Recipes for a Happy & Delicious 4th of July!

Published: Wed, 07/02/25

Updated: Wed, 07/02/25

Hi there

Summer is in flull swing and I know we're all excited for the 4th of July!

I'm sending out my weekly newsletter early to give you delicious, easy recipes for a stress-free fun weekend!

AMY'S FAMILY HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

My house and my heart is full! My mom is visiting for the summer and all but one of our 5 kids will be home for the holiday weekend!

I love the 4th of July but I don't want to be stick in the kitchen all weekend!

CHECK OUT THE RECIPE!

My plan is to keep this weekend easy breezy and delicious!

The more red, white and blue the better!

Why not celebrate the 4th with this make ahead Fantastic Fruit Dip!

JUST TWO INGREDIENTS!

It's my kids favorite! I make it all the time in summer and it's always a WINNER!

I bring this out after our backyard BBQ's. It makes a nice light summer dessert.

Serve this sweet dip with beautiful summer berries and watch it disappear. For my gang I usually double or triple the recipe. You can make it up to 4 days ahead.

CHECK OUT THE RECIPE!

Keep everybody cool with lots of cold fresh fruit this weekend! WOW everybody with my Star Spangled Fruit Salad . Use a cookie cutter and have the kids help cut the watermelon into cute stars. Use red grapes and lots of fresh berries to make this pretty show stopper! This will look amazing on this summer's picnic table or potluck!

CHECK OUT THE RECIPE!

Here's another fun idea! Watch your family light up when you bring out a tray of these super cute Patriotic Dessert Kabobs.

You know what they say. Everything is better on a stick! Just layer brownies, berries and marshmellows on skewers. So easy!

Click Desserts for more sweet treats perfect for summer!

CHECK OUT THE RECIPE!

If you're grillin' brats this weekend, try them my way.

I start the brats on the grill and then get them into what I call a Brat Tub. It's a foil pan filled with lots of butter, onions, kraut and beer.

It keeps the brats nice and juicy and so yummy! Best way ever to do brats! Trust me!

CHECK OUT THE RECIPE!

These Super Easy Pulled Pork Sandwiches are my mom's favorite! You can make this ahead and keep in warm in your crockpot. This is a great recipe to serve a crowd!

Entertaining the easy way! That's how I roll!

Click Slow Cooker and Dinner for more great summer dinner ideas.

CHECK OUT THE RECIPE!

On the side, you gotta have potato salad this weekend! My Loaded Potato Salad is crazy easy and kid friendly too! It's got a Ranch Dressing that even your picky eaters will love!

Why not try it this summer!

CHECK OUT THE RECIPE!

Speaking of Bacon, my BLT Pasta Salad is the perfect summer side! Go great with whatever you're grillin'!

So pretty and just something a little different on your summer buffet!

Click Salads for more of the best fresh summer recipes.

CHECK OUT AMY'S BEST SUMMER RECIPES!

Looking for more easy breezy recipes? I put my favorite summer recipes all in one place! From light summer desserts, dips and appetizers, summer potato and pasta salads, asparagus recipes, grilling recipes and so much more. CHECK IT OUT!

Click Kid Friendly too for loads of super fun delicious recipes your kids will eat! This summer get those kiddos into the kitchen!

Watch Amy On TV in Milwaukee

I'll be on TV LIVE in Milwaukee Sunday morning! Watch me make one of my favorite summer recipes on WITI Fox 6 Wakeup Sunday Morning at 8:45am!

Let's Travel Together!

Besides cooking I love to travel!

I plan and host super special group vacations!

Let's go to the places you've always dreamed about! My trips are so special and so different from the rest!

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

We’ll stay in the best hotels and my trips are all about the food! We'll go in search of the best! We may even take a cooking class or two!

NEW FALL TRIP TO MACKINAC ISLAND! CLICK FOR DETAILS!

I'm excited for a NEW TRIP this fall to one of my favorite places!

Join me for 3 gorgeous days Oct. 13--16th on beautiful Mackinac Island, Michigan!

This is such a fun trip and the fall leaves will be spectacular!

We'll stay at one of THE BEST and most beautiful hotels on the island!

This trip is a VERY BUDGET friendly trip!

October is a fabulous time of year to visit the island!

This trip is a KILLER DEAL and it's booking up fast and will sell out quick so click Join The Cooking Mom on Mackinac Island to get the details and reserve your spot.

CLICK FOR DETAILS ON DANUBE RIVER CRUISE! SALE EXTENDED!

SALE JUST EXTENDED! BOOK NOW AND SAVE 10%!

Join Amy next August 2026 for a Danube River Cruise!

A river cruise is the ULTIMATE way to see Europe! This is a small boutique cruise with 150 or less!

We'll fly out August 6, 2026.
We'll spend two WONDERFUL days in Munich, Germany!
Then we'll board our gorgeous Uniworld river cruise.
We'll visit Gemany, Austria, beautiful Budapest and more!
You can even go on a "Sound of Music" Tour!
Private Concert and Opera in Vienna!
ALL MEALS, DRINKS, GRATUITY, AND EXCURSIONS on our cruise are included!

Uniworld is top of the line and THE VERY BEST when it comes to river cruising! This trip is truly the trip of a lifetime!

SAVE BIG IF YOU BOOK THIS SUMMER!

Right now it's such a GREAT deal!

I hope you'll join me! Click Join The Cooking Mom for a Danube River Cruise to reserve your cabin.

JOIN ME IN ITALY THIS FALL! CLICK FOR DETAILS!

TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

If you’ve always dreamed of going to Italy, join me this fall!

I've planned THE ULTIMATE TRIP! WE'LL GO TO TUSCANY, ROME & THE AMALFI COAST!

JOIN ME IN ITALY IN LATE SEPTEMBER!

JUST A FEW ROOMS LEFT!

We'll spend 8 days in Tuscany in a gorgeous 14th-century resort filled with so much history and charm.

We'll tour beautiful towns like Siena and Cortona, where the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" was filmed.

We'll tour vineyards and taste amazing wines. We'll even take 3 different authentic Italian cooking classes.

After our time in Tuscany you can extend the trip and stay a few more days to explore the gorgeous Amalfi Coast and then on to Rome to see The Vatican and more!

Don't wait! Reserve your spot today!

Click Join The Cooking Mom in Italy to read all about this trip of a lifetime and book your spot!

CLICK FOR NEW 2026 TRIP TO PUERTO VALLARTA DETAILS!

NOW IS THE TIME TO BOOK NEXT YEAR'S WINTER GETAWAY!

JUST A FEW ROOMS LEFT!

Join me next January in Puerto Vallarta! We'll fly out January 18th for 7 magical nights at a small beautiful boutique hotel, voted one of THE BEST in Mexico!

My travelers LOVE this trip and our gorgeous resort!

This trip ALWAYS SELLS OUT! It's a GREAT DEAL because our resort is all-inclusive. All your gourmet made to order meal and scratch made drinks at our resort are included!

Click Join The Cooking Mom in Puerto Vallarta to find out more and book your room!

CLICK FOR DETAILS ON MY 2025 CHRISTMAS MARKET TRIP !

JUST A COUPLE ROOMS LEFT!

I LOVE Christmas! This year join me for my annual trip to Europe in December! We'll visit some of the most beautiful and best Christmas markets in the world!

Click Join The Cooking Mom in Europe for a Christmas Market Tour for the itinerary and all the delicious details.