Gorditas Stuffed Pockets Of Love Recipe Courtesy Aaron Sanchez

Steps:

• Place the chiles in hot water sit for 20 minutes. Allow the chiles to cool, remove from water and puree in a blender with the orange juice, onion, and lime juice. This is used as a chaser for the tequila. Can be prepared up to 2 days in advance, and refrigerated.

Steps:

• Combine the corn dough and 1 cup water, adding the water little by little until the dough is soft, smooth and doesn't stick to fingers. Take 3/4 cup dough and roll into a ball, then flatten into a 1/2-inch thick round disk. Place on a hot flat-top or in a cast-iron skillet for 4 minutes to form a crust. Flip and repeat on the other side. Using a knife, poke into the edge of the gordita, opening up one-third of the inside, making it into a pocket. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Set aside, covered, while making the filing. Pour the vegetable oil on the flat-top or in the cast-iron skillet. Remove the chorizo from its casing and crumble onto the hot oil. Cook for 1 minute, releasing the spices. Add the poblano peppers, garlic, tomatoes and onions. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Spread a spoonful of the refried beans inside a gordita. Add the chorizo/vegetable mixture and garnish with lettuce, sliced tomatoes and queso fresco.

Steps:

• Marinate the flank steak in the pickled jalapenos, at room temperature, for 1 hour.
• Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high.
• Season the steak with salt and pepper, to taste, and grill until nicely charred, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove from the grill and allow the steak to rest on a cutting board while preparing the rajas.
• Secure each piece sliced onion horizontally with wooden skewers. Brush both sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Grill the onions, turning occasionally, until soft and charred, about 10 to 15 minutes. Put the poblano and jalapeno chiles on the grill and char them on all sides. Once the chiles are blackened on all sides, set aside to cool. When cool enough to handle, remove the charred skin, stem and seeds. Cut the chiles into strips. Once the onions are cool enough to handle, remove the skewers and separate the onions into rings.
• Preheat a large cast iron pan or a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Slice the flank steak, on the bias, into thin strips. When the pan is hot, coat the bottom of the pan with some olive oil. Add the sliced garlic and dried oregano, and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the sliced steak, onions and chile strips to the pan to heat through. Transfer to a serving platter and serve piping hot with flour tortillas, guacamole and pico de gallo.

Steps:

• Make the dough: Put the masa harina in a bowl and gradually stir in 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water with a fork.
• Add 3 or 4 more tablespoons water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and mix with your hands until the dough comes together.
• Knead until soft and pliable, then gather into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and set aside, 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough into Ping-Pong-size balls, moistening your hands with water to keep the dough from sticking. Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with plastic wrap; keep covered with more plastic as you roll the rest of the dough.
• First, set a large griddle over two burners; heat one side to medium-low and the other to medium-high (or use two cast-iron skillets).
• Cut a circle slightly larger than your tortilla press from a large resealable plastic bag; include the seam of the bag in your circle so that the two circles remain attached on one side.
• Place a dough ball between the plastic rounds and flatten in a tortilla press into a 5-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. (If you don't have a tortilla press, use a coffee can to flatten the dough.)
• Peel off the top piece of plastic; flip the tortilla onto your hand and peel off the bottom piece of plastic.
• Ease the tortilla onto the cooler side of the griddle and cook until it is slightly dry around the edges and starts to peel away from the griddle, about 45 seconds. Transfer to the hotter side of the griddle, uncooked-side down. Cook until speckled on the bottom, about 1 minute, then flip and cook until puffed in spots, about 1 more minute. Press and cook the remaining tortillas; stack them in a cloth-lined basket and cover with the cloth, or wrap in foil and keep warm in a 250 degrees F oven.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the masa harina, salt and hot water. Gradually mix in the shortening and flour. If the dough seems dry, add a little more hot water. Form the dough into balls that will fit into the palm of your hand.
• Line a work surface with waxed paper or plastic. Sprinkle with water. Flatten balls on the wet surface until about 1/4 inch thick.
• Heat a griddle or comal over medium heat. Cook the gorditas on each side until they are cooked through.
• Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium to medium-high heat until hot. Fry each gordita until puffed, pressing it down into the oil occasionally with a spatula. Drain briefly on paper towels, cut the tips off and stuff full of your favorite foods.