Basic Red Chile Sauce

I got this simple but wonderful recipe from the El Potrero Trading Post in Chimayo, NM (505-351-4112 - they ship chile!). It's a great enchilada sauce as well as accompaniment to meats and more. But, you definitely want good red chile powder for this, as it's what makes the sauce! [The info in brackets are my comments.]

5 parts boiling water [2-1/2 cups]

1 part chile caribe (crushed chile) [1/2 cup]

2 cloves garlic

1 T oregano

1 tsp salt

Dash red wine vinegar

(Opt. 1 tsp crushed cumin powder)

Boil water in medium sauce pan. Remove from flame. Add chile, cover and steep for 20-30 minutes. Pour chile, garlic into blender and liquify [for a little while]. Return to saucepan. Add remaining spices and simmer for 30 minutes. Add vinegar a few minutes before done.

For Enchiladas: Soften corn tortilla in red chile sauce and place on dinner plate. Stack diced onions, grated cheese, shredded chicken (optional) and a little more sauce. Then repeat two times, ending with chile sauce and cheese.