Good Housekeeping Institute (New York - Comfort food : scrumptious classics made easy : good food guaranteed.

When the mood for comfort food strikes, youll want to have basic ingredients and tools on hand and know how best to store extrasthat is, if there are any leftovers! Here are good ideas to make sure youre ready.

Comfort food relies on a variety of perishable ingredients for its rich flavor: butter, milk, cream, eggs, cheesesand dont forget the bacon! But stocking up on the following pantry ingredients will help ensure that you have what you need when its time to cook.

CANNED BEANS From kidney beans to cannellini, youll want a selection on hand for soups, stews, and even brunch favorites like Huevos Rancheros ().

CANNED TOMATOES, TOMATO PASTE A must for pasta dishes, including our crowd-pleasing Sausage and Pepper Baked Ziti ().

MARINARA SAUCE We provide an Easy Tomato Sauce recipe on ) for movie night, youll be ready.

JARRED SALSA Beyond its obvious use as a dip for tortilla chips, we call for it in cozy dishes like Salsa Verde Enchiladas (). Mild, medium, or hotyou decide.

CANNED CHICKEN AND VEGETABLE BROTH This is the basis for everything from soups and stews to slow-cooker dinners. We include recipes for homemade (), but its smart to have canned on hand for ease.

DRIED PASTA Stock a range of shapes and sizes in your pantry, including some whole-wheat options. Those will come in handy for Penne Genovese with White Beans and Pesto (), or any time you want to incorporate healthy whole grains into your comfort food.

CORNMEAL If this isnt a staple in your pantry, it should be. Youll need it for Chili Pot Pie with Polenta Crust () and other soul-satisfying dinners.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS, BAKING CHOCOLATE, COCOA POWDER Keep an arsenal of chocolate at the ready for all your baking needs. Cocoa Brownies with Mini Chocolate Chips () are best made with minis, though you could substitute standard ones in a pinch.

ICE CREAM, SORBET Keep vanilla on stand by to pair with Easiest-Ever Apple Pie () and other favorite desserts.

This basic equipment will help you prepare everything from piping hot entres to delectable sweet treats with ease.

Food processor with changeable cutting disks for chopping, slicing, and shredding.

Immersion blender for pureing soups and making gravies, dips, and sauces.

Microwave oven for defrosting frozen meats, fish, and poultry; precooking ingredients that take a long time to cook, such as potatoes and winter squash; reheating leftovers; steaming vegetables; melting butter and cheese.

Ridged grill pan to make it easy to grill indoors in your kitchen. It uses very little oil, preheats fast, and leaves the familiar grill marks on food.

Slow cooker for soups, stews, poultry and meat casseroles, and even lasagna! It allows you to prep, set, and forgetthen enjoy a hot homemade dinner at the end of a long day. For tips, see Slow-Cooker Success ().