After a long day, there’s nothing better than walking into a house filled with the smell of sumptuous, Thai-inspired pork that’s been gently braising for hours. Don’t hesitate to let your slow cooker do some heavy lifting during the week. The trusty appliance will help you transform hefty and more economical cuts—like the delectable pork shoulder pictured here—into hearty, easily assembled meals. It takes just a few minutes to brown the pork and bring the sauce (which you can start the day before) to a boil in the same skillet. If you’re tempted to skip these steps, please don’t! They’re so easy to do before heading out in the morning and you’ll be rewarded with richer flavour and consistency. You won’t believe how aromatic the results are from what amounts to a relatively short list of ingredients. (Spoiler: The secret is the curry paste, one of our favourite and most indispensable pantry staples.)