Hi Cooking Moms, Dads & Friends,

I hope you had a great Christmas! Ours was small but wonderful. We felt so blessed to be healthy and have the kids home. I decided to send my newsletter out a couple days early this week so I could share some of my favorite recipes for New Years. It’s going to be a New Year’s Eve "in" for us this year, but that’s pretty much how it is every year for us. We actually prefer staying home to celebrate! It’s night of movies, games and I make all our favorite foods!

I start with some super good but simple appetizers. My Seafood Holiday Cheese Ball looks so fancy but it’s easy breezy. I just have to serve seafood during the holidays and this is a great way to do it on a budget. By the way, you can easily cut this recipe in half to make a smaller cheese ball.

Speaking of seafood, I LOVE shrimp cocktail! It’s my FAVE! I never buy pre-cooked shrimp. My Beer Boiled Shrimp with my Seriously Good Cocktail Sauce is always a special treat during the holidays. Boiling your own shrimp always make such a difference. Making your own cocktail sauce too!

My Artichoke Bites are ALWAYS a hit. Super easy too. Just 4 ingredients!

Same goes for my Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts. We love these! They are always the first to go! Click Appetizers for delicious dips and my favorite party starter recipes.

For dinner, I always like to make something really special! You can’t go wrong with my Perfect Prime Rib Roast. I know making a big roast like this can be a bit intimidating. No worries! You got this! My recipe turns out perfect every time! We love this with lots of au jus and my Whipped Horseradish Sauce or Sour Cream Mustard Sauce. I’m drooling just thinking about it! Can’t wait!

I keep dinner pretty simple. Just a big fresh salad like my Pomegranate Orange Salad or my Wonderful Wedge Salad.

Then, on the side have some veggies like my Bacon and Brussel Sprouts.

Also on the side it’s gotta be cheesy potatoes like my Cheesy Hash Brown Hot Dish or Easy Twice Baked Potatoes. You can make both ahead. LOVE THAT! For more of my favorite recipes, click Dinner, Salads, Sides, Slow Cooker and Casseroles.

For dessert, bring on something rich and decadent like my Blender Chocolate Mousse. It’s the easiest way ever to make chocolate mousse!

My son, Riley always begs me to make my Chocolate Fondue. We serve it with all sorts of fun dippers like fresh berries, bananas, pound cake, and the kids' favorite, rice crispies treats. Click Desserts for more delicious treats.

We always get out and exercise New Year’s Day. Then it’s brunch time. The kids will love my Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole. Who doesn’t love tots? We sure do!

Join Me on a Culinary Trip in 2021!

Things are looking up for 2021! Hopefully it will be safe to travel again by summer!

Join me for trips of a lifetime to Mackinac Island next summer and a river cruise through Germany, Austria and Switzerland next September. I’m working on two more AMAZING trips for 2022! Details still to come. Stay tuned!

A few weeks ago I announced my next culinary trip. I’ve always dreamed of traveling to Ireland. Come with me in April of 2022! From Irish cooking classes, to scone baking, whiskey tasting, a VIP tour of Guiness, and so much more. We’ll do it all. We’ll even stay in a real castle outside of Dublin! I can only take a small group so this trip is going to fill up quickly! Click Join The Cooking Mom in Ireland to read more about this trip and find out how to reserve your spot. I’ve got two other trips planned for later in 2021!

To find out more about my trips and what makes them so unique click Culinary Vacations with The Cooking Mom.

If you want to get on the list for updates and details on all my trips email me at info@thecookingmom.com!

Gift Yourself My Cookbooks!

If you like my recipes, I think you will love my cookbooks. Order one for yourself and they make great gifts too! Both cookbooks are filled with nearly 200 unique recipes. They're easily available on Amazon. Click Amy's Books on Amazon to order.

Gotta run. I’m cooking up a last minute New Year’s Eve recipe on on Fox 6 Wakeup in Milwaukee soon. Hope you’ll watch! You can always see what I'm up to on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Check out my videos on YouTube, too. Follow me!

I hope you all have wonderful New Year's! Please stay safe and cook up some memories!

Take care,
Amy, The Cooking Mom

Order Amy's Cookbooks Online for Gifts!