El Jefe Recipes

Steps:

• For the brisket: Preheat a smoker for smoking at 275 degrees F. (Don't beat yourself up trying to maintain the exact temperature. Stay within 25 degrees of your target, and you should be good.)
• Mix together the salt and pepper in a bowl, then rub it all over the brisket. Smoke brisket until it reaches 165 degrees F, about 8 hours. Wrap with foil and continue to smoke until internal temperature reaches 203 degrees F and the thermometer slides in and out of the brisket like it was butter, about 2 hours more.
• Let rest for at least 1 hour.
• Chop the brisket.
• For the queso: Set up a double boiler. Add the cheese, diced tomatoes and chiles and milk to the upper pan of the double boiler. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring continuously, until cheese is fully melted.
• For the veggies: Mix the onions and peppers in a bowl. Toss with oil, pepper, salt and granulated garlic. Cook veggies in a saute pan, stirring continuously, over medium-high heat until veggies are translucent.
• For the sandwiches: Toast buns. Add BBQ sauce to each half. Add nice handfuls of the chopped brisket to bottom buns. Add a little more of the BBQ sauce on top of the meat. Add queso, veggies and jalapenos to your desired heat. Add corn chips for a crunchy treat, if desired. Top with top buns.

Steps:

• Line a plate with a paper towel. Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the ancho chiles and fry, turning once, for about 1 minute on each side, until puffy and crispy. Be careful they do not to burn. Transfer the anchos to the paper-lined plate to drain. Repeat with the chipotle chiles. Let the chiles cool completely.
• Toast the oregano in a small, dry skillet over medium heat, shaking the pan frequently to prevent burning, for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Let cool completely.
• Transfer the ancho chiles to a spice grinder, grind to a powder, and transfer to a small bowl. Repeat with the chipotle chiles, followed by the oregano. (If you cannot fit the chiles into your spice grinder, grind them in the food processor in the next step.)
• In a food processor, combine the garlic, salt, ground oregano, and ground chiles and process until the mix has a fine, grainy, sandy consistency similar to that of coffee grounds. If the mixture is damp, turn on the oven to the lowest setting, spread the mixture on a baking sheet, and place the pan in the oven until the mixture dries out, stirring it every 10 minutes. Alternatively, spread the mixture on the baking sheet and let it sit out overnight at room temperature, stirring it a few times. Use now or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 month.