Two Excellent Meals Made From Leftovers

Part of being a good cook is not only knowing how to cook well but also what to do with leftovers, and this is just as important--I think--whether you are cooking in a home kitchen or a commercial one. Two meals I cooked today are good examples. Pictured above is a closeup of chile con carne I made for the staff at work with leftover pieces of cooked prime rib...more like a chili con prima carne. It was delicious...the rib was already cooked and tender--mostly end pieces I had leftover from a dinner I served a few nights ago--so I diced them and added them to a pot of chili I was making.

Below is a picture of a simple frittata or torta di pasta I made for dinner tonight (click here for previous posts on frittata--or frittati--with more explicit pictures and recipes). This is such a simple and delicious dish, and it's also an easy one to make for myself when I'm home alone because it's ready in minutes. I had a small portion of pasta and vegetables aglio e olio leftover from dinner last night (click here to see how to make aglio e olio like a pro) but it wasn't enough for a full portion...so I mixed it with a couple raw eggs and some grated Parmesan and put it in the oven (after I seared it on the stove top). By the time I fed my dogs, checked email, and washed a few dishes it was ready. With a pear and a glass of wine it made for a quick but complete and delicious dinner. Sometimes--I really think--leftovers are not only as good, but actually better than the original recipe.

Chili con Pollo (o Carne)

Yield: 3 quarts

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 chicken breasts, diced

1 onion, diced

2 ribs celery, diced

2 carrots, diced

1 red pepper, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 jalapeño pepper, minced

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon cumin

2 tablespoons cinnamon

1 tablespoon paprika

1 tablespoon oregano

1 tablespoon sugar

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

2 cups diced tomatoes

4 cups chicken broth

1 cup tomato puree

2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

1-1/2 cups cooked black beans

Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over high heat, then add the diced chicken breast and brown it. Remove the chicken and set aside. Add the onion, celery, carrots, and red pepper; sauté about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and jalapeño; sauté 2 minutes. Lower the heat to medium and add the chicken back to the pot. Stir in the chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, paprika, oregano, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, broth, puree, and hot pepper sauce. Bring to a boil then lower to simmer. Stir in the beans and cook for 30 minutes. Stir often to avoid scorching.