Hi Cooking Moms, Dads & Friends,

TGIF! I hope you had a great week. February can seem like a long month here in Wisconsin. I say you gotta do something to change things up and have some fun. Fat Tuesday is coming up. Why not celebrate at home with a fun dinner?

If you like shrimp you’ll love my Cajun Shrimp! It always gets the party started! Great as an appetizer or the main course. It’s delish! I serve it with crusty bread to sop up every last bit of the buttery cajun sauce. Total yum!

Speaking of shrimp, why not get out the slow cooker this week and make Slow Cooker Shrimp Bisque? It’s AMAZING and so easy breezy.

I love Jambalaya, but sometimes I just don’t have the time. A packet of pre-cooked rice and andouille sausage makes Weeknight Jambalaya so simple you can get it on the table in 15 minutes or less. I’m serious!

I serve it with a Big Batch of Homemade Cornbread and Honey Butter! If you can’t get to New Orleans it’s the next best thing.

Click Appetizers, Dinner, Slow Cooker, Soups, and Side Dishes for more super good recipes.

Lent is coming up and for many of us that means no meat on Fridays. I’ve got a bunch of meat-free recipes your family will love! Sometimes you gotta pull dinner out of a hat. You know those nights when you have no idea what to make? Here’s an idea. Keep a couple cans of crabmeat in your cupboard and you can be a magician too! You can whip up my cheesy Crab Melts in under 15 minutes and for next to nothing! In winter who doesn’t crave a toasty cheesy sandwich? These will be a huge hit. Great way to serve seafood on a budget too! Click Sandwiches for more comforting warm sandwich recipes.

Speaking of keeping things on hand, you’ll always find a few jars of marinara sauce in my pantry. Use a jar to make my Two Ingredient Creamy Tomato Soup. You can’t believe how crazy good this is. It goes perfectly with those Crab Melts, too!

Got chicken in the freezer? Use it to make my Smothered Chicken Casserole. It’s a family favorite. I serve it with wild rice, just the boxed stuff and a big beautiful salad. My Spinach Salad with Sweet and Sour Dressing is amazing. I’m pretty sure you’ll have everything you need to make the simple but flavorful dressing. I just shake it up in a jar. Extra dressing keeps in the fridge for a few days or more. Click Salads, and Casseroles for more super easy breezy recipes your family will love.

For dessert, in honor of Mardi Gras why not make Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce? Warm out of the oven it’s ooey gooey and just to die for!

No time to bake? No worries! My Banana Pudding Cream Trifle is a classic southern dessert. Put it together in one big pretty glass bowl or make minis and layer the pudding and Nilla wafers in canning jars, juice glasses or even clear plastic cups. It’s delicious either way! Click Desserts for more sweat treats.

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.

The Cooking Mom Vacations!

Make It the Best Summer EVER! Join The Cooking Mom on Mackinac Island in June 2022!

I’m so excited to be hosting amazing vacations! Let’s meet new friends and travel together on these trips of a lifetime. Click to read Culinary Vacations with The Cooking Mom to find out what makes my trips so unique. Last summer I hosted a group trip to one of my favorite places, beautiful Mackinac Island, Michigan. It was amazing! I LOVE this island. There’s no place like it! No cars. Gorgeous Victorian homes and Inns. It’s like you’ve stepped back in time! Join me this summer because I’m going back in June. 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. We’ll be there during the Lilac Festival. It’s absolutely gorgeous that time of year! I hope you’ll join me.

Join Amy on a River Cruise in France in April 2023! Book Now and Save!

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! Click Join The Cooking Mom on a French River Cruise to get all the dates, pricing and intriguing details. This trip is going to be so wonderful! Join me! Plus, there are special discounts but ONLY if you book now! Call Brittany at Bon Voyage Boutique Travel 920-725-2880.

Future Trips!

I recently got back from the most wonderful culinary trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. From taco tours to cooking classes and whale watching. It was incredible! Let me know if you want to go with me next January. 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!

Arlo, the dog, is giving me that “I want to go on a walk” look. LOL! 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