The scent of fresh, homespun, tamales warming in the microwave wafted through the administrative building at the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, an evangelical Anabaptist seminary, yesterday. (I've been told that if we put those words in the text as often as possible that my blog will show up in Google! searches, thus increasing the odds of SEMBITS going viral, so please indulge the indulgent use of words like Anabaptist seminary, biblical theology, Master of Divinity, pastoral training, etc.)Thanks to the hard holiday work of Irene Uribe, Administrative Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer at Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, members of the seminary staff -- and others lucky enough to be hanging around at the right time -- welcomed the new year with a traditional Mexican treat.
According the website sonofthesouth.net, "tamales can be traced back as early as 5000 BC. They served as a nutritious and portable food for Aztec, Mayan and Inca warriors. In modern times, Tamales have become a favorite fall time food in Mexico and many parts of the United States.
The website, www.sonofthesouth.net/tamales/, says that the joy of tamales is almost more about making them than eating them. I wouldn't know anything about that, but if the authority says so, then it must be true.
"Ha," said Uribe when asked about the joy of making them being as good as eating them. "If he thinks that, let him come make some. The most tamales I've ever made is 80 dozen for a fundraiser -- that kind of takes the joy right out of making them. We didn't make tamales for two years after that."
With the recent surge of tamale popularity in the hallowed halls of Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, traditional favorite zwieback finds itself in an unfamiliar position: on the outside looking in.
"Well, I don't know where the surge in tamale popularity comes from," said Zwieback in a SEMBITS exclusive interview, "But I'm not planning on taking this lying down. I've talked with the little guy on top, and we're dedicated to winning back the hearts of the people."
"I don't know, I like tamales," added Menno Simons when asked for his opinion on the great tamale v. zwieback battle. "But zwieback go well with butter and jam, so it's pretty much a toss up."
13 comments:
Purple stone or no, I need to comment on this...
And I've got to go with zweibach, all the way. I recognize the possibility that I might be genetically predisposed to preferring them. I also recognize that I have been conditioned to enjoy them since I before I was old enough to remember. In spite of that, I can report that zweibach are objectively better - not just better than tamales, but better than pretty much everything else. Here's the breakdown of the best things in the universe, according to the Hiebert Standardized Scale:
1. Anabaptist seminary
2. Zweiback
3. pastoral training
4. SEMBITS
5. Tamales
6. Facial tissues
Not to disrespect tamales, you understand. Being the 5th best thing in the universe is quite an accomplishment. Of course, that position is subject to change as I add items 7 through infinity.
I know that I'm supposed to leave my journalistic bias at the door when writing professionally, but I too give the nod to Zwieback.
In fact, I like them so much that I've learned to make them. I'll have to throw a zwieback party soon.
Take that, Tamales!
Jason I don't see Ilone in that list. I will not be surprised if your wedding is called off because of this. Okay back to the REAL purpose of this entry. I must say I can't wait until the MCC sale in April when the staff march across to FPU's campus and descend on the zwiekgkdgidg booth. I spelled it that way because my husband has never been able to correctly pronounce Zweiback and that always makes me laugh. Obviously he is not MB. Hey wait, neither am I. Can I even vote in this contest? I guess I will have to choose tamales. Oh wait...
OK, I'm going to cast my vote with the zwieback as well as I only came to know the tamales in recent years. The first time I saw a tamale I wasn't sure if I was to eat the wrapping as well as the inside so I tried it and then looked around and couldn't figure out why anyone would want to eat this, then noticed that others unwrapped it and eat the inside, what a relief - one needs lessons on how to eat tamales but zwieback - well - you just lather on the butter and preserve of your choosing and eat the whole thing - my vote goes with the latter. Of course I grew up with the "twobuck" and therefore choose it.
Well, the list is based on a complex equation, one which measures a variety of factors, including the PR needs of MBBS. That's what temporarily placed Anabaptist seminary and pastoral training so high.
On a side note, I see a post that has been deleted by the blog administrator and I wonder if it's appropriate for Andy to be deleting all comments that vote for tamales.
Actually, I deleted my own entry because I spelled a word wrong, and as PR Director for the anabaptist/evangelical MB Biblical Seminary, I should probably know how to spell.
For the sake of the PR of MBBS as an Anabaptist seminary, that offers theological training to MDiv and theolgy students: The singular for tamales is tamal and not tamale.
I'm just saying this because there might be some hardcore tamales fans, heirs of the empire of the aztecs that could be offended and might take it out on our good old zwieback.
By the way, its a tied game for me, because of their versatility (another one for google search): you can have them both sweet or salty depending on your mood.(sorry Grandma and the rest of my offended ancestors, heirs of the zwieback empire)
This entry is from Erik Richard(MBBS alumni and my husband).
#1. Tamales are okay
#2. Zweiback - for goodness sakes people, it is just bread.
Thanks for the correction, Mathias. As an Anabaptist seminary offering degree in theology, pastoral training, marriage and family counseling, Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Old and New Testament, and other seminary degree, we want to use the correct form of singular for tamales.
Zwieback, even if it is just bread, rocks the tamal. Now if we're talking a good old fashioned chile colorado burrito, then we've got a fight on our hands...
What about Lucky Charms? Isn't that a Mennonite food?
Lucky Charms may be magically delicious, but that little Irish, Shamrock shake drinking, Notre Dame promoting, red goatee dude isn't even Mennonite, Anabaptist, seminary educated Master of Divinity sporting or probably even Jesus-loving.
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