Hi Cooking Moms, Dads & Friends,

Happy Labor Day weekend! Summer sure flew by! We decided to celebrate the end of summer by spending a few days in one of my favorite places. Next week we are going to beautiful Mackinac Island. Arlo, our dog is coming along on this trip too.

Have you ever been? It’s just magical! There are no cars on the island, just horses, carriages and loads of bikes. It feels like you’ve stepped back in time! Earlier this summer I hosted an amazing trip to the island. There were 40 of us and we did it all! We had so much fun that I’ve got another group trip planned next summer in June during lilac season. It’s so gorgeous that time of year!

Follow The Cooking Mom on Facebook and join me LIVE from Mackinac Island on Wednesday, September 8th at 5pm CST. I’ll show you around the spectacular Mission Point Resort where we are staying and tell you all about next summer’s trip and my other culinary trips too! You can also click Join The Cooking Mom on Mackinac Island to get all the delicious details. We’ve even added an extra night so there will be more time on this trip to sightsee, shop or just relax. I hope you’ll join me for this trip of a lifetime!

This weekend we’re just planning to hang out at home and relax at home. I can’t wait to pick up some goodies at the farmers market and do some end of summer grilling!

Don’t let summer slip by without grilling up BBQ ribs. My Ribs ’n Beer is the ONLY way to do them! You can bake them up to a few days ahead and throw them on the grill to finish them off right before your BBQ. LOVE THAT!

No time to grill? Get out your slow cooker and make my Sloppy Joes for a Crowd. So easy and so good! Click Dinner, Sandwiches and Slow Cooker for more great recipes.

On the side, it’s gotta be my jazzed up Baked Beans and for Labor Day my Red, White and Bleu Potato Salad all the way. Now those are tastes of summer!

Gotta bring a dish to the back yard BBQ or potluck? I got ya! My Broccoli Bacon Salad is always a WINNER!

Got tomatoes and cukes? My Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad is so delicious, bright and colorful! The leftovers make a great light lunch.

If you like a good Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich, you’ll love my super quick and easy Layered BLT Salad! I love this salad so much because you can make it ahead. The creamy Ranch dressing sits on top so the rest of the salad doesn’t get soggy.

A big beautiful fruit salad is a MUST at Sunday brunch and your summer get together. Use those beautiful berries to toss together this gorgeous Fresh Berry Salad with Lime and Mint. It’s so cool and refreshing!

Click Salads and Sides for more of my summer FAVES.

It’s Back to School time! I know some kids went back this week and some go back after Labor Day. I have so many recipes and ideas to make lunch bags fun. And meals get eaten!

Nobody likes a soggy sandwich! That’s no fun. Wraps are a great way to go! My Turkey Ranch Wraps are a favorite in my house. What kid doesn’t like Ranch? My Ranch cream cheese spread makes them extra special. So easy. Healthy too! Especially if you use lite cream cheese. And, the best part, you can make these the night before! They are great for end of summer picnics and road trips too! I also make these for game day parties. Cut them into small 2 inch pieces, and the kids and grownups just pop them right in their mouths. DELISH!

You know what they say, everything tastes better on a stick. Looks cooler too. I couldn’t agree more! My Peanut Butter Sandwich Kabobs are always a hit! Click Sandwiches for more fun sandwich recipes.

Here’s another fun idea for this weekend. If the kids are complaining they are bored, get them in the kitchen! Have them get a jump start on packing their own school lunches. Pick up some clothes pins (yes, they still sell them) and a few other things and make my Butterfly Snack Bags. How fun are these? I fill them with Gold Fish Crackers and grapes but you can fill them up with fresh veggies and other fruits too. They are sure to be a hit in the lunch room! Talk about making some memories together in the kitchen!

Same goes for my Dirt Cupcakes. The kids will have a blast decorating them. What a fun treat to make back to school extra special!

If you are doing S’more’s this weekend, why not change it up with Texas S’mores? I like them even better than the regular ones! Click Appetizers and Desserts for more fun recipes.

Join The Cooking Mom for a Vacation of a Lifetime in 2022!

TIME IS RUNNING OUT! Escape Winter and Join me in Puerto Vallarta in January 2022!

Let’s beat the winter blues and spend a week in one of my favorite cities, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico! This is gonna be one heck of a trip! We’ve got a SUPER FUN group going. Join us! We’ll stay in a small (just 70 rooms), 4-diamond luxury beach front resort. All of your gourmet food and wine and top shelf cocktails at the resort are included! We’ll also join local foodies in search of Puerto Vallarta’s freshly made warm tortillas, the ultimate street tacos, tamales, amazing fresh seafood, and fabulous cocktails too. It will be whale watching season during this trip. We are currently offering a discount of $140 per person! Call Brittany at Bon Voyage Boutique Travel TODAY to take advantage of this offer 920-725-2880. Click Join The Cooking Mom in Puerto Vallarta to see pictures and get lots more details.

Just a Few Rooms Left for Ireland in April 2022

I’ve always dreamed of going to Ireland! Let’s experience it together. This trip is almost booked up! We just have a few rooms left. From Irish cooking classes, to scone baking, Irish cheese, and Jameson whiskey tasting! We’ll do it all. We’ll even stay in two real castles! 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!

Join Amy LIVE on Facebook from Mackinac Island Tuesday!

Wait List for Italy in September of 2022!

My trip to Tuscany in September of 2022 is sold out. Call Brittany at Bon Voyage Boutique Travel 920-725-2880 or email her at brittany@bonvoyagebt.com if you would like to be on the wait list in case we have any last minute openings. Also let me know if you’d be interested in a trip to Italy in September of 2023!

To find why my trips are so special check out my blog post by clicking on Culinary Vacations with The Cooking Mom.

I'm starting to plan now for my culinary vacations in 2023! I want to know where you want to go. What about Paris and a river cruise through France? That's on my bucket list for sure! What's on yours? Email me the trips you’d be interested in at info@thecookingmom.com!

Order Amy's Cookbooks!

If you like my recipes, I think you will love my cookbooks. Both of my cookbooks are full color, and each is filled with nearly 200 unique recipes. Lots of secrets, tips and fun stories, too! Click Amy's Books on Amazon to order.

Please Invite Me!

Now that life is getting more back to normal, I’m excited to start doing live cooking demos again! I'd love to come to your town and meet you! Tell your library about me. I’ll come do a cooking demo for your company or event too. Click Hire Amy for more ideas for how we can spend time together!

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

Cook up some memories!

Take care,
Amy, The Cooking Mom