Hi Cooking Moms, Dads & Friends,

Happy Friday! I hope you had a good week. We’ve had an amazing one. I’m waking up in Ireland this morning. Today we’re in beautiful Galway on the coast!

It’s my first time in Ireland, and it’s a bucket-list trip for sure. There are 25 of us in our group. I planned this trip for more than a year. We've got a full itinerary. I'm posting lots of pictures on Instagram and Facebook. Follow me to see some of the fun!

It’s been a magical week already. We’ve had perfect weather - sunny and gorgeous! We did a VIP tour of Guinness, and whiskey tours of Jameson and Bushmills too. The food has been over-the-top amazing - the best seafood chowders I’ve ever tasted! We've eaten Irish stew; roasted lamb; fresh smoked salmon; oysters; and loads of mussels in a wonderful sauce. My favorite dessert thus far has been the toffee sticky pudding. Today we took an Irish bread and scone making class. It was A BLAST! Tomorrow we’re off to see the beautiful Cliffs of Moher.

I’d love to have you come along on my next 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 joining me on a trip to Ireland in the future 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.

We’ll be back in Dublin on Sunday for one last pint and pub lunch, and then it’s time to fly home. While it will be hard to leave this beautiful place, next week it’s Cinco de Mayo. Another reason to celebrate! Why not throw a last minute Mexican fiesta or treat your gang to a fun Mexican dinner at home?

My Blender Salsa always gets the party started. It tastes so fresh, just like the salsa they serve at Mexican restaurants. But get this, I use canned tomatoes. Super easy breezy. Just throw it all in your blender. You need to make this!

We LOVE guac! I really believe my Great Guacamole is pretty great. Just a handful of ingredients makes it so fresh and simple. It’s best if made right before serving.

My 8 Layer Mexican Bean Dip is a family FAVE. Delicious with my Crispy Baked Tortilla Chips for dipping. BRING IT ON! I’m getting excited just thinking about it. Click Appetizers for more of my favorite appetizer and dip recipes.

For dinner I say it’s taco time! To make my Slow Cooker Honey Lime Chicken, just dump the ingredients in your slow cooker and a few hours later the house will smell WONDERFUL. You’ll have scrumptious shredded chicken for filling tacos and burritos. Great served warm on a big taco salad too. Click Slow Cooker for more of my favorite slow cooker recipes.

If your kids like tacos, they’ll love my Taco Cups. They're colorful, crunchy, and just the right size for little people!

I’m a huge fan of enchiladas too. My Chicken Enchilada Skillet is creamy, cheesy and wonderful. It’s another one skillet wonder recipe. LOVE THOSE! Click Dinner and Casseroles for more quick and easy dinner ideas.

Now all you need is a batch of my homemade Red Wine Sangria with lots of fresh fruit. That's a party. I’m getting hungry and thirsty just thinking about it!

Mother’s Day is also coming up next weekend. Next Wednesday I’ll be on TV in Chicago cooking some of my favorite Mother’s Day brunch recipes. Hope you’ll watch! Breakfast in bed is a great way to start Mother’s Day. My Cherry Almond French Toast is divine! Click Breakfast and Brunch for more mom-worthy recipes.

If mom likes seafood, what about a special dinner? You don’t need a lot of shrimp to make make my Shrimp Fettuccini Casserole. It’s SO GOOD! Toss together my Strawberry Spinach Salad with buttery pecans and a home made poppy seed vinaigrette. Click Salads for lots more special salad ideas.

For dessert, you can’t go wrong with my Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle. Click Desserts for more tantalizing desserts that Mom and the family will love!

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 gift 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!

ABSOLUTE LAST CALL! Join Me for Lilac Festival on Mackinac Island in June!

Besides cooking, I love to travel. 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 THE BEST and my favorite resort on the island with gourmet cooked-to-order breakfasts included every day! The Mission Point Resort is voted best on the island and one of the best resorts in the country! From great restaurants; beautiful, newly renovated rooms; a gorgeous lobby, pool and hot tubs, and even a spa, it’s got it all! I love the giant lawn right on Lake Michigan. It’s so fun to just relax and watch the freighters go by!

We’ve even added an extra night so there will be more time on this trip to sightsee, shop or just relax. This is your LAST CHANCE 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 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 in 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! We’ve got a busy fun day today in Ireland. We’re going to see the breathtaking 700 foot Cliffs of Moher! Then, tonight a local guide will take my group on a private food tour around Galway. We get to eat our way around the city, stopping at all the very best restaurants and pubs. This is gonna be fun! I’ll post lots of pictures. Follow my trip to Ireland on Facebook and Instagram. Check out my food videos on YouTube, too.

Have a great weekend and cook up some memories!

Take care,
Amy, The Cooking Mom