Cooking Oaxacan

Three friends and I took a cooking class where we learned to prepare some traditional Oaxacan foods.  Mole, (pronounced MO-lay) is a common and favorite dish in this part of Mexico. It's actually a sauce that is made with more than 20 ingredients depending on whether it is negro, amarillo, rojo, coloradito  (black, yellow, red, another red) and there are probably others! Mole is often served with chicken, but the mole is really the main part of the dish. I think the chicken is just an excuse to eat mole! 
We got all the ingredients ready then sauteed them in oil, one at a time in a particular order, removing each as it was done. The dried chiles were toasted, simmered, and fried in the oil, then all of it was put in the blender, strained to remove any particles, then gently simmered and stirred until reaching the proper consistency. 
The mole is poured over a piece of chicken, and any excess is sopped up with homemade tortillas. I can't describe how delicious!