Steamed pumpkin

pumpkin (about 700 grams), preferably calabaza de Castilla or similar • sweet potatoes (about 1 kg), use a mix of yellow and purple if available • large piloncillo cones (or 2 cups packed dark brown sugar, about 400 grams) • water (710 ml) • large cinnamon stick • whole cloves • Milk, to taste, for serving

calabaza de castilla (about 4-5 lbs pumpkin or kabocha squash) • piloncillo (about 18 oz or 500 grams brown sugar cones) • purple sweet potatoes • cinnamon • whole cloves • allspice berries • star anise • guavas • water (240-480 ml), as needed

For the sauce: • Roma tomatoes, chopped • guajillo chiles (preferably 2 mild and 2 hot) • garlic cloves • onion, chopped • cumin • For the filling: • calabaza de castilla (Mexican pumpkin), cooked and peeled, cut into cubes • dried shrimp (or regular dried shrimp if unavailable) • fresh shrimp • Cooking oil • Salt and pepper to taste •

pork ribs (4 kg) • pumpkin seeds (pepitas) (about 140 grams) • walnuts (about 60 grams) • almonds (about 60 grams) • tomatillos • poblano peppers • serrano peppers • onion • garlic • pork lard (about 56 grams) • salt (about 27 grams)

corn husks, soaked in hot salted water • sprigs of rosemary added to the soaking water • For the dough: • white corn masa, ground on a metate (about 2 kg) • whipped heavy cream (about 710 ml) • thick jocoque or plain Greek yogurt (about 475 ml) • epazote, finely chopped • serrano chiles, stems removed • Salt, to taste • For the filling: • Finely chopped cooked dishes you have on hand; I like to add olives, peanuts, chia seeds, amaranth, and pumpkin seeds • To serve the tamales •

pork (about 3 kg) • Salt • garlic • corn tostadas • mulato chile (dried poblano chile) • ancho chiles • mulato chiles (dried chilaca chiles) • plantains • Oil • garlic • bolillo rolls (or French rolls) • almonds (about 60 grams) •