Hi Cooking Moms, Dads & Friends,

I hope you had a great week! It may be spring, but it sure doesn’t feel like it here. It’s been cold and cloudy and it even snowed here in Sheboygan, Wisconsin this week. I’m really craving spring! This time of year I always go to the grocery store and buy a bag or two of lemons. I put them in a big bowl in my kitchen. They brighten up the house on some cloudy gray days! You know what they say, when life gives you lemons, you might as well use them! This weekend I’m going to. I can’t wait to make some lemony fresh recipes!

My Lemon Poppy Seed Cake is a family favorite! It’s so moist and yummy - just a little bit of sunshine on a not-so-sunny day. Super easy too. Makes a nice spring dessert. I love it with coffee in the morning. It’s also perfect for Easter! Click Desserts for more sweet treats.

I made it on TV in Minneapolis last week and everybody loved it! Click Twin Cities Live to watch the segment of me cooking!

Speaking of Easter, I can’t believe it’s just a couple weeks away! If you are doing a ham, you gotta make my Brown Sugar and Mustard Ham Glaze. It’s HAM-TASTIC! Talk about taking your ham to the next level. Just try it! I’ll be sharing lots more recipes for a delicious Easter over the next couple weeks so stay tuned.

It’s Friday, and for a lot of us that means no meat during Lent. For dinner tonight why not treat the family to something special? 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!

My daughter Ireland LOVES salmon! It’s so good for you. If you’re nervous about cooking seafood at home, don’t be. My Lemon Garlic Salmon is so easy! Nice and light too. Perfect for spring.

Need a new chicken recipe? My Best Ever Lemon Chicken really is THE BEST! You can bake it in the oven or do it in a foil pan on the grill. Either way it’s delicious! On the side, pick up a bag of potatoes and bake them up my way. My Fancy Baked Potatoes will make you look like a rock star! Crazy easy too. Sometimes it's fun to feel a little fancy. LOL!

The asparagus at the grocery store is really nice right now. Plus, it’s a great price! LOVE THAT! Don’t boil it - you’ll spoil it! Make my Lemon Roasted Asparagus. It’s so good! Click Dinner, Sides, and Salads for more delicious recipes.

Asparagus is my all time favorite veggie. It’s a sure sign of spring! I’m not a big fan of the pencil thin asparagus. Because it’s so thin, it’s almost impossible to not overcook. No mushy veggies for me! I don’t like the super thick asparagus either. Too tough. Look for the medium size stalks. Read my blog post Asparagus 101 for tips on how to pick the perfect bunch at the grocery store, plus tips on how to store it when you get home to keep it fresh, and lots more asparagus recipes too.

Want a really special lemon recipe? My great-grandmother, Nana, was cooking and baking until she passed away at the age of 104. She was famous for her lemon pie. She made it at least twice a month, maybe more. She never used a written recipe. She just knew it by heart. When she died, we thought her pie recipe was gone forever. Then, my aunt saved the day! She had been able to get Nana to tell her the recipe and wrote it down before she passed. Hooray! Let that be a lesson. Get those favorite secret family recipes before it’s too late. Here’s one of my family’s all time favorites. Hope you love it like we do! My Nana’s Lemon Meringue Pie is THE BEST! Click Desserts for more meal happy endings.

The Cooking Mom Vacations!

Besides cooking, I love to travel. Join me for stress free vacations that are really special.

LAST MINUTE OPENINGS for Tuscany This September!

BIG NEWS! We just got word we had a couple rooms open up for my trip to Italy this September. This trip is going to be AMAZING! We were able to get great airfare but time is seriously running out. If you want in on this trip call Brittany at Bon Voyage Boutique Travel TODAY at (920)725-2880 for all the details! Click Join The Cooking Mom in Tuscany to learn more!

And hey, we’re planning to go back to Italy in September 2023. More details on that trip coming soon! Let me know if you’re interested in going by emailing info@thecookingmom.com!

Time is Running Out! Join The Cooking Mom on Mackinac Island this June!

Summer will be here before you know it! Why not make it the best summer ever? Join me on Mackinac Island, Michigan. We’ll be there in June during the Lilac Festival. It’s absolutely gorgeous that time of year! There’s no place like this island! No cars. Gorgeous Victorian homes and Inns. It’s like you’ve stepped back in time! We are staying at my favorite resort on the island. It’s fabulous! We’ve even added an extra night so there will be more time on this trip to sightsee, shop or just relax! This trip is already filling up! We can only take a limited number of people. Click Join The Cooking Mom on Mackinac Island to get all the details. I hope you’ll join me.

EXCITING NEWS & SAVINGS! Join Amy on a River Cruise in France in April 2023!

Have you ever dreamed of going on a river cruise? It’s the ULTIMATE way to see Europe! Bring on lots of wine tasting, gourmet meals, fresh croissants and pastries and so much more! Join me on a river cruise through Southern France from Burgundy to Provence. In April of 2023, we’ll cruise the Rhone river on a gorgeous new boutique ship with only 150 passengers! It’s first class all the way and it’s a true ALL-INCLUSIVE river cruise, meaning all your food, drinks, and excursions are included. Gratuity too!

Plus, you’ll have the option to stay a couple days after the cruise to experience Paris. It will be spring and the blossoms will be in full bloom. It’s going to be stunning!

We just found out that if you book my trip you’ll get another exclusive EXTRA $150 per person discount! Plus they extended the deadline to SAVE even more. If you book and pay in full by June 30th, you’ll save an extra 10 percent!

Click Join The Cooking Mom on a French River Cruise to get all the dates and intriguing details. This trip is going to be so wonderful! Join me! Call Brittany at Bon Voyage Boutique Travel at (920)725-2880 for the new pricing details!

Click The Cooking Mom Culinary Vacations to read more about what makes my group trips different from the rest.

In January, I took a group to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. From taco tours to authentic Mexican cooking classes and whale watching. It was incredible! Let me know if you want to go with me next January 2023. I’m starting to plan now for more culinary vacations in 2023 and 2024. I want to know where you want to go. Email me the trips you’d be interested in at info@thecookingmom.com!

Looking for New Recipes? Order Amy's Cookbooks!

If you're stuck in a recipe rut, why not treat yourself or a loved one to new recipes? 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.

We have no major plans this weekend and I’m pretty excited about that! Gotta love the occasional quiet weekends. They don’t happen too often! You can always see what I'm up to on Facebook and Instagram. Check out my videos on YouTube, too.

Have a great weekend and cook up some memories!

Take care,
Amy, The Cooking Mom