During the summer months we spend a lot of time at the beach or at the lake or just away from home most of the day. But we also have friends over, too. And I usually feed them. (I'm Cuban. It's in my blood. If there are hungry people in my home, I must feed them. It's the right thing to do. =D)
So I have some really simple go-to meals. I keep most of the ingredients on hand, except for the roasted chicken, which I pick up at my local grocery store on my way home from the beach. This is one of my favorites, because it just requires collecting the ingredients, slicing up a few things and ... ahem ... opening cans.
Yes, that's right. Cans.
I know. But try it first and then we can talk.
Besides, I like simple and I haven't got time to cook today.... I hear the waves calling to me. =D
Easy Tortilla Soup
-2 cans chicken broth
-2 cans diced tomatoes (I usually like the ones with onions & -peppers added)
-1 small can diced green chiles (mild)
-1 can black beans
-1 fully-cooked roasted chicken
(sometimes I will add a can of corn, if there's one in the pantry)
Garnishes:
-Tortilla strips
-Sliced avocados
-Grated jack and cheddar cheeses
-Slices of lime
-Sour cream
1) Take chicken apart (easiest to do it while it's still warm and just use your fingers) into bite-size pieces. (I don't use all the chicken. I save a lot of it for pastelitos de pollo. Okay. I'll post that recipe later this week.)
2) Open all cans and place contents into a large pot.
3) Stir in chicken pieces and heat through.
4) Let everyone garnish their soup according to their tastes.
Ta-da! You did it!
Sit 
back and enjoy your tortilla soup and bask in the compliments.
Back to the can thing...
The word for "can" in Spanish is "lata."
And, after all...
I am Latina! ;-)
(LOL. I cracked myself up just now...)
