The hispanic women at my wife's church make tamales and sell them once a month as their way of contributing to the church. I LOVE tamales, although the masa is often made with lard. What was it George Carlin said, "Bacon is worth dying for"? Tamales are about that good. Especially with some good, chunky salsa on them to give them a little moisture, fiber, and Vitamin C. MMMMMMMM!!!!
I love church tamales!
Best tamale I ever had was a cinamon and corn (duh) sweet tamale that I purchased from a street vendor in Mexico DF for a grand total of 2 pesos (about 15 cents at the time).