Hi Cooking Moms, Dads & Friends,

I hope you had a good week. I have some big news. I’m super excited to announce the next Cooking Mom vacation! I know many have you have been waiting. I’m going back to Italy next September! I hope you’ll join me. I’ve been working hard to plan every last detail to make it the best trip ever! Instead of 7 days my next trip to Tuscany will be 8 days to give us a little more time to see and do even more. The trip is going to be AMAZING!

We’ll fly out Friday night September 8th and spend 8 nights in the most beautiful Tuscan Villa resort. We’ll do and eat it all! We’ll tour vineyards and taste the best Italian wines. We’ll visit several charming Italian towns and the big wonderful city of Florence too. We’ll take 3 different cooking classes to learn how to make authentic Italian dishes like homemade pasta, tiramisu and so much more. Get ready to dive in to the best gelato in the world! We’ll even go truffle hunting and get to enjoy a beautiful truffle pasta lunch. If you're interested don't wait!

This trip ALWAYS sells out and will book up super quick! We have a limited number of rooms and I don’t want any of you to miss out on the fun. I hope you’ll all join me for this trip of a lifetime. Cheers to traveling and eating our way around the world together! Click 2023 Trip to Tuscany to get pricing and full itinerary, and to book your spot! To read more about the trip click Join The Cooking Mom in Tuscany 2023.

Can you believe Thanksgiving is coming up soon? This week I was on TV in Minneapolis cooking up some of my best ever Thanksgiving recipes. One of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving is the pre-game. That’s when we all hang out, play cards, watch football and munch on a bunch of yummy appetizers. This year why not really WOW everybody with my Turkey Appetizer Platter? I made it on The Jason Show this week. How cute is this? It starts with my homemade Cheddar, Bacon and Beer Cheese Ball. You can make that a few days ahead. Then surround it with all sorts of veggies for dipping. I know this looks hard to do but I promise it’s not. What a fun centerpiece for your buffet this Thanksgiving. Take a picture quick because it will disappear before you know it!

Speaking of appetizers, my Hot Artichoke Dip is always a hit. Just 4 ingredients, plus you can make it ahead and bake it when you are ready. LOVE THAT!

My Cranberry Brie Bites are also a winner. Talk about easy. Just 3 ingredients! They are a great way to use leftover cranberry sauce too. Click Appetizers for more tempting recipes.

Thanksgiving dinner is over before you know it. That’s why I try to make it last as long as possible. I like to start out Thanksgiving dinner with a nice, beautiful salad. My Apple Cranberry Salad is so pretty. Super yummy and fresh too! The homemade dressing makes it really special.

Pick up some fresh Wisconsin cranberries and and make my Cranberry Fluff Salad. You can make it ahead. It's heavenly! Click Salads for more of my favorite holiday salad recipes.

For dinner, besides the turkey I may do ham too. I LOVE HAM! Make it extra special with my Brown Sugar and Mustard Ham Glaze. You're gonna love it!

On the side, the kids will love my Mac ’n Cheese Minis! So crazy easy, creamy and cheesy.

If you want change up the green beans this year, why not make them even better with bacon. I made my Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles on Twin Cities Live yesterday. They were a HUGE HIT!

This year why not free up oven space and make my Slow Cooker Stuffing? It’s really good. You can add cooked crumbled sausage and sautéed mushroom to make it even more delicious!

Click Sides, Dinner and Slow Cooker for more delicious recipes.

Finally, for dessert, instead of pumpkin pie, why not make my Pumpkin Mousse? That way you don't have to fuss with a pie crust. Plus, everybody gets their own dessert. So special!

What fun! Click Desserts for more of my favorite treats for the holidays.

Amy's Cookbooks Make Great Gifts!

It's that time of year. If you're looking for a colorful cookbook filled with easy breezy recipes, I think you will love my cookbooks for gifts. Each one 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!

Besides cooking, you can tell that I love to travel. I’m hosting culinary vacations to the places you’ve always wanted to visit. Today I announced my next big trip to Tuscany, Italy in September 2023. And, you've got even more choices!

WE GOT MORE ROOMS! Join Amy Summer 2023 on Mackinac Island for Lilac Fest!

My trip to Mackinac Island in June 2023 SOLD OUT immediately, but we were able to get a few more rooms! Mackinac Island, Michigan is one my favorite places. There are no cars on the island, just bikes and horses and carriages. It’s so charming. It’s like you’ve stepped back in time. We’re staying at my favorite place, Mission Point Resort, voted one of the BEST on the island and in the Midwest. It’s AMAZING! We’ll be there for 4 magical nights June 12-16, 2023 during Lilac Festival. The whole Island is covered in lilacs. It’s so gorgeous. It smells beautiful too! Click Join The Cooking Mom on Mackinac Island to get pricing and see lots of pictures.

Read all about the fun we’re going to have and the delicious food we are going to eat. Hotel rates on the island have sky rocketed but my trips are group trips and because of that we can negotiate the best deals. We worked hard to get the absolute BEST rates possible for lots of included things, like your ferry ride to the island, gourmet cooked-to-order breakfasts every morning at the resort, a wine tasting and lunch on our drive to get to the island, a big wine and cheese party, a delicious welcome dinner and more! It’s going to be a blast! You can get pricing and book directly by clicking on this link Book Your Spot! Or call Sara from Rose Travel at 720-884-7913 or email her at [email protected] if you’re interested! We ONLY have a handful of rooms and they'll get snatched up quickly. I hope you’ll join me!

Just 4 Cabins Left! Join Amy on a River Cruise in France in April 2023! SALE EXTENDED!

LAST CHANCE TO SAVE BIG! If you’ve always dreamed of going to France, let's do it! Reserve your spot now to join me in France next spring! 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!

You’ll get 10 percent off ONLY if you book and pay in full by Monday, Nov 26, 2022. There are just 4 cabins left! 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!

SOLD OUT - The Cooking Mom in Puerto Vallarta January 2023

My trip to Puerto Vallarta in January is sold out! Email me at [email protected] to let me know if you’d be interested in going there with me in winter 2024.

Click Culinary Vacations with The Cooking Mom to see what makes my trips unique and different from the rest! Let me know if you’d be interested in joining me on my trip to Italy September 2023. I’ll be announcing the exact dates and details VERY SOON. Stay tuned! I’m planning more AMAZING trips for 2023 and 2024 right now. Email me at [email protected] and let me know if you want to get on my list for exclusive early trip announcements. I want to know where you want to go, too. Let me know!

You can always see what I'm up to on Facebook and Instagram. Follow me! Hey, 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