Dinner is a snap with Verve Culture’s Thai for Two Organic Green Curry Kit. It comes with creamy coconut milk, whole dried herbs and a punchy curry paste starring classic Thai flavor agents like green chili, galangal, lemon grass and makrut lime. All you have to do is add the protein and veggies of your choice for a dinner that comes together in 10 minutes. In Thailand, green curry is prized for being herby and aromatic, with a good heat that doesn’t overwhelm. Verve Culture’s curry paste outperforms supermarket versions, offering a flavor profile that comes off balanced and surprisingly fresh. Verve Culture partners with a USDA-certified organic farm in Thailand that grows classic Thai produce—like makrut lime, galangal and lemon grass—so that every kit delivers traditional flavors and exceptional freshness. Plus, Thai for Two comes in a festive gift bag, so hosting or housewarming gifts are ready to go.

We created our sofrito to be the perfect building block to cook a wide variety of recipes in less time, based on the tradition of Italian and Spanish grandmothers who make this by the jar to simplify cooking and boost flavor. After much testing, we came up with an aromatic base of sautéed onions, carrots and celery, complemented by the bright tones of tomatoes, white wine and vinegar. For additional depth, it has earthy, umami notes from mushroom powder, aromatic notes of rosemary and thyme, and just a hint of heat from black pepper and Kashmiri chili powder. A few tablespoons of this jammy sofrito is all it takes to spread rich, concentrated power into soups, sauces, stews, braises and nearly anything else that needs a boost of big flavor.

This decadent mole takes 5 days and 30 different ingredients to make. And the effort is well worth it. Most pre-made mole pastes and powders we’ve tried in the States have been awful—at best, they are bland and at worst, they are chalky and bitter. Xilli’s Mole Poblano, prepared by hand in small batches using traditional methods, is the polar opposite: It’s smooth and decadent with a pleasant moderate heat. Once it hits the palate, it truly opens up into an extraordinary melody of tastes. The first flavor to pop out is earthy dark-sweet dried chili and chocolate. This gives way to a nuttiness that is almondy and smooth. There is a warming, woodsy spice to it, but it’s not sticking out in a prominent way—just enough to round out the cacao flavor. The sweetness is caramel-like, as though many of the ingredients were carefully roasted, but a subtle brightness keeps it from becoming cloying. Though it takes days to make, this mole is the perfect kitchen shortcut, offering decadent, long-cooked flavor in little time.