Hi Cooking Moms, Dads & Friends,

TGIF! I hope you're having a great week. I’m waking up in New York City today! It's always so fun to visit the Big Apple! It was just a quick trip. We’ll be flying home tomorrow morning. I’m hoping to fire up the grill and just relax a bit! We love to just sit outside on the weekend and play my favorite game, YAHTZEE! Anybody else a fan? LOVE IT!

When we play games, we gotta have a good dip and some appetizers. Confession, sometimes dip turns into dinner. If you like a good bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich, I think you’ll LOVE my layered BLT Dip. It’s quick and easy, and just something a little different. It’s a taste of summer!

My Mango and Black Bean Salsa is the perfect appetizer to get the party started at your backyard BBQ. Eat all you want because it’s healthy! I always double or triple the recipe. Leftovers are delicious served over grilled pork, chicken or shrimp.

Speaking of dips, my famous Dill Dip is my go-to all year long. I serve it with lots of fresh colorful veggies for dipping. You just gotta try it!

Click Appetizers and Dips for these recipes and more.

When it’s hot outside, no turning on the oven for me. Instead I love to toss up a bunch of salads in summer. I love going to my local farmer’s market on Saturdays in Sheboygan. I’m excited to see all the fresh produce this weekend. As summer goes on there’s more and more every week!

Sometimes a great big salad just hits the spot on hot summer day. My Barbeque Chicken Salad is one of my favorites. When I grill BBQ chicken, I make a few extra pieces and turn it into the amazing salad another night. This is this one serious salad. You will not leave the table hungry after this bad boy! It’s loaded with chicken, avocado, beans, corn, tomatoes and cheese. BBQ ranch dressing makes this salad extra yummy!

My Tuna Noodle Salad is a summer favorite. I make it all the time! The fresh dill makes it extra special. Click Salads for more sensational summer salad recipes.

My slow cooker gets a workout on hot summer days. Slow cookers aren’t just a winter thing. Pull yours out and make my Slow Cooker Honey Lime Chicken. It’s great piled on salads or tortillas, a fun twist to the traditional ground beef taco night. Try it! It’s nice and healthy too, so go ahead and have seconds! Click Nice ’n Lite for more light and summery recipes.

My mom is still visiting from Arizona. We’re having the best time. Like me, she loves chocolate. I’m going to treat her to my Chocolate Flourless Cupcakes. They're super dense and fudgy. Crazy easy too. Just 5 ingredients! I bet you have everything to make them. She’s gonna love them. In the summer I serve them with ice cream, or fresh whipped cream and berries. Total yum!

Summer is a great time to get the kids in the kitchen. Make some Rice Krispies treats or pick some up from the store and make my Rice Krispies Treat Kabobs. The kids can help! Aren’t they cute? Click Desserts for more delicious summer recipes that will really WOW your gang.

Please Invite Me!

Now that life is getting closer 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!

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.

The Cooking Mom Vacations!

Join The Cooking Mom in Puerto Vallarta in January 2023!

With summer in full swing, I’m sure you don’t even want to think about winter. But, now is the time to plan your escape from the cold and snow! I’ve planned the ULTIMATE winter getaway. Beat the winter blues and join me in beautiful Puerto Vallarta! It’s one of my favorite cities in Mexico. It’s got history, charm, beautiful beaches, and an incredible food scene. I took a group there last winter and it was over the top FANTASTIC! We had perfect weather with sunshine every day. Great news. We were even able to negotiate a better rate on this trip than last year. YIPPEE!

We’ll fly out January 15 and stay 7 nights at the most beautiful small boutique 4-diamond luxury resort right on the beach. This trip is also a really great value because ALL of your meals at the resort, fine wines, beer and even top shelf cocktails will be included. You’ll have the options to join me for an authentic Mexican cooking class, personalized food tours, tequila tastings and even whale watching! Or, you can just sit on the beach and relax. Either way it’s going to be fabulous! We can only take a limited number of people. Time is running out to book this trip! Click The Cooking Mom’s Culinary Trip to Puerto Vallarta to get the full itinerary and pricing information. You can also call Brittany at Bon Voyage Boutique Travel (920)725-2880 for more details or email her at brittany@bonvoyagebt.com for more details.

Join Amy on a River Cruise in France in April 2023! SALE EXTENDED!

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!

Great news! You can still save BIG on this one in a lifetime trip. The pay-in-full sale has just been extended through September! Click Join The Cooking Mom on a French River Cruise to get all the dates and details. This trip is going to be so wonderful. Join me! Call Brittany at Bon Voyage Boutique Travel at (920)725-2880 for more!

Planning New Trips for 2023 and 2024!

I’m so excited to be hosting AMAZING group culinary vacations! In June, I hosted a wonderful trip to gorgeous Mackinac Island for the Lilac Festival. Have you ever been? If not you need to go! Let me know if you are interested in going with me back to the island next summer. Email me at info@thecookingmom.com. In April, I hosted an incredible group trip to Ireland! Would you be interested in joining me on another trip to Ireland in the future? I’m definitely going back. Maybe to Scotland too! I’m planning my trips for 2023 and 2024 right now. Stay tuned!

I LOVE Nashville! I know all the secret spots. Let me know if you’d be interested in a trip to Nashville next spring. Email me the trips you’d be interested in at info@thecookingmom.com!

To find out more about my trips and what makes them so unique click Culinary Vacations with The Cooking Mom.

Gotta run. I want to take one last walk through Central Park today! Let me know your favorite places in NYC! You can always see what I'm up to on Facebook and Instagram. Check out my food videos on YouTube, too.

I hope you all have a great weekend. Cook up some memories!

Take care,
Amy, The Cooking Mom