If you want the real tamale deal, Start with banana tree palms. The produce section of every grocery store is well stocked. My job was to prepare the palms, they are not properly called leaves, for the next phase in preparing these delights. The family I'm working with gets together every December and makes tamales "for fun." Theses beauties are palm halfs. (ripped down the center stem.)
They must be washed to remove dead insects, bat dung, fungus, molds, lipstick or whatever is loose enough to wipe off. The sections are cut to 16 inch pieces for wrapping the ingredients.
Gis is cutting the sweet peppers and is always good for a photo.
This is the chief tamale maker! A position, I might add, based on tenure and experience.
I am not the only one who is challenged and has found a way to overcome the problems of altitude and os kitchen appliances being designed for tall people.