Having things ready to go to add to other dishes will make you a hero. It adds depth of flavor. Nothing dried in a jar can ever stack up to this. You can do it while you are cooking other things (or while alphabetizing your pantry). Above, tomato confit: crushed canned tomatoes, shallots, garlic and ginger. Cook it up, keep it in the fridge or freeze it for weeks till it calls to you.