Has the recent winter weather chilled your bones? Cuddle up with these simple recipes that are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face!

First, here's a different take on greasy fries that's easy to make:  baked sweet potato fries. A solid trick to baking crisp sweet potato fries is to coat them in olive oil and salt before baking them. After preheating your oven to 425℉, spread the fries in a single layer on a prepared baking sheet and bake for 18 - 20 minutes, turning them occasionally.

Another snack food you might want to try is homemade pizza, but this recipe couldn't be easier.  To start off, all you need is an English muffin. Break the English muffin apart,  and spread tomato sauce over each side. Add your preferred cheese and toppings, then microwave each half until you can see that the cheese  is melted. It's a quick meal that's good for after school, and just about everyone loves pizza!

Another light meal that's sure to be a favorite is stuffed jacket potatoes. All you need to do is to cut a potato in half, and then hollow out a hole for adding toppings. Usual fillings are cheese and mushrooms, but a variety of other toppings could be mixed in, then bake at around 350℉ for 15 - 20 minutes. Get creative and come up with your own awesome recipes!

The last recipe builds on the old stand by, Mac and Cheese, and who doesn’t love Mac and Cheese? What about some delicious Mug Mac to brighten your day?

What you need:

§  1/3 cup small macaroni elbow noodles (uncooked)

§  a scant 1/2 cup water

§  a scant 1/4 cup milk

§  1/2 cup pre-packaged finely shredded cheese (I prefer a cheddar/jack blend)

Instructions:

1.       Put the macaroni and the water into a mug. Microwave on full power for 2 minutes. Stir. (Note: the water will boil over just a bit, this is okay)

2.       Microwave for another minute. Stir.

3.       Microwave for a fourth minute, and then check to see that all the water has been absorbed. If not, microwave a bit more, until it is gone.

4.       Stir in the milk and shredded cheese and microwave for a final 30-60 seconds. Stir well, and enjoy.

These simple recipes are sure to brighten up every chilly day!

~Cody Cutler