Hi Cooking Moms, Dads & Friends,

TGIF! I hope you had a good week. We had the most wonderful vacation to Europe, but there’s no place like home. We really missed our dog, Arlo. It feels so good to be back in Wisconsin. I wanted to share some big personal news! Our trip to Europe turned out to be very special. Hoyt surprised me and proposed in Budapest on the first night of our river cruise! We are so excited! Between us we have 5 kids and they, along with our families, are all super happy for us. We haven’t set a date yet and are just enjoying this very special time.

This weekend we’re just going to relax. I think we’re finally over the jet lag. I can’t wait to go to the farmers market tomorrow morning. We’ve got a great one every Saturday and Wednesday here in Sheboygan. We came home to a very empty fridge. I’m going to really load up! The Wisconsin sweet corn is finally here! Whether you boil it or grill it, why not make corn on the cob extra special with flavored butter? My Cilantro Lime Butter for corn on the cob is so yummy. Easy too!

Looking for a fun new summer side? My Cheesy Corn Casserole is one of my new favorite side dish recipes. I promise it will be a winner! It goes with whatever you are grilling. Plus you can make it up to 3 days ahead and bake it when you are ready. Warm out of the oven it's heavenly!

I love to use leftover sweet corn in salads. My Southwest Corn and Black Bean Salad is fresh, healthful and delish. So pretty too! It’s perfect for potlucks and backyard BBQ’s! Delicious with my Crispy Baked Tortilla Chips for dipping too. Spoon the leftover salad over grilled chicken, steak or fish. You just gotta make it this summer!

Why not pick up lots of extra sweet corn now and freeze it for later? It’s so easy breezy! Click Freezer Corn to see how I make it so I can have a taste of summer all winter long.

Click Appetizers and Sides for more of my summer faves!

For dinner, I’m going to keep it nice and light this weekend. I think it's the perfect weekend for my Fajita Packets. You can bake them or throw them on the grill. Either way cleanup is a breeze. LOVE that!

One of my favorite things to grill in the summer is my Ginger Soy Flank Steak. I’m a meat and potatoes kind of gal. The marinade is so quick and easy, and it gives whatever kind of steak you are grilling so much flavor! Makes it super tender and juicy too. It goes great with my make-ahead Loaded Potato Casserole. So good!

Or keep it all outside on the grill and make my Grilled Potato Wedges. These are AMAZING and so easy! They go with burgers, chicken or whatever you are grillin’!

In the summer we love having big salads for dinner. My Quick Taco Salad is always a WINNER. Gotta love any recipes with Doritos in them. LOL! Click Salads, Sandwiches, Dinner and Slow Cooker for more super good summer recipes.

For dessert, summer means it’s s’mores time. My hot skillet S’mores Dip is to die for! You can make it on the grill too.

Use those big beautiful strawberries to make my no bake Strawberry Cheesecake Trifles. So pretty, don’t you think? Super easy too!

Click Desserts for more delicious summer recipes that will really WOW your gang.

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 Me For Trips of a Lifetime!

I’m so excited to be hosting group culinary vacations! My trips are so special and different from the rest! To find out more about my trips and what makes them so unique click Culinary Vacations with The Cooking Mom. I’m planning AMAZING trips for 2023 and 2024 right now! As I mentioned, Hoyt and I just got back from Europe. We visited some very special places and hidden gems like the oldest winery in Austria, where they produced a 100 point Reisling! We also took our very first river cruise! It really is THE ULTIMATE way to see Europe! It was so amazing to just sit on the top deck and look out at all that gorgeous scenery, and castles as the ship when down the Danube River. We visited Budapest, Austria, Germany and Slovakia. I just gotta go back there. Who wants to join me on another river cruise?

Or what about a quick budget-friendly trip to Nashville next spring? I know all the secret spots!

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 [email protected]. 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!

Let me know the bucket trips you’d be interested! Just email me at [email protected]!

TIME IS RUNNING OUT! Join The Cooking Mom in Puerto Vallarta in January 2023!

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.

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 [email protected] for more details.

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

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 once-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!

Gotta run! I’m cooking up a fun summer recipe on TV in Milwaukee this morning! 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