M as well as delivering on the signature flavors that everyone already knew and loved,\u201d Manny says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Casa<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With Mike and Manny\u2019s commitment to authentic flavors and love of feeding friends and family, Casa M Spice Co. is Familia Kitchen\u2019s partner perfecto for our weeklong Tamale Week showcase. We are honored to shine a light on their Casa M in our celebration of masa-filled-and-wrapped recipes from around the Latino world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gracias Manny and Mike! we love your tamales\u2014and the inspiring food story behind your delicious recipe<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Mike and Manny Got Stranded in Cozumel: A Christmas Tamales Story<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Mike, left, and Manny Hernandez keep things spicy in the kitchen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Mike and Manny are all about the two Ss: spices and scuba diving. Which is why you’ll often find them underwater off the coast of Cozumel, where they have a home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But during a recent trip, M&M were grounded when the island was hit by a swell of hurricanes. Since Mike and Manny couldn\u2019t dive, they did the next best thing: they cooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The couple soon realized Christmas was just weeks away, and there was a glaring omission in Casa M’s cooking blog. Where were the tamales?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is a well established Mexican tradition of making tamales at Christmas,\u201d says Mike. \u201cManny and I have enjoyed it together for many years and somehow it never dawned on us to make our own and document a recipe for it. That has now changed!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get hands-on learning, they sought out two of the Cozumel\u2019s top tamale makers. In exchange for watching the women prepare their famous tamales, Mike and Manny offered to make their traditional pork filling\u2014with Casa M spices, of course\u2014to stuff the masa. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUnderstandably, the maestras were a little dubious since it strayed from their traditional preparation, but we assured them it would be be the best pork they’d had.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike, Manny and Casa M Spices delivered. The pork impressed the veteran tamaleras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBy the time we were wrapping them, everyone was licking their fingers and stealing little pieces of pork stuffing intended to go into the tamales. Suffice it to say that the resulting tamales were well received. By all. In fact, our two teachers said these were the best pork tamales they’d ever had (even if they were non-traditional).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is the recipe for the tamales they made that Christmas in Cozumel. An important ingredient note: Mike and Manny advise dropping into your local Mexican market to find two make-or-break ingredients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, try to buy homemade masa. If they don’t sell it, Manny recommends making your own with a premade masa harina like Maseca Tamal. Make sure it says tamal, as it has a lighter consistency than tortilla corn flour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, look for real pork lard. \u201cIt’s important to the flavor, texture, and even the feel of the masa. We get it at the butcher counter at our local Hispanic market, but most butchers should be able to sell you rendered pork fat or, if not, they can sell you leaf lard that you can render.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And here’s a third tamales tip: Stock up on fresh spices from Casa M. This recipe calls for Casa M Spice Co\u00ae Pecking Order\u00ae<\/a>, which comes in two levels of heat: original and 2x hot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to get your spice on\u2014and check gifts off your list? Casa M is offering a holiday special: 20% off spice purchases. Use code: Best20.<\/h2>\n\n\n
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CASA M ULTIMATE PORK TAMALES<\/h2>\n\n
\n \t\t \t\t\tRecipe by Manny and Mike Hernandez<\/span>\n \t\t\n
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