Hi Cooking Moms, Dads & Friends,

TGIF! I hope you had a great holiday week. Tomorrow we are leaving for Ireland. It’s my first time and it’s a bucket list trip for sure! There are 25 of us going. I can’t believe it’s finally here! I’ve been planning this trip for more than a year. We’ll see and do it all. From learning how to make traditional Irish breads and scones to Whiskey tasting; an Irish seafood and beer walk; a private tour of Guinness; plus loads of Irish music, dancing and small town pubs! I promise to post lots of pictures on Instagram and Facebook! Follow me to see all the fun!

I’d love to have you come along on my amazing trips! Click The Cooking Mom Culinary Vacations to learn what makes my trips so special and different from the rest. Would you be interested in an upcoming trip to Ireland and maybe Scotland too? I’m planning my trips for 2023 and 2024 right now! I’d love to hear where you’d like to go! Please weigh in by emailing me at info@thecookingmom.com.

The weather hasn’t been the greatest here in Wisconsin this week. It snowed! UGH!

I still have some ham in the fridge that I need to use or freeze. If you didn’t do a ham, you might want to buy one. They are on sale big time right now. I may even get one to freeze. I love ham on the grill in the summer! This week I turned the leftover ham into several different meals, like my Elegant Ham and Swiss Casserole. I’ve been making it for years. I’m the QUEEN OF CASSEROLES! Click Casseroles for more of my favorite recipes.

I’m a HUGE fan of one skillet wonders! They are quick and easy, and the best part is just one dish to wash. YES! My Skillet Tortellini with Ham seems fancy. Nobody needs to know how easy it was to throw together. Click Dinner for more fun and delicious recipes.

My Baked Hot Ham and Cheese Sandwiches are my FAVE! You wrap them in foil so they are super easy breezy in the oven or on the grill. The secret spread makes these the BEST EVER. You just gotta try them!

They are really tasty with my Quick Ham and Bean Soup.

Got eggs that need to be eaten up? I hear you! Then turn those eggs into my Excellent Egg Salad Sandwiches. They are simple and so good!

Try adding a bit of finely diced ham and make my Deviled Ham and Eggs. They are pretty AMAZING! Click Soups, Sandwiches and Appetizers for more spring recipes.

Speaking of spring, it’s asparagus time! The asparagus is gorgeous and on sale at the store right now. So how do you pick out the perfect bunch? How do you keep it fresh in your fridge? And what’s the best way to cook it? Click Asparagus 101 to check out my blog post for lots of great secrets, tricks, tips and recipes too!

This weekend make my Asparagus Potato Frittata. It’s is a great way to use that gorgeous asparagus and some of the other veggies in your veggie drawer that need to be eaten. I love this to serve it with a big fruit salad like my Layered Fruit Salad. So pretty! Click Breakfast, Salads, and Sides for more super good and easy recipes.

Got bananas that need using? I always do! This is the perfect weekend to make my Blender Banana Bread. It’s the absolute best! Click Desserts for more tummy tickling recipes.

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

If you need some new ideas and recipes to keep yourself and loved ones busy, why not treat yourself to my cookbooks? I have 2 cookbooks with lots of beautiful color pictures and each is filled with nearly 200 unique recipes. Click Amy's Books on Amazon to order.

The Cooking Mom Vacations! Join me for Lilac Festival on Mackinac Island in June!

Besides cooking, I love to travel! My trips are extra special and different from the rest! 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. Time is running out if you want to get in on this trip! 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 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!

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!

Gotta run! As I mentioned, we are flying out Dublin tomorrow! I have so much packing to do! Follow my trip to Ireland 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

SAVE an Extra 10% If You Book by June 30th! Click to Read Join The Cooking Mom on a French River Cruise