Dinner Menu

I am planning for my parents’ anniversary party. They deserve it after everything my brothers and I put our parents through. I will have family members help serve the food. I will be preparing three different dishes. First dish will be tamales. Second, will be ribs. Lastly, is shrimp.

The first dish I am preparing for this party is tamales. I choice this meal because it's my mother's favorite.She grew up on eating tamales . The first step for making the traditional tamales is place pork in medium-size stock pot. Add the garlic, salt and pepper. Add cold water to cover the pork. On high heat, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium low and let it simmer partly covered for about 2 hours. Remove pork from the stock and let it cool at room temperature. When cook, begin shredding the meat into fine threads.Next you need to make the masa. Place 10 pounds of masa in a large mixing bowl. Pour water and add the baking powder over the masa evenly. Add salt and begin mixing the masa with your hands. Add the pork lard and knead the masa once more. Masa is ready when it starts to feel thick and compact. Pad it down in bowl and set it aside. Now you will be everything together. Soak the dried husks in warm water for about an hour and a half or until soft. Drain the husks well; pat dry with paper towels. For each tamale spread about 2 tablespoons of the masa mixture on each cornhusk. Spoon 2 tablespoons of the filling lengthwise down the center. Fold husk and secure with strips of cornhusk. Steam for about 1 hour. After this process,the tamales are ready to be steamed now Use a stock pot with wire lining or steamer insert. Add enough water as to keep it below the steamer. Add a few husks to prevent the tamales from getting wet. Tamales must be placed open side up along the inside perimeter of the stock pot. Place extra husks on top the tamales and cover the pot. Steam for about an hour or until the husk peels away from the masa easily. These tamales are ready to be served. Our guests can pick these up on their way to get side dishes.

The second dish I am making is ribs. I pick this meal because it's my father’s favorite. The first step for making ribs is place ribs in a large pot with enough water to cover. Season with garlic powder, black pepper and salt. Bring water to a boil, and cook ribs until tender. I have to preheat the oven at 375 degrees F. Finally, remove ribs from pot, and place them in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Pour barbeque sauce over ribs. Cover dish with aluminum foil, and bake in the preheated oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until internal temperature of pork has reached 160 degrees F. The guests will be able to serve themselves along with their side dishes and drink.

The last dish I am making is shrimp. I am making this meal because it's my parents’ favorite dish. The first step in this process is melt two tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add shrimp, salt and