This is on my "To Make" short list:

Lamb Chili with Masa Harina Dumplings

Ingredients

For chili

10 dried mild New Mexico chiles (2 1/2 to 3 oz)
5 cups water
3 1/4 lb boneless lamb shoulder, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons lard or vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped (2 cups)
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 Turkish bay leaves or 1 California
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, crumbled
3 tablespoons finely chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo

For dumplings

3/4 cup masa harina (corn tortilla mix)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chilled lard or unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
3/4 cup well-shaken buttermilk
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

Make chili:

Simmer dried chiles in 2 cups water, covered, in a 2-quart heavy saucepan until very soft, about 20 minutes. Reserve 3/4 cup cooking liquid, then drain in a colander. Stem chiles (do not remove seeds), then purée in a blender with reserved cooking liquid until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids). Force purée through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Reserve purée.

Pat lamb dry, then sprinkle with pepper and 1 teaspoon salt. Heat 2 tablespoons lard in a 6-quart wide heavy pot or a 3-inch-deep straight-sided skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then brown lamb in 4 batches (without crowding), turning occasionally, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer to a bowl.

Add remaining tablespoon lard to pot, then cook onion, garlic, bay leaves, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add cumin and oregano and cook, stirring frequently, 1 minute. Stir in reserved chile purée and chipotles and simmer, stirring frequently and scraping up brown bits from bottom of pot, 5 minutes. Add lamb along with any juices accumulated in bowl and remaining 3 cups water, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until lamb is tender, about 2 1/2 hours.

Make dumplings:

Stir together masa harina, flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Blend in lard pieces with a pastry blender or your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk, stirring just until dough is moistened (do not overmix).

Skim fat off chili and discard bay leaves, then drop 8 or 9 heaping tablespoons of dough onto simmering chili, about 2 inches apart. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer, covered, until tops of dumplings are dry to the touch, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro.

Chili is best when made at least 1 day ahead, without dumplings and cilantro, and can be made 2 days ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, then chilled, covered. Discard fat from surface and reheat stew before adding dumplings and sprinkling with cilantro....

This recipe from Marilyn/DanaIN gets a really big thumbs up from me!

Marilyn's Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup - 2/08
1 whole chicken breast cut in two
1 teaspoon southwest seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion; chopped
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 (14 oz.) can diced tomatoes with chilies
1/2 cup instant corn masa mix (used to make tortillas)
4 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese-optional
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
juice from 1/2 fresh lime
1 cup diced, seeded Roma tomatoes or salsa
Sour cream for garnish

Season chicken with southwest seasoning and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and add chicken, cooking for 4 minutes on each side turning once. Remove chicken to cutting board and set aside. Add onions to the saucepan and cook for 3 minutes. Add garlic to pot until fragrant then add tomatoes. Place corn masa mix in a jar with a tight fitting lid along with broth and shake until well combined; add to soup along with spices. Bring to a boil while stirring until thickened. Remove from heat; allow to cool for 5 minutes before pureeing soup base in batches in a blender until smooth, return soup to pot.
Cut chicken into small chunks and add to pureed soup in pot. Stir in corn and cream and return to a boil then simmer for 5 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Reduce heat to medium-low and sprinkle in cheese and cilantro; stir to melt cheese. Add lime juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with tomatoes and a dollop of sour cream. *Recipe inspired by Turkey Tortilla Soup from Cuisine at Home magazine.
Marilyn

Did you buy dried masa? I only use fresh masa when I make tamales, and I freeze the remainder. My favorite use for masa is Mexican empanadas. I say Mexican because they are different from Argentine empanadas. In Mexico City (and central Mexico), empanadas are made with masa, and the fillings can be any leftover cooked vegetables you happen to have, with grated cheese. You do have to deep fry them, however, but they are very addictive. I often make them with mushrooms, which is a good substitute for huitlecoche, which is easier to find in Mexico. If you have dried masa, you simply have to add enough water to reconstitute it, and then pat it out the way you would to make a tortilla. Then you add the filling and fold it over and seal. I press them together in my hands and fill any holes that might appear - you want them fully sealed.

Lars

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1482787}}

I can't find my recipe for this from a local restaurant, but this one sounds quite similar and got good reviews. Note: get a fine grind on the corn meal if you have a choice.

Chevy's Sweet Corn Tamalitos (Corn Cakes)

Ingredients:

5 tablespoons margarine, softened
1/4 cup Masa Harina
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
2 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen, thawed, divided
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons milk, PLUS
1 teaspoon milk

Directions:
In a small mixing bowl, mix the margarine, masa and sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.

In a blender container, blend half the corn kernels with the water until smooth. Combine this mixture with the margarine mixture, stirring well. Add the remaining corn kernels, corn meal, baking powder, salt and milk and mix well.

Pour the corn mixture into an 8-inch square baking pan.* Tightly cover with plastic wrap and steam by setting atop a medium saucepan of water on top of the stove. Bring water to a boil and steam corn mixture for 50 minutes to one hour (check to see whether you might need to add more water), until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Tomalito should have a smooth, moist texture.

NOTE: The pan must be tightly wrapped at all times.

**My note: when I make this, I put it in an 8" round cake pan, cover with foil and steam in the oven. I use a large round pot with about 1 1/2" of water in it, then use some cookie cutters or jar lids to raise the 8" pan off the bottom of the pot. Bake at 350* for about 45 minutes

Wow! What cool recipes. Thanks everybody! They all sound really good. My mind is spinning out the possibilities for the dumplings. yum um num yum.

Lars, yes it is the dried masa. Thanks for reminding me about empanadas. I used to know a lady who made sweet ones with apple or pumpkin, but she baked them. I have some apples in the kitchen. I think I'll have to give that a shot tonight. DH will love it.