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Georgia Hometown
Cookbook
Georgia Hometown Cooking at its very BEST
by Kent Whitaker & Sheila Simmons
$18.95 • 256 pages • 8 x 9
ISBN 978-1-934817-01-8 (1-934817-01-5)
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Georgia Hometown Cookbook dishes up a double-helping of local, tried and true recipes and fun-filled facts about hometowns all-over the state. From metropolitan Atlanta to the Southern grace of Savannah, from the soaring beauty of mountains to the sun-kissed Atlantic coast, Georgia is rich with recipes handed down through the generations.
Kent Whitaker and Sheila Simmons bring you more than 300 of these all-time favorite recipes. From Georgia's Favorite Brunswick Stew to Drunk as a Skunk Georgia Pecans, Vidalia Onion Farm Fresh Salsa to Sweet Georgia Brown Pecan Pie, Fried Green Tomatoes to Fresh-Baked Homestyle Peach Pie, there are delicious, hometown recipes to please everyone... especially the cook because every recipe is easy-to-follow and uses ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen.
For those that confess to reading their cookbooks like novels (you know who you are) you’ll enjoy interesting food facts and stories about fun food festivals around the state such The Georgia Strawberry Festival in Reynolds which brings Big Mama’s Deep Dish Strawberry Cobbler Pie with Strawberry Whipped Cream first-place prize winner in the 2007 pie division.
When it comes to Georgia hometown cooking, there's something for everyone to love. And this book brings you the BEST that Georgia has to offer!
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Sample Pages:
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| The following list is alphabetical by city. Click each link to take you to information about that festival and/or scroll down for the full list by date. |
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Alma • Georgia Blueberry Festival
Alpharetta • Taste of Alpharetta
Atlanta • Fiesta Atlanta
Atlanta • Summer Flavors Festival
Atlanta • Taste of Atlanta
Blairsville • Sorghum Festival
Brunswick • Brunswick Rockin' Stewbilee
Byron & Fort Valley • Georgia Peach Festival
Cartersville • Southeastern Cowboy Gathering
Colquitt • National Mayhaw Festival
Cordele • Watermelon Days Festival
Cornelia • Big Red Apple Festival
Douglas • National BBQ Festival
Ellijay • Apple Pickin’ Jubilee
Ellijay • Georgia Apple Festival
Hahira • Hahira Honeybee Festival
Hampton • Simply Southern Jubilee
Helen • Oktoberfest
Jarrell Plantation, Juliette • Syrup Making & Storytelling Festival
Jekyll Island • Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival
Kingsland • Kingsland Labor Day Catfish Festival
Ocilla • Sweet Potato Festival
Plains • Plains Peanut Festival
Reynolds • Georgia Strawberry Festival
Sam Smith Park at Milam Farm, Cartersville • Etowah Valley Indian Festival
Savannah • Oktoberfest
Savannah • Savannah Seafood Festival
St. Marys • Rock Shrimp Festival
Stone Mountain • Pumpkin Festival
Stone Mountain Park • Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off
Suwanee • Fiesta Georgia
Vidalia • Vidalia Onion Festival
Vienna • Big Pig Jig
Warwick • National Grits Festival |
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Southeastern Cowboy Gathering
Cartersville • Second weekend of March
The Booth Western Art Museum, located in Cartersville, Georgia, hosts the Annual Southeastern Cowboy Gathering the second weekend of every March. The four day celebration of the West includes a special presentation by a featured artist; the End of Trail Concert; the annual Southeastern Chuck Wagon Cook-Off; an old time mandolin, banjo, flat picking guitar, and fiddle contest; a special concert by a featured entertainer; cowboy poetry and music; a Dutch Oven Cook-Off; Cowboy Church; and a host of family entertainment and children’s activities.
770.387.1300 • www.boothmuseum.org
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Georgia Strawberry Festival
Reynolds • Fourth weekend in April
The family-oriented Georgia Strawberry Festival salutes Georgia strawberry growers and their luscious product. The festival features great gospel entertainment, a leisurely dinner in the shady city park, artists, craftsmen, and, of course, Georgia strawberry growers always have several varieties of the delicious berries and strawberry products for sampling and for sale. The crowd-please Grand Parade is preceded by the Teddy Bear Parade led by festival mascot, Reynolds S. Berry, who leads the little ones and their teddy bears along the short route on foot or decorated tricycles, wagons or other conveyances. More fun includes a photography show, fine art exhibit, old book sale, lawn mower races and the Statewide Strawberry Cook off. Family fun and sweet, delicious strawberries are the order of the day at the annual Georgia Strawberry Festival.
www.ga-strawberry.org
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National Grits Festival
Warwick • April
The annual National Grits Festival is more than 10 years old and attracts thousands of attendees each year. Featuring the famous Quaker® Grits Breakfast, art show, live entertainment, food vendors, craft dealers, pney ride and much more, the festival is guaranteed fun for people of all ages. Events unique to the festival include the corn-shelling event, Quaker® Grits eating competition, and the famous "Roll in the Quaker Instant Grits" event where participants roll around in a cattle trough full of cooked Quaker® Instant Grits. The festival is family-oriented, free event. Everyone is invited to for a day of southern food, fun and entertainment.
229.395.4737 • www.gritsfest.com
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National Mayhaw Festival
Colquitt • April
The National Mayhaw Festival is held at Spring Creek Recreation Park beginning with a barbecue, bake sale and live entertainment. The fun continues with a 5K race, one-mile fun walk and Main Street parade. Vendors will be selling arts, crafts, collectibles, and a variety of food including Mayhaw Jelly —"the best jelly in the world." With many special attractions and displays for all ages this popular festival is family fun at its best.
229.758.2400 • www.colquitt-georgia.com
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Simply Southern Jubilee
Hampton • April
Enjoy all things Southern! The Simply Southern Jubilee includes a Memphis Barbecue Network sanctioned cook-off, bluegrass music, living history exhibit and reenactment (battle 2:00pm each day), arts and crafts, a children’s area, good food and much more!
770.957.5786 • www.simplysouthernjubilee.com
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Vidalia Onion Festival
Vidalia • April
For more than 30 years, the Vidalia Onion Festival has celebrated the first harvest of the season of the world-famous Vidalia Onion. The festival includes an airshow (featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels!), arts and crafts show, opening ceremonies (featuring the Swingin' Medallions and an amazing fireworks display), sweet onion cook-off, sweet-onion dish-tasting, Vidalia Onion Run 5K and 10K race, rodeo, carnival, and more.
912.538.8687 • www.vidaliaonionfestival.com
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Fiesta Atlanta
Atlanta • May
Atlanta’s largest Hispanic outdoor family festival, Fiesta Atlanta takes place in May at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. More than 30,000 people attend Atlanta's annual signature Hispanic event. Fiesta Atlanta takes place on Cinco de Mayo weekend; it is a day long celebration of Latino culture, music, and food. Fiesta Atlanta features continuous live performances by national and local artists, vendor booths offering free product samples, arts and crafts, and authentic Latino foods. It is a free event.
404.350.0200 • www.fiestaatlanta.com
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Taste of Alpharetta
Alpharetta • May
The largest "Taste of" festival in the South! Dine at over 70 restaurants in one unforgettable night that's become an annual tradition for 70,000 families, foodies and festival-goers. Sample delicious appetizers, entrees and desserts, experience the new Culinary Arts area featuring chef's competition, cooking demonstrations and exhibits. Bring a blanket to the new concert lawn for live jazz, rock and contemporary music. Play at the Kids Zone or Fun Zone for older kids. Party with12 metro radio stations. Visit the new Community Corner.
678.297.6000 • www.alpharetta.ga.us
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Georgia Blueberry Festival
Alma • June
The annual Georgia Blueberry Festival celebrates Alma/Bacon County as "Georgia's Blueberry Capital". This fun, family-oriented event has arts and crafts, entertainment, antique cars and tractors, games, rides, paintings, ceramics, wood products and many other activities. The event is free to the public.
912.632.5859 • www.abcchamber.org
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Georgia Peach Festival
Byron & Fort Valley • June
The purpose of the Peach Festival is to honor peach growers for their contribution to our state's economy and to the food industry nationwide. Featuring concerts, a parade, food vendors, arts & craft exhibits, music and dancing, fireworks, and the world’s largest peach cobbler, the Peach Festival is holds the honor of being the only state-sanctioned food festival in Georgia.
Toll-free 1.87.PEACHES • www.worldslargestpeachcobbler.com
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Summer Flavors Festival
Atlanta • June
The Summer Flavors Festival will serve up flavors from some of Atlanta’s best chefs with a slant on very tasty health-conscious foods. Entertainment featured will be the music of renowned pop, R&B, and jazz artists from Atlanta and around the Country. Additionally, the Festival will promote healthy lifestyles and will be a fundraiser for the TCMS Community Assistant Program, which will benefit the Grady Diabetes Detection and Control Center, as well as cancer organizations.
770.944.7005 • www.summerflavors.com
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Watermelon Days Festival
Cordele • June
Come discover the magic of Cordele Crisp County, Georgia at the 59th Annual Watermelon Days Festival. Each summer, we celebrate the harvest of the crop that has made us famous. Our festival is the oldest in the state and offers a variety of activities during June. Events include a Watermelon Queen Pageant, Watermelon Dance, Talent Show, Gospel Sing, Decorating, Eating, Chunking, Seed Spit Contests, and a Watermelon Walk. There are activities for children, including a Parade, Fishing Rodeo, Puppet and Dog Show. There's something for everyone!
229.273.1668 • www.cordele-crisp-chamber.com
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Apple Pickin’ Jubilee
Ellijay • September
The Apple Pickin' Jubilee farm festival features u pic apples, wagon rides, petting farm, museums, live pig races, cow milking, and great food inside the market and outside in the festival area. We make our own fried apple pies, apple cider doughnuts, apple fritters, apple cider slushies, candy apples, fudge and ice cream. Join us apple pickin’ fun at the Apple Pickin’ Jubilee.
706.273.3838 • www.hillcrestorchards.net/jubilee.htm
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Fiesta Georgia
Suwanee • September
Atlanta’s largest Hispanic Heritage Month outdoor celebration, Fiesta Georgia takes place in September at Stone Mountain Park. Over 15,000 people are expected to attend Atlanta's annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. Fiesta Georgia is a day long celebration of Latino culture, music, and food. It will feature continuous live performances by national and local artists, vendor booths offering free product samples, arts and crafts, and authentic Latino foods.
770.945.8996 • www.suwanee.com |
Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off
Stone Mountain Park • September
The Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off festivities include a chili competition, chili samples and live music. Proceeds from the event benefit Camp Twin Lakes, a camp for children with serious illnesses and life challenges. Tickets for adults are $10. Children 12 and under are admitted for free. More than 300 cook-off teams compete in three food categories: chili, Brunswick stew and cornbread. Festival attendees enjoy food samples, live music, and more.
678.309.4285 • www.theatlantachilicookoff.com |
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Jekyll Island Shrimp & Grits Festival
Jekyll Island • September
This weekend festival is for anyone who loves coastal cuisine and southern cooking. Shrimp & Grits is the highlighted dish in a festival that features a cooking competition, shrimp boat excursion, and shrimp eating contests. To round out the event, guests can visit our arts, crafts, and antique vendor area, listen to live music and visit the Kids Fun Zone. Admission to the festival is free.
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Kingsland Labor Day Catfish Festival
Kingsland • Labor Day
Nothing goes better with crispy southern-fried catfish than a succulent serving of country music. And festival goers can feast on this and much more during Kingsland, Georgia's Annual Labor Day Weekend Catfish Festival in historic downtown. Scheduled events include a parade, arts & crafts booths, Southern Fried and Cajun catfish, a variety of food booths, antiques and collectibles and children's amusement area.
800.433.0225 • www.VisitKingsland.com
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Plains Peanut Festival
Plains • Fourth weekend in September
The annual Plains Peanut Festival is centered around one of the Sumter County community's claims to fame —its peanut production. The festival features the community's most famous residents, President and Mrs. Carter, in active roles throughout the weekend. Fun events include a one mile fun run, a 5K road race, and a parade. Food and craft vendors sell their unique merchandise, while local entertainment acts perform throughout the afternoon. Visitors may also view educational exhibits that accent the importance of agriculture in this region.
229.824.5373 • www.plainsgeorgia.com
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Big Pig Jig
Vienna • October
BIG PIG JIG® was born when a group of self-professed gourmets bet who among them could cook the most succulent pig! That year, 1982, the barbecue competition combined with a well-attended arts and crafts fair and the county's annual hog show. The festival has now expanded to include other barbecue cooking contests, a parade, sidewalk art contest, 5K Hog Jog, QuizFest academic scholarship competition, local, regional, and national entertainment, and more. BIG PIG JIG® remains the southeast's largest and Georgia's oldest and OFFICIAL barbecue cooking contest.
229.268.8275 • www.bigpigjig.com
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Big Red Apple Festival
Cornelia • First Saturday in October
Because Cornelia is home to the Big Red Apple Monument, it is also host of The Big Red Apple Festival—an outdoor event held in Downtown Cornelia in October so that visitors can enjoy the fall colors and cooler days. This well-attended festival turns downtown Cornelia into a venue for artists, crafters, food vendors and more. Also featured are children’s activities, live entertainment, chili cook-off, apple bake-off, and more.
706.778.8585 • www.corneliageorgia.org
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Brunswick Rockin' Stewbilee
Brunswick • October
BRUNSWICK ROCKIN’ STEWBILEE is celebrated in October at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in downtown Brunswick. The festivities begin with a live concert and continue with a Stew tasting as more than 50 teams vie for the best Brunswick stew. Also throughout the day, a 5K road race, Pooch Parade, Classic Car Show, Children’s Activities, Food and Arts and Crafts. Join us for this fun folklife festival, where the folk heritage roots of Georgia Brunswick stew are celebrated, on display, and can be tasted and eaten!
www.brunswickstewbilee.com
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Etowah Valley Indian Festival
Sam Smith Park at Milam Farm, Cartersville • October
Enjoy this great festival at Milam Farm Park, near the native lands of the Etowah Indian Mounds State Historic Site, celebrating Cartersville's rich Native American heritage with traditional dance, music, native foods, storytelling and educators of traditional crafts and skills. Shop for authentic crafts: cornshuck dolls, gourd carvings, native beads, jewelry, baskets and more. Enjoy an evening concert, Warriors on Horseback, native dancers, primitive cooking demonstrations and much more.
770.735.6275 • www.rthunder.com
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Georgia Apple Festival
Ellijay • October
The Ellijay Lions Club, the Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce, and the cities of Ellijay and East Ellijay invite everyone to come and enjoy the Georgia Apple Festival. There are over 300 vendors with handmade, hand-crafted items, as well as many on-site demonstrations of how selected types of crafts are made. Events include a parade and antique car show.
706.636.4500 • www.georgiaapplefestival.org
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Hahira Honeybee Festival
Hahira • First week of October
Each year Hahira and the Honey Bee Committee’s “Busy Bees” prepare for the Honey Bee Festival held the first week of October. The week long extravaganza, begun by Mamie Sorrell and Adeline Landrum in 1981, includes arts, crafts, a beauty pageant and parade. For the past 25 years, the festival has been one of the best in the southeast with more than 20,000 visitors.
229.794.3097 • www.hahira.ga.us
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Oktoberfest
Helen • October
Over the years, Oktoberfest has grown into the biggest party in the Southeast and lasts 2 months. Festhalle is the spot for authentic German bands, food, beer and fun. Spend evenings dancing the Polka and Chicken dance, or relax in the adjacent beer garden to enjoy crisp night air. Be sure to sample fresh-cooked wurst and our large variety of German beers. We're sure you'll want to come back year after year. Prosit!
1.800.858.8027 • www.helenchamber.com
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Oktoberfest
Savannah • October
Savannah's annual Oktoberfest on the River is one of those great fall events that people actually plan their vacations around. The riverfront festival is filled with bratwursts, oompah band music, artists and craftsmen and one of the most popular Wiener Dog Races in the country! There are games for the kids and River Street is filled with world famous restaurants. Get your oompah on at Oktoberfest on the River.
912.234.0295 • www.riverstreetsavannah.com
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Pumpkin Festival
Stone Mountain • weekends in October
Stone Mountain Park's Pumpkin Festival offers fall fun for the whole family in the 1870's town of Crossroads. Whether it's painting pumpkins, trying to find their way through Farmer Brown's A MAZE ing Adventure or participating in the pumpkin pie eating contests, guests are sure to discover excitement around every corner. Additional festival activities and entertainment include: Corney Island, Mad Science Show, the South's largest pumpkin tree, pumpkin patch and a live train show.
770.498.5600 • www.stonemountainpark.com
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Rock Shrimp Festival
St. Marys • October
Historic downtown St. Marys is home to the annual Rock Shrimp Festival with lots of fun for the whole family. Sponsored by the Kiwanis Club, the festival includes 5k/10k races, parade, entertainment, street dance, food concessions, arts and crafts booths and of course delicious rock shrimp dinners.
800.868.8687 • www.stmaryswelcome.com
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Savannah Seafood Festival
Savannah • October
Everyone loves fresh seafood and that's exactly what the Savannah Seafood Festival is all about. Sample fresh wild Georgia Shrimp, blue crabs or grouper while you browse among unique arts and crafts. You might even be tempted to take part in the annual "Mullet Toss" contest…yes, with real mullets! Come and take home some delicious Savannah memories.
912.234.0295 • www.riverstreetsavannah.com
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Sorghum Festival
Blairsville • Second, third and fourth week of October
This small town celebration is centered around sorghum--a staple of early Georgia farmers. Sorghum has been a popular crop in north Georgia since the land was settled in the 1830s, and Blairsville celebrates this early staple on the second, third and fourth weekends each October (the time the crop comes in). In 1995 the Sorghum Festival in Blairsville was designated Georgia's official sorghum festival.
706.745.4745 • www.sorghumfestival.com |
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Sweet Potato Festival
Ocilla • October
For more than 45 years the Georgia Sweet Potato Festival has celebrated the beloved Georgia sweet potato. In conjunction with the Riverbend Bluegrass Festival and Annual Motorcycle Rally, there is something for everyone including a Sweet Potato Queen Pageant, cooking contest, parade, arts and crafts, live music, and much more. Visit our festival for family-oriented fun for people of all ages.
229.468.9114 |
Taste of Atlanta
Atlanta • October
Taste of Atlanta is a 2 day outdoor food festival held in the streets of Atlantic Station. The event features more than 70 of the city's best restaurants, live cooking demonstrations from national and local celebrity chefs, live entertainment and a Wine Experience. From hot new restaurants to time-tested favorites, from world cuisine to eateries that are off the beaten path, Taste of Atlanta encourages food lovers to explore the best the city has to offer.
404.875.4434 • www.tasteofatlanta.net
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National BBQ Festival
Douglas • November
The best barbecue pitmasters in America will serve up their specialties for thousands who make their yearly pilgrimage to the annual National BBQ Festival held on the “Fall Forward Time Change” weekend each year. A total of more than $60,000 is paid out in cash and prizes. Competition events include the NBF Open, Backyard and Kid’s Q, along with a big crowd favorite — the FNBCC People’s Choice Competition. Sample BBQ from five competition teams and help choose the winner of the People’s Choice Award with proceeds going to local charities. Other events include live entertainment, South Georgia’s Gigantic Indoor Yard Sale, Holiday Bazaar and the Wiregrass Art Show and Sale.
800.385.0002 • www.nationalbbqfestival.com |
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Syrup Making & Storytelling Festival
Jarrell Plantation, Juliette • November
Syrup making was an important fall event on middle Georgia farms. Jarrel Plantation Park’s Syrup Makin’ & Storytelling Festival brings the event back to life with demonstrations of the sugar cane mill, syrup kettle, steam engine, woodstove cooking and storytelling.
478.986.5172 |
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| About the Authors: |
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| Kent Whitaker has taken his down-home, Southern-style cooking to an art-form. “I like to do a bit more than burgers and dogs on the grill.” He is the author of three cookbooks, Tennessee Hometown Cookbook (Great American Publishers, 2007), Smoke in the Mountains (Quail Ridge Press, 2004) and Checkered Flag Cooking (Quail Ridge Press, 2005), and has written and illustrated two children’s books, Why are the Mountains Smoky? (Overmountain Press, 2004) and Big Mo’s Tennis Ball Hunt (Great American Publishers, 2006).
Kent has appeared on the Food Network and other network television stations. He frequently hosts cooking classes at the Chattanooga Market and throughout the South. He writes a cooking column for the Catoosa County News and the Chattanoogan, and writes monthly articles for both The National Barbecue News and Racing Milestones Magazine. A dog-lover and advocate for local animal shelters and rescue organizations, Kent and his grilling buddy, Moses, are spokesperson and spokesdog for ALPO. Kent and Moses travel the country presenting grilling and cooking demos promoting the idea of including your canine family members in on the backyard grilling fun. Kent gives human grilling and cooking tips while Moses enjoys APLO Chophouse Ribeye-Flavored dog food.
Kent and his wife Ally live in East Tennessee with one son, Macee, a Golden Retriever named Moses and a Shitzu named Barney.
Sheila Simmons is passionate about cooking and cookbooks. In her travels, when people come to stay at her “rambling house in the country,” when entertaining, or even when watching one of her two boys play ball, the subject will always, eventually, turn to recipes.
Sheila’s interest in regional recipes was originally born during her 18 years with Quail Ridge Press in Brandon, Mississippi. In 2006, she left QRP to focus her love of publishing on Great American Publishers and Great American Cookbooks where she is Publisher and co-owner along with husband Roger Simmons.
Sheila has also found an outlet for her regional recipe passion in the State Hometown Cookbook Series. She and co-author Kent Whitaker collect favorite recipes from every state in the country for the series. A “job” that is perfect for someone who loves to talk about and share great recipes and equally enjoys trying new recipes in her kitchen.
Sheila is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. She lives in Lena, Mississippi with her husband Roger and two sons, Ryan and Nicholas. In addition to publishing, cooking, and collecting recipes Sheila enjoys family, reading, and books. |
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