Roasted Bell Pepper and White Corn Tamales with Avocado-Tomatillo Salsa

Living in Colorado for the past 18 years, I have grown fond of south-western and Mexican Cuisine. This is my version of tamales. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Ingredients
18 dried corn husks, plus extra husks to make ties
3 cups freshwhite corn kernels or frozen kernels, thawed
2 cups masa harina (found in the ethnic food section of your gorcery store)
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 red bell pepper (roasted then chopped)
1 green bell pepper (roasted then chopped)
2 tablespoons diced yellow onion
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

For the salsa
1/4 cup chopped avocado
5 ounces tomatillos, husked under warm running water
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, or to taste
1 tsp Cumin, ground
1/2 cup coarsely chopped red onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro or fresh coriander
1/2 jalapeno chile
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions
Place the corn husks in a bowl of water to soften for 30 minutes. Drain and rinse well. Pat dry and set aside wrapped in paper towels.

Grill or char Bell peppers on gas stove until skin is completely charred all over. Place in bowl and cover with plastic wrap for 30 min. Under cold running water, de-seed and remove as much of the peppers skin as possible. Coarsely chop.

In a food processor, process 2 1/2 cups of the corn kernels until coarsely pureed.

In a large bowl, combine the pureed corn, masa harina, lukewarm water, baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and oil. Mix until well blended, using your hands if necessary.

Place a dry nonstick frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and remaining 1/2 cup corn kernels, and saute until tender-crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the chopped roasted peppers and red pepper flakes and remove from the heat.

To assemble a tamale, place 3 tablespoons of masa mixture in the center of a soaked corn husk. Flatten with your hand and form a small well in the center. Add 1 tablespoon of the sauteed vegetables to the well. Fold the long side of the corn husk over the filling to cover, then fold over the ends, overlapping them. Tie with a thin strip torn from an extra soaked husk. Repeat to make 18 tamales in all.

In a large pot fitted with a steamer basket, bring 2 inches of water to a boil. Layer the wrapped tamales in the steamer basket. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and steam until the filling becomes firm and the tamales are heated through, 45 to 60 minutes. Add more water as needed.

While the tamales are steaming, make the salsa. Toss tomatillos, jalepeno and red onions in 1 TBS olive oil. Roast in 425 oven for 15- min, stirring once half way through. Puree tomatillos, jalepeno and red onions in a blender,careful not to allow the top to blow off because of the steam. Allow to cool. In a small bowl, combine tomatillo mixture with the avocado, lime juice, ground cumin, cilantro, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Toss gently.

To serve, place 3 tamales on each plate. Accompany each serving with a generous spoonful of salsa on the side.

Serving size: 3 tamales
Calories 297 Cholesterol 0 mg
Protein 7 g Sodium 375 mg
Carbohydrate 49 g Fiber 7 g
Total fat 11 g

Tips to help you fall asleep, and stay asleep!

Despite what some people say most of us need 7.5 to 8 hours sleep a night.

A really basic health & wellness tip: Get adequate sleep (sleep until you're done sleeping.) This may involve changing your routine, but less stress and better health may be worth it. Getting a decent mattress may help a lot. You spend around 8 hours a day on that thing, and only a couple in your car. Isn't your bed worth a few extra dollars?

If you don’t sleep enough you will build up a sleep debt. A night every now and then is fine. You just sleep a little longer one of the following days and you’ve “paid back” your debt.

But if you sleep less than you need on a regular basis you will get sleep deprived.

A study during the 80's showed that poor sleepers (who slept 5-7 hours a night):

-had fewer promotions during their careers.
-were more likely to be hospitalized.
-stayed on lower pay grades.
-had a higher attrition rate.

But for many it is hard to fall asleep at night. What use is it to go to bed on time it you are not able to sleep?

Not being able to fall asleep can be very frustrating and it can potentially turn into a serious problem. So before that happens have a look a your evening routines and read this list.

15 Tips To Help You Fall Asleep:

1. Get up at the same time every morning. It is important to keep a regular sleep schedule.

2. Reserve the bedroom for intimacy and sleep. Don’t watch TV, eat, talk on the phone etc.

3. Don’t lie awake in bed for too long. There is no use lying in bed tossing and turning. Instead get up. Do a quite activity like reading and drink some relaxing herbal tea or eat a handful of walnuts,(You'll be giving yourself a boost of fiber and essential fatty acids along with the amino acid tryptophan -- a natural sleep-inducer.)that will help you fall asleep.

4. Make sure your bedroom is quiet. Noise makes it very hard to fall asleep. Limit it as much as you can. If needed, use earplugs.

5. Keep your bedroom dark. Use good curtains to block out light. Darker bedroom = better sleep.

6. Love your bed. Your bed should be comfortable and cozy.

7. Keep your bedroom cool and well ventilated. Most people sllep more comfortably in a room set at a cooler than normal temperature.

8. Limit caffeine. It think everyone knows that caffeine makes you more alert.

9. Exercise on a regular basis.

10. Stop smoking. Nicotine is a nervous system stimulant. It speeds up your heart, brain and blood pressure.

11. Avoid naps. If you have trouble falling asleep at night avoid napping in the afternoon.

12. Keep your bedroom clean. A nice uncluttered bedroom will make it a much easier to relax.

13. Limit alcohol. A night cap is not at all a good idea. You might feel more relaxed with some alcohol but it disturbs your sleep.

14. Eat healthy foods on a regular basis.

15. Sprinkle just-washed sheets and pillowcases with lavender water, or use a lavender scented lotion on your hands. The scent has been shown in studies to promote relaxation, which can lead to better sleep.

Let me know which of the above tips works best for you.

I look forward to your comments!