[outofsalt]

Do not confound Spanish and Mexican as they are very different. Spanish has a Mediterenean feel and, as far as meats go, you forgot fish. Sofrito is often in a tomato basebut stands alone well as a dressing over pan fried meats. As to mirepoix, it is essential for good chicken and dumplings! I cheat on my dumplings by using small bits of poppin fresh dough. Blasphamy! (but I feel better for sharing)

[JRandomFreeper]

I know the diff between spanish and mexican and mexican and new mexican.

Fish, besides catfish, bass, and crappie aren't cheap or easy to get here, so I ignore things like paella (which I love, done right), since it's not reasonable for me to cook here, and the article is about poverty foods.

I don't buy biscuits, because they are expensive, and I can whip up a recipe for 2 biscuits about as fast as I can open tinned biscuits. I do sometimes use bisquick (if it's on hand) for dumplings.

Do what works, is affordable, and tastes good. I'm not a snob about food. ;)

/johnny