The Rewards of Adventurous Cooking

In this episode of Jenn Seasly's Foodlore, Dr. Jenn Seasly shares the story of making homemade tamales with friends — a delicious, time-consuming, slightly chaotic, and deeply rewarding kitchen adventure. From red chile beef and green chile pork to Hatch chile and cheese, elote-inspired fillings, apples with green chiles, and the very firm decision to avoid hidden green olives, Jenn explores how regional traditions shape the way we experience food. Along the way, she talks about Sonoran tamales, Tex-Mex chili sauce, pinto beans, masa, corn husks, lard, and the beauty of learning by doing. But this episode is about more than tamales. It's about gathering people in the kitchen, trying something new, embracing imperfection, and discovering that some of the best meals come from shared effort. Jenn reminds us that food can be a gift, a memory, a love language, and a reason to invite people into our lives. Listen to the full episode, then explore the companion recipe here