I recently saw this sign, advertising "vegetarian tamales." Fillings include spinach, mushrooms and squash flowers. Furthermore, they are made without the traditional lard, and as substitutes use olive and sunflower oils. I'm all for good health, but sorry, kids, I would call these things something like "moist vegetable corn pastries" -- without meat or lard, they don't deserve the noble name of tamales. On that curmudgeonly note, have a happy new year, gang.