I love the versatility of quiche. Eggs, cheese, and milk can be embellished with so many different combinations of meats and vegetables that you can make dozens of different varieties of quiche with the basic recipe. This recipe makes two pies, which is another plus because they freeze so beautifully and warm up so quickly that they are perfect for a quick meal on nights you don't want to cook, or easily pack up by the slice for taking to work. Tonight I made spinach and mushroom quiche, thanks to the beautiful Shiitake mushrooms shared by my neighbor, Dory Franklin. Below the quiche is the …

Pizza is one of the most universal foods out there but sometimes, using the same ingredients (marinara sauce, cheese, pepperoni, and crust) can be too repetitive and boring. I devised a recipe to give pizza some extra flare, while being inexpensive, easy to make, and most importantly, fresh. Not only will the grownups enjoy these mini-pizzas, but kids will love them too…as long as they get to help make them! Ingredients 1 package English muffins, 6 count 1 cup basil leaves ¼ cup parmesan cheese ½ cup extra virgin olive oil ¼ walnuts, chopped 2 cloves Garlic Sea salt, to taste Fresh ground …

Whether it is for breakfast, brunch, or dinner, an omelette is a very hearty meal. They are easy to make and extremely versatile. Ham, mushrooms, cheese, and anything in between can be used to stuff an omelette. Now, you can add ratatouille to that list. Traditionally, ratatouille is a side dish that originated in France that can also be a nice addition to rice, pasta, and in this case, an omelette. Zucchini, eggplant, and an assortment of other fresh vegetables release their flavors and combine with one another to make a rich, but not too rich, filling for the light and fluffy eggs. …

Has your child learned to cook? These quick and easy recipes will introduce your budding chef to the joys of cooking. English Muffin Pizzas Top English muffins or bagels with pizza sauce, cheese and whatever toppings your child chooses. Bake in a toaster oven or oven until the cheese is melted. Mini-Muffin Mix-Ins Fill a muffin tin with a variety of muffin mix-ins such as berries, dried fruit, chocolate chips and nuts. Give each child a muffin tin of their own and allow them to partially fill the pan with mix-ins. Top the mix-ins with muffin batter, stir with a toothpick and bake according to…

I personally have never been too proud of my cookie making skills unless of course I use the quick and easy pre-made dough from the grocery store and even then it helps if it is already cut into cookie shapes. However, this holiday season we got a wild hair over at our house and we went on a cookie baking spree. The results … we are all craving more homemade cookies. Check out our three favorite cookies but only try them if you are ready to give up store bought cookies for good. CHEWY BROWNIE COOKIES (taken from Santa’s Favorite Cookies) 1 1/2 cups firmly packed light brown sugar 2/3 Crisco …

Christmas is here, which means it's time for holiday entertaining. So we put together three of our favorite appetizers that can be prepared in minutes and are sure to please any crowd. Bacon Wrapped Dates with Blue Cheese Ingredients:Bacon, regular or thin cutLarge Pitted Dates (from your grocery store's produce department)Blue Cheese crumbles  Toothpicks Recipe:Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Place a cooking rack on a tray lined with aluminum foil and arrange slices of bacon on the rack. We want to partially cook the bacon—check the package directions for cooking time and cut the time in half…

Christmas trees are up, stockings are hung, Christmas cards are in the mail and before long we will all be making our lists of what to cook for our big Christmas dinners. If your family is anything like mine, you probably have all the tried and true recipes that help make your Christmas dinner a familiar and warm time for loved ones to gather and enjoy the holiday together. But what about Christmas morning? You know the time I am talking about—before the big dinner at Grandma's house. Everyone wakes up excited to see what Santa has left under the tree, your family is busy unwrapping presents …

Now I know what you are thinking: “Turkey burgers? What’s gotten into you, Aaron?” Five years ago I wouldn’t have come near a turkey burger. However, taste buds change, and it’s not like I’m never going to eat another cheeseburger again, so ease up. For those of you who are not familiar with ground turkey, a good way to start eating it is by putting it in meat sauce with spaghetti. You will soon realize that it is quite delicious (I am not saying it will forever be a substitute for beef; it is just a nice change of pace). This Cajun-themed turkey burger is topped with a simple, yet tasty, …

A good stuffed pepper can be very comforting on a cold day. Not only are they filling, but they are healthy, versatile and delicious. I was recently on a trip and a friend of mine, Mark, stuffed his peppers with orzo pasta. It was delicious, so I thought I would come up with my own version of what I ate on what turned out to be a great vacation. Ingredients 4 bell peppers, any color 1 cup orzo pasta 1 lb ground beef 2 cloves garlic 6 Roma tomatoes ½ medium onion 1 tbsp basil 1 tbsp thyme 2 tbsp fresh mint, finely diced salt and pepper, to taste 1 ¼ cup Asiago cheese, grated 1 ¼ cup Parmesan …

So much cooking to do; so little time. Just because the holidays are on the way doesn’t mean that we receive extra time in our schedules to prepare for them. Life still goes on as do our daily commitments. With some preplanning and cooking some things ahead, you can prepare and serve a Thanksgiving dinner without completely stressing yourself out. You should have planned your menu now. If you plan to serve pie for dessert, it can be made now and then frozen until you need it. Or, you can buy an already frozen pie, like Marie Callender’s pumpkin pie and cook that on Thanksgiving or the day …

Here's your turkey grocery list: Turkey (determine size based on Tip 1 below)Stuffing (see package for amount needed based on turkey weight)Chicken BrothOnionsCeleryButterSpices: Sage, Thyme, Poultry Seasoning, Basil, Salt, PepperAluminum FoilThermometer (if you don't already have one)Roasting Pan Tip 1: When purchasing your whole turkey, figure 1-1-½ pounds per person, which allows ½ pound for leftovers.  Tip 2: Frozen turkeys should be defrosted in the refrigerator for 2-5 days prior to cooking depending on the size. Figure approximately 1 day for every 4 pounds. Never defrost at room …

It’s time for Thanksgiving, my favorite time of the year! Not only do you get to see family, but the food is plentiful and delicious. If your family is anything like mine, there are multiple side dishes to choose from to accompany the all important turkey. Everything from green bean casserole to sweet potato pie has been served at our table and now, I would like to share some fantastic side dish recipes that may become a part of your Thanksgiving tradition. Ingredients Potato Casserole 3 lbs Red potatoes, sliced 1 lb Broccoli, chopped 1 10.75 oz can Cream of chicken 1 cup Sour cream ½ lb Ham…

It is not too early for Thanksgiving recipes, and never too early for pumpkin pie! Try the pumpkin pie recipe below, and send your favorite holiday recipe to Acworth@patch.com for a chance to win the "Acworth's Best Holiday Recipe" title and Patch prizes! Ingredients Pie Filling 1 sugar pumpkin 3 eggs 1 egg yolk ½ cup dark brown sugar ½ cup sugar 1 tsp ground cloves 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp ground nutmeg ¼ tsp Allspice ½ tsp salt 1 12oz can evaporated milk Crust 1 ¼ cup all purpose flour ½ cup butter, cold and cut into small cubes ¼ tsp salt ¼ cup water Process Crust In…

Fall is here, football is in full swing, and the baseball playoffs are picking up steam. What better tailgate food is there than chicken salad? It is great as a side dish for hamburgers, a perfect filling for a sandwich, and a fantastic topping on a salad. The best part about it, however, is that it is easy to make. This recipe combines some of the ingredients of the very first chicken salad conceived in America, tarragon and grapes, with some of my favorite ingredients, onions and pecans, to create a well–rounded, delicious chicken salad that is sure to please everyone at your next tailgate …

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—football season! Couch potatoes and athletes alike have been looking forward to kickoff since the clock hit 0:00 in the Super Bowl. One of the best things about football season is the food, so I have brought you three simple appetizers that will surely please you and your guests while watching the big game. Ingredients Mango Barbeque Meatballs 2 cups ketchup 1 cup apple cider vinegar 2/3 cup brown sugar 2 tbsp worcestershire sauce 2 tsp salt ½ tbsp celery salt ½ tbsp cumin ¾ tbsp garlic powder ¼ tbsp chili powder 2 tsp cayenne pepper ½ tsp liquid smoke…

Apples, symbols of beauty and love since the beginning of time, are also a sign that autumn is here. To those unfamiliar with the south, Georgia may seem like an unlikely place to have orchards. However, our magnificent Appalachian Mountains open the state up to be prime apple country. Starting at the end of August, and hanging out until around the December holidays, apple season in Georgia bring about festivals, family-picking outings, and ample opportunity to whip up apple treats. Whether in a sweet or savory dish, fat free, sodium free, and cholesterol free apples offer so much more than …

For the final installment of the Greek Night series, we turn to loukoumades. Loukoumades are Greek pastries, typically served as a dessert covered in honey, cinnamon and sugar. The pastries are made from ingredients commonly found around the house and are rather diverse; not only can you use the ingredients listed above, but you can basically use anything imaginable to cover these loukoumades. Staying with the Greek theme, however, the recipe will focus on the cinnamon honey syrup. Enjoy! Ingredients Dough ½ oz. active dry yeast ½ cup water, warm ½ cup milk, warm ¼ cup sugar 1 tsp. salt 1/3 …

Schools make attempts to balance their lunch offerings. However, budgets and other parameters often drive what is being served. So, cafeterias can only do so much. Unfortunately, many try to draw in students by offering not-so-healthy choices. Foods like cookies and ice cream doom the students from the start. How could a child walk away from a delicious dessert when it’s so tempting? The best scenario is to avoid the temptation altogether with “brown bag” lunches. Actually, insulated lunchboxes work best because they preserve the food better, hold ice packs well, and save money in the long …

For the second installment of the Greek Night series, we've got a recipe for a traditional entrée called moussaka. Moussaka is a Greek eggplant-based dish. It is arguably the best-known dish among Greek food enthusiasts and is a staple in most Greek restaurants. Its complex flavors will add a spark to your dinner, and although the process is time-consuming, it will be more than worth it in the end. Ingredients 2 Eggplants ½ lb Yellow potatoes 1 lb. Ground beef 1 large Onion, finely diced 2 cloves Garlic, finely chopped 1/8 cup Fresh parsley, finely chopped 3/4 cup Tomato puree 1 tbsp Tomato …

When I was a child, my parents took my brother and me on a trip through the Greek Islands. Aside from the beautiful scenery and the ancient ruins, my favorite part of the trip was the food. Ever since, my family and I have tried to recreate some of the spectacular dishes we sampled while in Greece. Some came out better than others but there were too many good ones. Therefore, I will be bringing you a three-part series on Greek food; two appetizers, an entrée, and the most delicious dessert. For the appetizers, I had chosen two dishes you are most likely to see when ordering food in a Greek …