Hi Cooking Moms, Dads & Friends,

I hope you had a great week! I sure wish sunshine and nice weather would hurry up and get here in Wisconsin. It’s been chilly and grey this week. Until it starts to really feel like spring, I’m just going to keep cooking bright, fresh recipes to lift our spirits.

I’m working on a bunch of new easy recipes for spring and summer! We love taco night! We look forward to it every week. Why not change things up and Toss Up a Terrific Taco Pasta Salad this week? Talk about a party in a bowl. How fun is this? The kids will love it. It’s super easy and so good!

Here’s an idea. If you are making taco meat, make a double batch. Make tacos one night and turn the rest into my Taco Pasta Salad. I love to have a pasta salad in the fridge for last minute lunches. Come summer it’s perfect for potlucks and backyard BBQ’s too. Gosh I can’t wait for those!

This time of year I always keep a big bowl of lemons in my kitchen. They brighten up the house and make me smile! This weekend I’m going to use some of those lemons to make some lemony fresh recipes! For dinner, why not treat the family to something special this weekend? You pay big bucks when you order shrimp out at a restaurant. Why not save some dough and make my Shrimp and Artichoke Scampi at home? It’s DELICIOUS! And, a quick fix too!

Need a a new chicken recipe? My Best Ever Lemon Chicken really is THE BEST! It's perfect for spring. Super easy to make too. I like to serve it with it with my fresh Asparagus Salad and my Loaded Potato Casserole. Now, that’s one delicious Sunday dinner. Don’t you agree? Click Dinner, Salads, and Sides for more of my favorite recipes.

I mentioned it’s been a bit chilly here. I’m still wearing my winter coat. Sometimes a big bowl of homemade soup really hits the spot on a cold spring day! Use leftover chicken to make my Chicken Pot Pie Soup. It’s so good! You can maker it even easier by baking up a frozen pie crust and crumbling it on top.

In the mood for something a little lighter? My Mushroom Barley Soup is one of my faves! It’s filled with veggies so go ahead and have a second bowl. It’s healthy but nice and hearty.

You know me, I’m the Queen of Casseroles. My Smothered Chicken Casserole is always a WINNER! You just gotta try it! Click Soups and Casseroles for more delicious recipes.

This is the perfect weekend to make my Strawberry Bread. The strawberries are on sale right now! This bread is just as easy as banana bread but a nice change! The strawberry glaze makes it even more yummy!

For dessert, the kids will love my Frosted Lemon Cookies. Nobody needs to know they start with a boxed lemon cake mix. Talk about easy! The kids can help frost and decorate them this weekend. What fun! If we don’t have sunshine these are guaranteed to brighten up the day! Click Breakfast and Desserts for more sweet treats

AMAZING Culinary Vacations Coming Up in 2021 and 2022!

LAST CALL! Join Me in June 2021 on Mackinac Island!

I’m getting so excited for summer and my trip to Mackinac Island! Join me June 8-11 for a magical vacation to Mackinac Island, Michigan! My 3-day trip is the perfect way to start traveling again. This is your last chance to get in on the fun! I hear we still have just a couple rooms left. We’ll be there in June when the lilacs are in full bloom. It’s going to be gorgeous! We’ll have the opportunity to see and do it all. From a sunset cocktail sail under the beautiful Mackinac Bridge to a carriage ride around the island, a gourmet wine dinner, a visit to the famous Grand Hotel and so much more. Click Join The Cooking Mom on Mackinac Island to get more details. Call Brittany at Bon Voyage Boutique Travel 920-725-2880 today to get in on the fun and reserve your spot. I can’t wait. It’s going to be a blast!

MY NEXT TRIP! Details Coming Soon!

I’m super excited about my next big trip! You're going to want in on this one. You asked for it and YES! We are planning a trip back to Italy in September of 2022. Click A Taste of Tuscany to read a little bit more, and then stay tuned! I promise more more details, dates and the full itinerary VERY soon! This trip will sell out fast so make sure you call Brittany at Bon Voyage Boutique Travel 920-725-2880 to get on the list for more information. You can also email her at: brittany@bonvoyagebt.com

Ireland in April 2022

We're headed on an incredible trip to Ireland! This trip is also booking up quickly! From Irish cooking classes, to scone baking, whiskey tasting, a VIP tour of Guinness, 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 get your reservation in soon! Click Join The Cooking Mom in Ireland to read more about this trip and find out how to reserve your spot!

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in January 2022

If you’re dreaming of a beautiful beach vacation with amazing food this trip is for you! We’ll beat the winter blues and spend a week in one of my favorite cities, gorgeous Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! In January 2022, we’ll stay in a super small, just 80 rooms, 4-diamond luxury beach front resort. I worked really hard to make sure this trip is not only first class but really budget friendly too! All of your food and wine and top shelf cocktails at the resort are included. And it’s not your typical all-inclusive. The cuisine is gourmet, fresh and locally inspired! We’ll even have the option of a multi-course chef’s dinner overlooking the ocean.

Besides the fancy stuff we’ll go local! We’ll join local foodies in search of Puerto Vallarta’s freshly made warm tortillas, the ultimate tacos, tamales, amazing fresh seafood, and fabulous cocktails too. It will be whale watching season during this trip. Let’s go watch! It’s going to be AMAZING! Why not treat yourself to winter getaway you’ll never forget? Read my latest blog post Join The Cooking Mom in Puerto Vallarta to see pictures and get lots more details. This trip is going to book up fast! Hope you're on board. Call Brittany at Bon Voyage Boutique Travel 920-725-2880 for more. You can also email her at: brittany@bonvoyagebt.com

River Cruise in Europe in September 2021

Join me for a river cruise through Germany, Austria and Switzerland. A river cruise is the absolute best and stress-free way to see Europe. It’s a great value too because gourmet meals and wine, beer, and champagne are all included on the cruise! This trip is going to be spectacular!

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!

Mother's Day Is Coming! Order Amy's Cookbooks on Amazon!

If you need some new ideas and recipes to keep yourself and loved ones 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 recipes. Click Amy's Books on Amazon to order.

I hope you all have a great weekend! You can always see what I'm up to on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Check out my videos on YouTube, too. Follow me!

Cook up some memories!

Take care,
Amy, The Cooking Mom