CHICKEN AND BEEF FAJITAS

CHICKEN AND BEEF FAJITAS

6 lbs. skinless, boneless, chicken breast
4 medium onions, sliced
6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
6 lbs. skirt steaks
2 cups fresh orange juice
1 cup sherry vinegar
½ cup fresh lime juice
½ cup light olive oil or vegetable oil
2 tbsp. dried oregano, preferably Mexican
2 tbsp. ground cumin
1-1/2 tbsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp. cayenne pepper
Warm flour tortillas

Layer the chicken with half the onions and garlic in one large plastic container or large bowl. Layer the beef with the remaining onions and garlic in a second container or bowl.

Whisk together the orange juice, vinegar, lime juice, oil, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper and cayenne. Pour half over the chicken and half over the beef (Note: if you are preparing this recipe so that you can grill the chicken in advance, make all the marinade, pour half of it over the chicken, and store the remainder in a covered jar, to use the day you grill the beef. Do not use all the marinade for the chicken and then reuse it for the beef, bacteria could develop.)

To cook the chicken, prepare a moderately hot fire in a barbecue grill. Remove the chicken from the marinade and pat dry; scrape off any onion or garlic that cling. Grill the chicken turning occasionally, until the chicken is nicely browned outside and white inside but still juicy, 12-15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand for a minute or two, then cut into thin strips.

To cook the beef, remove the skirt steaks from the marinade and pat dry; scrape off any onion or garlic. Prepare a hot fire in a barbecue grill and cook for about two minutes on each side; skirt steak has to be on the rare side or it will be tough. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand a minute or two before carving crosswise on a diagonal into thin slices. Serve the chicken and beef strips with flour tortillas and your choice of garnish.

Yield: 36 servings

Note: Serve with grilled pepper and onion strips, which follow bowls of salsa, guacamole, and sour cream if you like.