Simmering a whole chicken guarantees a great base for Lantern chef Andrea Reusing’s take on tortilla soup: “You get everything out of a whole chicken without a lot of work. Anyone can do it.” Build even more flavor by using corn cobs to bolster the broth. When serving, lay out the garnishes and salsa so guests can customize their bowls; those finishing touches bring the dish together. Oh, and it’s a guaranteed potluck winner and freezes well, so you may want to double the batch.