Eating like an Immigrant, Part VII (final): Summary

So, after the long ramble, here’s the simple bit. I would love to know what you all think, or your ideas along these lines.

• Identify your local immigrant cultures. Where I am now, it’s Hispanic food, but there’s also a small Asian and Middle-Eastern population. There are so many amazing and inexpensive Hispanic restaurants and grocery stores with amazing and exotic foods and spices. Look around you!
• Identify your inexpensive food sources. Down here, it’s an international farmer’s market in Atlanta, & we’re doing CSA boxes with a friend. In Pennsylvania, there are urban farmer’s markets scattered all over major cities. And through this, make inexpensive staples/seasonal foods the basis of your cooking explorations as much as possible.
• Experiment with spices.
• Feel free to substitute similar ingredients, using things that are available where you are, or ingredients that your family likes. We can’t eat things too hot-spicy, so we usually make things flavor-spicy instead, if that makes sense.
• Save yourself time when you can by doubling what you need.
• Use food as a learning experience.
• Practice hospitality as you’re learning.

Cross-posted from In Search of Lost Time.