If I recall correctly, you're playing with 1.7.10. My only experience with AA is 1.10, so I'm not sure how much changed, so there may be some things that don't apply for you.
The Atomic Reconstructor is a basic machine in the progression which converts Vanilla materials into their AA counterparts. There are also several lenses that can be applied to it to enhance it's functionality, including a disenchanted and a way to create ores out of smooth stone.
Greenhouse Glass increases the growth rate of plants growing below it (needs clear path to sky above it to function). The AA Farmer can automate the harvesting and replanting of those crops.
There is a multiblock Lava creation system, and AA provides an option for moving fluids such as this around with the Fluid Collector and Fluid Placer.
AA has ways to place block in the world with Phantom Faces (I've experimented very little with them, but they show great promise).
Some of my favorite things about the mod are its crops: Flax, Rice, and Coffee. Flax is string you can grow - no more hunting spiders or waiting on a giant field of cotton. Rice can be food, but my love comes from being able to make slimeballs out of it - no more searching for a slime chunk or swamp. Coffee and the Coffee Maker allow for custom potions, although I've not truly played with that either - it's on my list.
If you're not into manually mining, the Vertical Digger is an option for doing it with machines. If you add boosters to it, it has a 16 block range, and I think it has an option to only mine ores, saving you the hassle of storing all that cobble.
I'm sure there's more to it, but hopefully that can whet your appetite enough to take a run at it. Oh, I almost forgot the Infusion Altar -like crafting mechanic, but I'll let you go play with it. Have fun.
