Are your Leftovers in need of a Flavor Makeover?

      So last night, I made a delicious Cuban-inspired meal of Ropa Vieja ( shredded flank steak with Sofrito), traditional Black Beans and Rice, and sweet, chewy fried plantains. So good. Family loved it. But, I made a big batch, so there are leftovers. 

Sure, I could reheat last night's meal and enjoy it again. But why not take those great flavors and turn them in to something similar, yet different?

Here's what I started with...

Just your basic leftovers. Now, what else do I have in the pantry and fridge to add to this? I know...I'll make a Mexican Tortilla Soup. 

 I've got a leftover grilled chicken breast. That'll work great with the beef for my soup. I find some leftover grilled corn that I cut from the cob and froze a few weeks ago. Nice. I've got a can of diced tomatoes. They have basil and garlic, that'll work. And there's some beef stock leftover from last night's steak in sofrito sauce. The chips and cheddar will top my soup.

 And for my spices...we'l throw in a good dose of Chili Powder, Cumin, a dash of cayenne pepper, a splash of Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of Tony's Creole seasoning. Dump it all in a nice soup pot and get it moving towards a low boil. 

So it's tasting pretty good. But it needs a little kick...

Perfect. A bit of spice...add it slowly. you can always add more to taste, but once it's in there, it ain't comin' out.

Just a spoonful ought to do it. Perfect.

So, here's the result of my Leftover Makeover...

Delicious! If only I had a bit of sour cream and chopped Cilantro, but that's the beauty of leftovers - use what you have on hand, don't stress over what you don't have. Improvise when you can, and have fun turning something ordinary into something extraordinary!

****If you are interested in joining us for our next Girls Dine In cooking party, send me an email and I will get the details to you. 

Happy cooking and thanks for visiting!