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 …

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. Even then, it helps if it is already cut into cookie shapes. However, this holiday season 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 stick or 2/3 cup Crisco all vegetable …

Christmas will be here before you know it. Seven days and counting! 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 …

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…

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 …

Pumpkin pie is a fall staple. Now that pumpkins have been popping up in grocery stores, I figured it would be great to feature a made-from-scratch pumpkin pie in this week’s Recipe Corner. It is easier than one might think, with the pie crust being the most difficult component of the pie. Although it is a little early for Thanksgiving recipes, it is never too early for pumpkin pie! 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 …

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, …

Here in Kennesaw, the weather couldn’t be better. 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…

It’s time to break out your stew kettle, we’re making pot roast! This was one of my favorite meals growing up. There are several variations of this delicious dinner; some eat it as a stew, the French use red wine and call it beef burgundy, some people throw the vegetables away and use the beef as a main course. I, however, prefer to strain most of the broth and eat the meat with the vegetables as a meal in itself. This meal is very simple, albeit time consuming, to make, but the end result is out of this world. Ingredients 3 lbs. beef chuck, cut into individual portions 2 cups carrots, peeled…

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

For the second installment of the Greek Night series, 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 paste 1/3 cup Red Wine…

No side dish gets me more excited than macaroni and cheese. Whether it be with barbeque or even by itself, I am always in the mood for this delectable side. This isn’t your average macaroni and cheese. It is rich, creamy, and exploding with flavor. Using three cheeses and a little bit of a spicy kicker, this macaroni and cheese recipe is sure to please everyone in your family. Ingredients 1/2 pound medium shell pasta (elbows or rotini work well, too) 2 tablespoon salt, divided 1 tablespoon black pepper ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper 5 tablespoons flour 5 tablespoons butter 2 cups milk 1 cup heavy …

Panna cotta is a gelatinous yet creamy dessert that has roots in northern Italy. Its basic ingredients are cream, sugar and gelatin but when combined with other ingredients, it becomes a very unique and flavorful treat. A number of different sauces and topping combinations can be added to panna cotta, including caramel, nuts, chocolate and berries. Being a fan of chocolate (who isn’t, right?), I decided to infuse bittersweet chocolate into the dessert and add a simple mixed berry sauce to smother it in. Ingredients Panna Cotta 2 cups cream 1 package (1/4 ounce) gelatin (unflavored) 1 teaspoon…

Summertime is synonymous with cookouts, and we all know what that means, or at least we think we do. A lot of folks (men in particular) seem to think this is code for “I am Grill Master, hear me roar!” and those with a more practical mindset (i.e. women) realize that a cookout means not only a variety of grilled meats, but appetizers and side dishes as well. So as you stand at your kitchen window, pondering what cool, easy dish you can prepare to take to the neighborhood shindig, your gaze falls upon your garden. Now you are onto something, for your garden can provide lots of choices for you …

When my family moved to Texas a few years ago, they introduced me to a local casserole that is easy to make and delicious–the King Ranch Chicken Casserole. It combines a lot of my favorite ingredients (meat and garlic) as well as a plethora of interchangeable southwest flavors. This dish is fit for a Texas-sized king, and don’t worry, there isn’t any ranch dressing in there! Ingredients 1 whole chicken 1 onion (chopped) 2 tbsp cooking oil 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of chicken soup 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can cream of potato soup (cream of mushroom works well too) 1 (15 oz) can pinto beans 1 (10-…

In my humble opinion, lamb is a gift from the gods. It is juicy, tender, tasty, and best of all, diverse. Any kind of flavor combination, from Greek to Chinese, can be added to lamb making it a very fun meat to cook with. I decided to give the lamb a little spice from our neighbors to the south, Mexico, as well as a sauce that sets off the flavor perfectly while not being overpoweringly spicy. So this week, indulge yourself a little and have some lollipops. Ingredients Sauce 6 red fresno peppers 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 red onion, chopped 1 tsp paprika 1 tbsp cilantro 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp …

Many people don’t know this, but German chocolate cake is an American creation. In 1952, General Foods distributed a recipe found in a Dallas, TX newspaper to boost sales of Baker’s Chocolate. In fact, the name is a tribute to 19th century chocolate maker Sam German (the cake was originally named German’s Chocolate Cake). The cake combines chocolate with coconut and pecans and is typically layered. However, cake isn’t always the best option when having a Fourth of July party. Therefore, I have devised a way to make German chocolate cake into a handheld treat…German…I mean German’s Chocolate …