Hi there

It's almost here! I'm so excited for the 4th of July! I'm still dealing with a broken ankle so I won't be doing anything too crazy.  We'll be celebrating the holiday with lots of good food and of course fireworks too! We live right on the water in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and one of the highlights every year is the boat parade July 3rd! The boaters go all out! It's so pretty! 

The more red, white and blue the better! Why not celebrate the 4th with this pretty dessert! My All-American Berry Trifle is something I make every year for the holiday.  You can make it in one big clear glass trifle dish or bowl or you can make mini desserts like these.  Layer this in mini trifle dishes, ice cream dishes, wine glasses, small canning jars or even clear plastic cups.  This dessert is so crazy easy and so festive! Everybody loves it! Click Desserts for more sweet treats perfect for summer! 

The air quality because of the fires in Canada has been terrible here this week. I sure hope it gets better soon! We want to do some seriously grilling this weekend! There's nothing better then BBQ ribs in the summer but they can be a ton of work.  Not my way! I've got a secret! My Ribs 'n Beer  recipe is the way to do it!  I season the ribs really well with my homemade Rib Rub  and then bake them with beer and onions.  That way they get super tender.  You can even do this a few days before your get together and  just refrigerate them until party time. Then throw them on the grill to heat them up and brush on your favorite BBQ sauce the last few minutes until they get nice and charred and caramelized.   These ribs are fall off the bone tender. Get out the napkins because they are messy but so yummy! 

If the weather decides not to cooperate no worries! I'll be making my Sloppy Joes for a Crowd.  They are ALWAYS a WINNER! Super easy! You can make this ahead and just heat it up and keep in warm in your crockpot.  LOVE THAT! Entertaining the easy way! That's how I roll! Click Slow Cooker and Dinner for more great summer dinner ideas. 

On the side, it's gotta be my famous Baby Red Potato Salad. I'd be in the dog house if I didn't make it over the holiday.  It's loaded with bacon, sour cream and fresh dill makes it extra special.  Why not try it this summer! 

Every summer backyard BBQ needs a big pretty fruit salad! How gorgeous is this Fresh Berry Salad with  Lime and Mint! It's an easy way to dress up all those beautiful berries and make them extra special!  Click SALADS for more of my summer faves! 

Live on TV

Tune in this weekend to watch me make more recipes for the 4th of July on Fox 6 Wakeup  in Milwaukee at 8:50am this Sunday morning!

Hope you'll watch!

Let's Travel Together!

Have you heard I'm hosting group vacations? 

The Cooking Mom Vacations are filled with delicious food, sightseeing, and tons of fun! 

One of my favorite group trips I do every year is a bus trip out to gorgeous Mackinac Island, Michigan for Lilac Fest.  This trip is AMAZING! There are no cars on the island, just horses and bikes.   It's like you've stepped back in time! This trip is MAGICAL and always sells out! 

Have a great weekend and a VERY HAPPY 4th of July! Cook up some memories! 

All my love,

Amy

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