Chili Colorado

Take 5 anchos, 2 pasillas, and 2 guajillos, and remove the stems and seeds. Look for chiles that are soft and pliable, like a raisin. If they are brittle, they are old and will be flavorless—don’t use them! Cover chiles with 3 cups of boiling chicken stock and let them steam, covered with plastic "wrap, for about 30 minutes until they are plump and tender. Put the chiles and all of the soaking liquid into a blender and purée until very smooth.

Cut 2 pounds of boneless pork shoulder into ½” pieces, season with salt and pepper, and brown the meat in a large, heavy pot over medium-high heat with a little bit of vegetable oil to keep it from sticking

Chop up a bunch of garlic (about 6 garlic cloves) and throw it in the pot along with two bay leaves, a tablespoon of ground cumin, and a couple of teaspoons of chopped fresh sage and chopped fresh oregano (Mexican oregano if you have it). Stir that around for about a minute, or until very fragrant.

Add in 5 cups of chicken stock and the chile purée and simmer for about 1 hour 45 minutes until the meat is very tender and the sauce is a thick, mahogany-red color.

Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.