Hi Cooking Moms, Dads & Friends,

I know it’s been a tough week filled with so many emotions. Every day things are changing and more people are getting sick. It's scary! I want to let you know I’m keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. I believe in my heart that together we will get through this!

Many of you may know that besides my website and cookbooks I do a cooking show on TV in Green Bay. I did my show live on Monday, and late Monday afternoon, like many others I too got the word to stay home. My live show is cancelled for at least another week. Besides my show, I also travel to share my recipes on TV in Minneapolis, Milwaukee and other cities. Same story. That’s all changed too for now. So, bottom line, like many of you I’m home. Like you I’m trying to find my “new normal.” It’s weird and hard, and to be honest I’m going a bit stir crazy. Any other time, the idea of having a couple weeks off would sound pretty nice. But, not in this situation. We are all trying to just get through the day.

On my first full day home, I broke out my running shoes and took Arlo the dog out for a jog. I’m not a runner but for at least the next couple weeks I guess I'm going to be. My tennis club is closed for who knows how long and I’ve just got to get outside and do something!

On my first run I realized, I gotta keep cooking! That’s what I do, especially in times of stress. The show must go on! So, that’s what I’m doing. I’m cooking every day and sharing it live on Facebook. It’s a "mini cooking" show in my kitchen! It’s been keeping me sane, not to mention it forces me to take a shower and do my hair. Now don’t expect anything too fancy. It’s just me and sometimes Arlo, the dog, if he decides to join me.

So, if you are bored and looking for some super simple recipes without a lot of fussy ingredients I’ll be on Facebook pretty much daily checking in to say hi. I'll try to post during the day on Facebook when I'll be recording a meal. We'll be together then while I'm prepping! Just click The Cooking Mom to go to my Facebook page. Even if you can't be there with me live, the recordings will stay available. I’ll share pictures and stories on how we’re doing on Instagram too!

So, let’s talk food. With the restaurants and bars closed except for takeout and delivery, I think we are trying to pull dinner out of a hat. My plan is to try to have pasta, canned tomatoes, canned beans, tuna and things like that in my pantry. It’s amazing what you can do with just a few ingredients!

My Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic is my go-to. I’m betting you probably have all the ingredients in your kitchen to make it right now! It’s also dirt cheap to make. I know we’re all watching our pennies right now. I paid $20 recently at a restaurant in Florida for the exact same dish. I know, crazy, right? Never again! Anyway, we love this in our house and I’m betting your gang will too! By the way any kind of pasta works in this recipe.

It’s Lent and for some of us that means no meat on Fridays. I always have a few cans of tuna in my pantry. I grew up eating tuna casseroles during Lent. To this day, I still crave a good one. I think my Terrific Tuna Casserole is the best ever! The crunchy potato chips on top is just one of the things that makes this recipe totally terrific! Don’t have chips? You could substitute crushed croutons, those crunchy fried onions or bread crumbs on top too.

I also love a good tuna melt! In fact, I think we may be having those for dinner tonight. My Baked Tuna Melt is one of my FAVES! It’s great with my Two Ingredient Creamy Tomato Soup! Yes, I said two ingredients! It’s so YUMMY you can’t believe it! Great for dunking grilled cheese into.

Speaking of dunking. My Beer Bread is the perfect side dish for soups, stews, chili or whatever you are cooking. The kids will get a kick out of baking bread too! No dry yeast, no waiting for this dough to rise. You can whip it up in minutes. Nothing smells better then bread baking the oven! I’m getting hungry just thinking about it. So relieve some stress, have some fun and why not bake it up this weekend? You probably have everything you need in your kitchen.

Now that most of us are home, this is the perfect time to get kids in the kitchen by the way! Yes, it may get a little messy but I always say that’s what vacuums and dogs are for. LOL!

We’re eating lots of leftovers this week. I made a big corned beef for St. Paddy’s Day. It was so good! I have potatoes and a bit of cabbage left too. I turned the leftover corned beef into Reuben Soup. It’s so delicious!

With my extra potatoes and cabbage I’m making Colcannon Potatoes. It’s a traditional Irish dish that’s super easy. Serious comfort food! I think even the kiddos will dig this dish! Have them help peel and mash potatoes, if you don't have leftover ones. My kids loved that.

I haven’t made dessert at all this week. I think we earned it. We have some apples in the fridge. I think it’s time for my Easy Apple Crisp. Great with vanilla ice cream on top but we don’t have any. No big deal, it's even yummy without it! Great for breakfast with coffee too.

Order Amy's Cookbooks on Amazon!

If you are stuck in the house and need some new ideas and recipes to keep busy why not treat yourself to my cookbooks? I have two cookbooks with lots of beautiful color pictures and each is filled with nearly 200 unique, delicious recipes. Click Amy's Books on Amazon to order.

Gotta run, literally. Arlo is giving me that look, like when are we going running Mom? Okay, okay. I’m coming Arlo. You can always see what I’m up to on Facebook and Instagram. Follow me!

Hang in there everybody. Together we've got this! Stay calm and keep cooking. Try to have a good weekend, and as always cook up some memories!

Take care,
Amy, The Cooking Mom