Hi Cooking Moms, Dads & Friends,

It’s the day before Thanksgiving. I’m getting so excited! I wanted to take a minute to say a big THANK YOU to all of you. I can't thank you enough for enjoying my website, my cookbooks, and all my recipes, secrets and stories. I am feeling so blessed!

Thanksgiving is such a special holiday. My son Riley and daughter Ireland will both be home for Thanksgiving! We’ll have quite a few around the table this year. I can hardly wait to be in the kitchen cooking up a storm with my daughter Ireland. She peels the potatoes. I mash them. Together we cook up some serious memories! Arlo, the dog gets in on the act too. He follows us around the kitchen, hoping we drop a thing or two.

We always start Thanksgiving with a yummy breakfast! The kids beg for my Bundt Streusel Coffee Cake! It’s a family favorite. It’s so easy because it starts with a box of yellow cake mix. You just gotta make it this holiday season!

After that, it’s time for some exercise. We try to get everybody up and out with a big family hike. Then, it’s back home to watch football, play board games, and just hang out together before the big meal. My Hot Artichoke Dip is always a winner! Just 4 ingredients, plus you can make it ahead and bake it when you are ready. LOVE THAT!

My Sweet Little Pigs are sweet and salty and hello, they have BACON! I pile them in my slow cooker so they stay nice and warm.

During the holidays I'd be in the dog house if I didn't make my Ranch Deviled Eggs! Ireland came up with the idea of using Ranch dressing instead of mayo. You may want to double the recipe because these are always a hit!

I also make sure to put out healthy options, too, like loads of fresh veggies with my homemade Dill Dip. Best veggie dip ever! Click Appetizers for more of my favorite holiday appetizer recipes.

I always love to start out the Thanksgiving feast with a big beautiful healthy salad! My Poached Pear Salad with Mustard Maple Vinaigrette is a big WOW! So pretty and fresh. It’s a great last minute addition to your holiday menu.

We LOVE fresh cranberries! My Cranberry Fluff Salad is so yummy and a must at Thanksgiving.

Speaking of cranberries, don’t buy the canned stuff. My homemade cranberry sauce is so crazy easy! Why not make it this year? It’s amazing!

Click Salads and Sides for more of my holiday favorites!

Okay, time to talk turkey. If you're stressed about cooking the bird this year, don't be! Roasting a turkey is easy. If it's been a while and you need a quick refresher on how to do it, just click Perfect Roast Turkey to see how I make it. Just make sure you cover it with foil and let it rest a good 15 to 20 minutes before carving. It will stay nice and juicy that way!

Gravy can be kind of tricky too. No worries, I can help. My No Lump Gravy is the way to go. Turns out perfect every time. Promise, no lumps! Speaking of lumps. I do like a few lumps in my mashed potatoes. That way everybody knows they're homemade. What I don't like are sticky, gluey mashers! Here's my secret to making Perfect Mashed Potatoes every time.

By now, I hope I've talked you into using your slow cooker this holiday season. My Slow Cooker Stuffing is the way to go. Not to mention it frees up oven space! Love that.

It’s still not too late to add a new side dish or two. You know what they say, everything is better with bacon. My Bacon and Brussel Sprouts are quick and easy and so good!

I love green beans, especially when they are wrapped in bacon. My Bacon Wrapped Green Beans are crazy easy and always a home run.

Click Slow Cooker, Dinners and Casseroles for more holiday recipes.

For dessert, why not do a dessert buffet this year? My Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting are delicious and so cute. No time to bake? No worries! This year, instead of pumpkin pie, why not kick it up a notch and make my Ginger Snap Pudding Parfaits. So light, fluffy and pretty layered in beautiful glasses! Click Desserts for more holiday sweet treats.

BIG NEWS! Join The Cooking Mom in Tuscany in September 2022!

Time Is Running Out! Join The Cooking Mom in Ireland in April 2022!

I’ve always dreamed of going to Ireland. Let’s experience it together. This trip is almost booked up! We just have a few rooms left. From Irish cooking classes, to scone baking, Irish cheese, and Jameson whiskey tasting, we’ll do it all. We’ll even stay in two real castles! I can only take a small group so get your reservation in soon! Click Join The Cooking Mom in Ireland to read more about this trip and find out how to reserve your spot!

Mackinac Island for Lilac Fest in June 2022!

Back in June, I hosted a trip to one of my favorite places, beautiful Mackinac Island, Michigan. It was amazing! I LOVE this island. Have you ever been? If not you need to go! There’s no place like it! Join me next summer because I’m going back. 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. Click Join The Cooking Mom on Mackinac Island to get all the details. We’ll be there next June during lilac season. It’s absolutely gorgeous that time of year! I hope you’ll join me. This trip will fill up quick so call Brittany at Bon Voyage Boutique Travel 920-725-2880 or email her at [email protected] to book your spot!

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

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. It’s the ULTIMATE way to see France! 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! Click Join The Cooking Mom on a French River Cruise to get all the dates, pricing and tantalizing details. This trip is going to be truly over the top and so wonderful! Join me! Plus, there are special discounts if you book now!

I'm starting to plan now for more culinary vacations in 2023! I want to know where you want to go. Email me the trips you’d be interested in at [email protected]!

Order Amy's Cookbooks for the Holidays!

If you like my recipes, I think you will love my cookbooks. Order one for yourself and they make welcome gifts too! Both of my cookbooks are full color, and each is filled with nearly 200 unique recipes. They're available on Amazon. Click Amy's Books on Amazon to order.

Please Invite Me!

Now that life is getting more back 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!

Gotta run! I’m cooking up more last minute holiday recipes on TV in Milwaukee this morning.

I’ll be sending out another newsletter on Friday this week to give you tasty recipes for all the great leftovers you'll have!

You can always see what I'm up to on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Check out my videos on YouTube, too.

I want to wish you all a VERY HAPPY and SAFE Thanksgiving! Cook up some memories!

Take care,
Amy, The Cooking Mom