James's Chipotle Barbocoa
4 guijillo chiles
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1 teaspoon ground cloves
10 allspice berries
1/3 cup Mexican oregano
12 sprigs fresh thyme
6 garlic cloves
1 Spanish onion, roughly chopped
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1 (6 to 8-pound) beef roast
Salt and pepper
1 (2-pound) package dried avocado leaves
Large tortilla for wrap, beans, rice and vegetables of your choice
Toast chiles, cover with boiling water in a deep bowl and set aside for 20
minutes. Grind cumin, cloves, allspice, and oregano in coffee grinder. Drain
soaked chiles, puree in blender the chiles, ground spices, thyme, garlic, onion,
vinegar, and 1/2 cup of water. Process until smooth. Push mixture through a
sieve, season beef with salt and pepper. Rub paste all over the meat. Arrange in
a bowl and allow to marinate for 4 hours, refrigerated. Preheat the oven to 325
degrees F. In a deep roaster pan, scatter half of the avocado leaves on the
bottom, place meat on top of the avocado leaves and scatter the remaining leaves
over the meat. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil. Cook the beef 6 to 7
hours until meat is falling off the bone. If using lamb shoulder cook for 4
hours. Note: Fresh avocado leaves are toxic - they must be dried to be used for
cooking
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First signs of primeval life (bacteria and blue-green algae)
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