Quality control is essential, so an expert is employed at critical stages. The "mush" is 90% corn meal and 10% pureed potatos. A chicken broth is stewed for flavoring (with many other ingrediants.)
Everyone helps assemble the tamales. More wine and louder music (from the Mob Album) was my prescription for success. I was therefore not allowed to assemble. My job was to tie the tamales together which I received multiple instructions on how to do!!

This is why I was not allowed to assemble. The proper skill can require generations to master. Also, I didn't have the nails for the job.
The ingredients are wrapped in three layers of banana palms. The palm can be reused.
I felt "special and proud" of my first tray of tied (properly) tamale pairs. No one else thought it was a big accomplishment, but hey, I did!!