MEXICAN SPICY BEEF TORTILLA

Steps:

• preheat oven to 350.
• make the salsa picante:.
• place tomatoes, garlic, onion and chiles in a blender and process till smooth. (I just chopped everything and didn't run through a processor).
• pour into a small pan and add spices and oregano and season with salt.
• bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. boil for 1-2 minutes, then lower heat and simmer gently for about 15 minutes.
• the sauce should be thick, but of pouring consistency.
• if it is too thick, dilute with a little fresh tomato juice or water.
• make the cheese sauce:.
• melt the butter in a pan and stir in the flour. cook, stirring, one minute.
• add the milk, stirring all the time, till sauce boils and thickens.
• stir in all but 2 T of cheese and season to taste.
• cover the pan with a lid and set aside.
• mix onion, garlic and chili in a bowl. add the steak cubes and mix well.
• heat the oil in a frying pan and stir fry the meat mixture for about 10 minutes, till meat cubes have browned and the onion is soft.
• stir in the rice (and corn and/or beans if desired) and enough beef stock to moisten.
• season to taste with salt and pepper.
• pour about a quarter of the cheese sauce into the bottom of a round, ovenproof dish (will need about a 2-qt sized dish - I tried a deep pie plate it wasn't big enough).
• add a tortilla and then spread over half the salsa, followed by half the meat mixture.
• repeat these layers, then add half the remaining cheese sauce and the final tortilla.
• pour over the remaining cheese sauce and sprinkle the reserved grated cheddar on top.
• bake in a preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or till golden on top and heated through.