Break Winter Blues with Fun 2-Ingredient Recipes.Winter is full of surprises: bad weather, unexpected company, loss of utilities, illnesses. These can take a toll on a happy home.

In addition, after the holidays, you most likely restocked cabinets with healthy foods, fresh vegetables, and less bakery and sweet snacks. But, are you ready for carrot sticks and soups every day? No sweets?

Plan small surprise treats for your family this winter.

As you shop, purchase a few of these ingredients and be ready to surprise family and friends. The good thing is that you won’t have tons of leftovers and be tempted to get back into the snack habit.

Get out your grocery list and be prepared to try these fun ideas for quick snacks, bakery items, and meat dish helps.

Easy preparation, no mess, and smaller quantities (no leftovers tempting you all week) make these quick snack and simple bakery hints a snap.

Cookies n Cream Oreo Bark: a 20 minute sweet simple dessert.

10 oz white chocolate chips, 15 regular size Oreos (plus 3)  Line 8×8 pan with wax paper. Heat chocolate, cool 5 minutes, add chopped Oreos and stir. Pour into pan; sprinkle remaining 3 Oreos on top, chill 10 minutes.break into pieces.

2-ingredient Candy (2 versions): for “I just have to have something NOW”.

For either: microwave to soften, mix well, refrigerate in 9 x 9 pan to set. Strawberry Fudge is 1 12 oz bag white chocolate chips and 16 oz bag of strawberry frosting. Peanut Butter Fudge is 15 oz jar peanut butter (smooth or crunch) and 1 container of chocolate or vanilla cake frosting OR 1 pound white almond bark.

Hot Chocolate: 4 cups whole milk, 1/2 cut Nutella.

Healthy, Flourless Apple Pie: 4 1/2 pounds apples, peeled and grated, 2 1/4 pounds millet. mix, bake in buttered 9×13 pan 90 minutes at 200 degrees. Cool before serving.

2 Ingredient Ranch Biscuits:  2 1/4 cups biscuit mix, 2/3 cup Ranch dressing, 450 for 10 minutes.

Quick Pizza Dough: 1 1/2 cups self-rising flour, 1 cup Greek yogurt. Bake 15 minutes at 400.

Three Great ways to perk up your roast, chicken, fish.

Roast: Place 3 lbs. round steak or beef chuck roast on heavy aluminum foil. Sprinkle with 1 envelope dry onion soup mix. Wrap tightly, roast in pan at 300 degrees for 3 hours. Make a pan sauce with the juices or pour over meat.

Chicken: 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, 16 ounce bottle Italian-style salad dressing. Marinate overnight. Bake on lightly greased pan for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Fish: 1 lb. tilapia fillets, 14.5 ounce can stewed tomatoes. Heat tomatoes in large skillet, add tilapia, spoon tomatoes over tilapia to coat; cover skillet and simmer until fish flakes easily, about 10 minutes.

I hope you have fun with these ideas; I enjoyed bringing them to you.  I think winter calls for a time to do something different; break out of the mold. Surprise someone with a simple “home made” candy or a new flavor to an old standby roast!

Hugs and blessings for a healthy and safe winter.

For more fun 2-ingredient recipes, click here: