Start the Year with a Tamale Recipe and a Chance to Win a YA Romance

Start the Year with a Tamale Recipe and a Chance to Win a YA Romance
Friday, January 2, 2026 by Sally Jo Pitts

Categories: Books & Food / Recommended Books

Investigating Food Used in Novels

This month’s food scene and recipe comes from Melissa Knight’s The One You See, Book 3 in the Rayburn High Romance series. (Melissa is offering a chance to win a free paperback or ebook. Read on!)

Here’s the scene:

“Like this, Lita?” The masa seemed light and fluffy, in my opinion, but Lita’s standards were higher than my heels on prom night.

Lita reached into the bowl, pinched off a small portion of dough, and rolled it into a ball between her palms. “We do the float test now. If the masa floats in this glass of water, it’s ready.” We all watched with bated breath—me, Mama, and my two Navarro aunts—as Lita dropped the ball into the water. It didn’t sink.

“Yes!” I crowed and performed a victory hula with Aunt Tori. “What’s next?”

We had cooked the pork filling, roasted chiles, hydrated corn husks, and a hundred other things since nine this morning, and we still weren’t finished. I hadn’t spent this much time in a kitchen in my entire life. The steam from a boiling pot kept the room a bit toasty, even with the air conditioning cranked up. I lifted my hair off my neck, sweating and more than ready to sample a tamale. Or tamal, as Lita instructed.

“It’s tamal for singular, not tamale,” she informed me. “Tamales for plural.”

Mama overheard from where she sat at the table. “Gringo here, hello? My tamale habit is hard to break.” She grinned, and Lita hustled across the kitchen to envelop her in a hug.

“And what a blessing you are, my sweet Teresa.” Her lips moved after she kissed the top of Mama’s head, and I figured she was praying, as she did for me with every hug.

Our cooking lesson had turned into a party. Mama had asked Lita and me if she could join us, and when the aunts found out, they wanted to come, too. Along with the heat and hard work, our morning brimmed over with chatter and laughter.

“Now we assemble the tamales.” Lita announced. “Then we steam them.”

Once we finished, I almost groaned in anticipation. We all sank into chairs, and Lita placed the large platter heaped with tamales on the table. The aroma of spicy goodness made my mouth water. Was there a better smell this side of heaven?

We devoured the tamales, washing them down with gallons of cold iced tea. I licked my fingers. “Lita, did you have to make tamales from scratch every single day when you started the restaurant?”

“You mean, how could I do that and also raise three boys?” Lita chuckled, and her eyes took on a faraway look. “God gives us the strength to do hard things. And it’s the hard things that teach us, not the easy ones.”

She, Mama, and my aunts continued discussing the restaurant’s history, and the way it had shaped Lita’s family. My mind wandered to Zac, as it had done throughout the morning. What memories, if any, did he have of his own family? Did they have traditions he remembered and kept going?

Lita divided up the remaining tamales as the rest of us prepared to leave. “Here, take these home. Share them with those you love.” She glanced my way and smiled. “Or with those you want to know better, si?”

I squinted at her. Yes, I planned to share some with Zac, but there was no way she could know that. Right?

Lita winked at me, then shooed us all out the door.

Here are the tamales author Melissa Knight uses to make her scene come alive for the reader.

Tamales

For the recipe click here.

More about The One You See:

When two worlds collide

In seventeen-year-old Miranda’s world of wealth and Paris vacations, image is everything. Control is crucial. A single lapse of judgment, however, brings that world crashing down, including her plans for a perfect senior year.

Zac has ambitions of his own, none of which involve the beautiful but snooty girl who never remembers his name. He comes with a past she wouldn’t understand anyway.

Forced to work together at a summer camp for foster children, sparks fly before they reach an uneasy truce. Genuine friendship requires trust, however, and vulnerability they'd rather avoid.

Somehow, while bonding with a defiant camper, learning to make homemade tamales, and performing an impromptu chicken dance, Miranda’s priorities shift. Drawn to Zac’s protective nature and kindness, he’s no longer a guy she can ignore.

As for Zac, this intelligent girl, desperate to escape guilt and find purpose despite her obvious life advantages, intrigues him. Drawing on hard-won battles he's already fought, Zac decides to risk his heart. He’ll let her into his world… and show her what faith looks like in the God who truly sees her.

The One You See is a stand-alone novel, Book Three in the Christian YA "Rayburn High Romance" series.

Free Book Offer:

Share your favorite kind of Mexican food (or Tex-Mex!) in the comments for a chance to win a copy of The One You See. (Your choice of paperback or ebook; offer good through January 8, 2026).

Author Bio:

Melissa Knight is a Young Adult Christian Contemporary Romance author. Her two series, High School 101 and Rayburn High Romance, deal with real-life concerns teens face, from private hopes and dreams to cyberbullying, AI issues and relationship challenges. Two of her books, You Were There and The One You See, are Amazon #1 best-sellers.

Melissa and her husband live in west Texas oil country, home of big ol’ ranches and plenty of excellent Mexican food. Visit Amazon, Melissa Knight, Author.

Comments

Michelle Fidler From OH At 1/7/2026 12:47:37 PM

Burritos, enchiladas, or chimichangas.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

All sound like winners.

Sherida Stewart From Arizona At 1/7/2026 9:55:55 AM

Ooo, a difficult choice. Nachos are always a definite selection, followed by tamales, but currently a shrimp taco from a local shop is my favorite….along with a churro for dessert. ??

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I've never tried a shrimp taco. I do like fish taco with coleslaw.

Rebecca Torres From Texas At 1/6/2026 4:05:19 PM

Enchiladas!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I love them too.

Leela From At 1/6/2026 5:38:50 AM

I like homemade tacos loaded with fixings.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds good!

Lalita aka Lita C From Florida At 1/5/2026 6:03:08 PM

I have to pick a favorite? Tacos it is!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

A good standard.

Crystan Reed From Pennsylvania At 1/5/2026 4:34:11 PM

When I get to go to a Mexican restaurant I would be happy with a giant plate of rice and refried beans.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds good.

Suzanne Sellner From Houston, TX At 1/4/2026 6:18:48 PM

I love taco salad and cheese enchiladas. My digestive system can't handle really spicy foods at my advanced age, but I do love not-as-spicy Mexican food.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sometimes spicy does need to be toned down some!

Maria Mast From Southaven, MS At 1/4/2026 3:40:46 PM

I love chimichangas!! ??

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Good choice.

Melissa Hartley From Missouri At 1/4/2026 10:46:15 AM

Mexican food is my very favorite!! I love beef tacos and beef enchiladas the most. Pork or beef tamales are good too :D thank you!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thanks for stopping by.

Stephanie Lashbrook From Pittsburg, KS At 1/4/2026 1:08:35 AM

I love tacos, bean burritos, cheese quesadillas and queso.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

All of those sound wonderful.

Kelly V. From Florida At 1/3/2026 10:57:52 PM

I love chicken quesadillas and tacos.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Good choices.

Jane From Pleasant View, UT At 1/3/2026 6:55:35 PM

LOVE Mexican food!! I like tacos, refried beans, Mexican rice, loaded nachos, great salsa, homemade chips, about everything.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Great list.

Judy Rittenhouse From Alton, Illinois At 1/3/2026 2:43:22 PM

My favorite is chicken, steak and shrimp fajitas with Mexican rice.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds yummy.

Linda From California At 1/3/2026 2:25:47 PM

My favorite Mexican food is all of it. But my very favorite is tamales and chili rellenos.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I had to look up Chili rellenos. I've never tried it but the roasted poblano peppers sounds good.

PJ Gaumond From NY At 1/3/2026 12:40:56 PM

I love tacos, burritos and tamales.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

good standards

Alicia Haney From Texas At 1/3/2026 12:40:52 PM

Lots of good Mexican foods here, the tamales sound and look delicious . I like Green Chicken Enchiladas or Red Enchiladas with ground beef. Thank you for the chance Have a great weekend.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thanks for stopping by.

Lisa Wright From Prescott Valley, AZ At 1/3/2026 12:35:44 PM

Tamales are great but right now I am craving a beef taco.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I know the feeling.

Melissa Knight From TX At 1/3/2026 11:04:32 AM

All these comments make me hungry! Who wants to meet me for Mexican food at lunch? When I visit a new Mexican restaurant, many times I order basic cheese enchiladas. If they get that right (including the sauce), usually everything else on the menu is good, too.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Hi Melissa. These comments are making me crave Mexican food too!

Emily Moser From New Orleans At 1/3/2026 10:53:40 AM

Camarones a la Diabla

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Sounds interesting.

Shirley M Ashley From IN At 1/3/2026 10:30:11 AM

We love Mexican food of all kinds. My favorite is grilled flank steak tacos. ??

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Nice choice.

Gretta From Salina, KS At 1/3/2026 10:17:00 AM

Love tacos with guac on top.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

And sour cream!

Lori From PA At 1/3/2026 10:11:59 AM

Soft Shell Tacos

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Nice choice.

MICHAEL LAW From IA At 1/3/2026 10:02:46 AM

My favorite Mexican dish is probably Nacho Fajitas. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Thanks for stopping by.

Kathryn Gritts From Saint Louis, Missour At 1/3/2026 9:22:11 AM

I LOVE pretty much any Mexican but am partial to Ceviche with a side of Guac and chips.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

I had to look this up. I've never tried Ceviche.

tony cannova From AL At 1/3/2026 7:59:46 AM

beef or chicken enchiladas

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Good.

Michele Simmons From TN At 1/3/2026 7:40:16 AM

My favorite Mexican foods are my grandma's Spanish rice and tamales. No one makes the rice like grandma, I wish I could have it just one more time. Learning to make tamales is on my list of things to do this year. I bought some of the ingredients I need when I was home for Christmas.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Hope they turn out. You can try Melissa's recipe.

Linda S Farabaugh From OH At 1/3/2026 2:34:10 AM

Love tacos made with shredded chicken instead of with beef. Love them with refried beans. Have churros fir dessert.

Reply by: Sally Jo Pitts

Yum.

Sharon Burnes From GA At 1/3/2026 1:02:16 AM

Enchiladas, tacos, and tostadas. Arizonas are the best! I live there part time and eat as much as I can. When I’m in Georgia, I usually make my own. I make a mean green chili burrito.