[outofsalt]

hmmm...mirepoix...
I also recommend the Spanish version, sofrito! Garlic, onion and peppers (not preppers) of several varieties sauteed in butter or olive oil makes a great base for flavoring foods. IMHO, they are the holy trinity of the kitchen. Good stuff johnny, keep it coming!

[JRandomFreeper]

My formal training was classical French (Escoffier) and USAF, so I tend toward the classical French.

Sofrito is useful for those dishes that can benefit from it. I didn't really learn Mexican cooking until I learned it from my line cooks, when I ran commercial kitchens and New Mexican cuisine from an 80-year old crone that didn't speak a word of english, when I was living in New Mexico.

Life is learning.

/johnny