Invite plenty of friends and family. This is definitely a group project that requires careful organization and an assembly line to make the job go easier and faster.

Have all your supplies on hand. Before you start, go over the ingredients and utensils that you will use, and make sure you have everything you need.

Rinse and soak the cornhusks (1). The husks float, so push or weight them down.

Check your masa (2).  You'll know it's the right consistency when 1/2 teaspoon of dough floats in a cup of cold water.

Take care when handling hot peppers (3). When you're ready to make the filling, use rubber or plastic gloves to remove stems and seeds from the chiles. And don't touch your eyes!

Don't overfill the tamale. Using too much masa and filling will make the rolling and folding harder.

Place extra husks over the tamales (4).  While the tamales are steaming, the husks help retain moisture and prevent water from dripping into the tamales.

Look for great authentic Mexican foods at your local H-E-B to make your holiday fiesta complete. And don't forget to pick up fresh, delicious H-E-B Flour or Corn Tortillas