I'm a simple "Latina"

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.)