The dishes I know how to make the best are those that help my family use of leftover food: friend rice, empanadas, and pizza. I really don't like to waste food, so I tend to buy staple foods at the grocery store (saving money) and then make a range of simple dishes from them. 

If there are leftovers, I'll make a pastry dough and then fill or top them with the leftover meats and vegetables. Learning how to make a few simple dishes well helps me to be versatile in the kitchen and save my wallet and the planet at the same time.