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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Scallion Pancakes

Scallion Pancakes

appetizer· bread· snacks
March 28, 2022

Scallion Pancakes – A simple dough is rolled and layered with scallion oil and freshly chopped scallions and fried until…
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Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin

Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin

pork entrees
September 16, 2021

Chinese BBQ Pork Tenderloin – Pork tenderloin is marinated in a sweet Chinese BBQ sauce and then roasted in the…
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Orange Chicken

Orange Chicken

chicken entrees· entrees· Valentine's Day
January 2, 2020

Orange Chicken – Chicken is fried in tempura batter and then tossed in a homemade sticky orange sauce to make…
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Chinese Hot & Sour Soup

Chinese Hot & Sour Soup

pork entrees· soup
February 21, 2019

Chinese Hot & Sour Soup – Comforting Chinese soup, loaded with pork and mushrooms and spiced with garlic chili sauce…
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Hi, my name is Sharon. I’m an accountant by day, risk-taking baker and food enthusiast by night. Come join me as I share my favorite recipes and test out new ones along the way!

fall flavors

plate of Pumpkin Cheesecake Macarons with a gourd in the background, shot from the front

Pumpkin Cheesecake Macarons

two pints of high road ice cream stacked on top of each other with glass dishes of apple pie sundaes next to them and an apple slice and a apple cut in half in front, shot from the front

Apple Pie Sundae

autumn kale salad in a blue salad bowl

Autumn Kale Salad

a cinnamon stick being dipped into a mug of mulled wine with another mug of mulled wine and a glass dish of mulled spices in the background, shot from a side angle

Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

a glass dish with pumpkin cinnamon rolls in it with some missing from the center and a spatula with a pumpkin the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

a slice of peach upside down cake on a white plate with the rest of the cake in the background

Peach Upside-down Cake

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

overhead shot of Cinnamon Roll Wreath

Cinnamon Roll Wreath

cranberry lime mojitos with cranberries and slices of lime

Cranberry Lime Mojitos

Peach & Goat Cheese Crostini on a platter topped with basil and balsamic vinaigrette, shot from a side angle

Peach & Goat Cheese Crostini (+wine pairing)

stacked and spread out butter pecan macarons with crushed pecans spread around them, shot from a side angle

Butter Pecan Macarons

zoomed in shot of chocolate snickerdoodles on parchment paper with a spoon in front, shot from a side angle

Chocolate Snickerdoodles

 

This Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Bread Pudding combines This Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Bread Pudding combines everything you love about classic bread pudding with ALL the cozy fall flavors – pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves. And that snickerdoodle cinnamon sugar crust on top? Absolute PERFECTION.

Here's what makes this amazing:
✨ Easier than pie (literally!)
✨ Make ahead friendly – prep the night before
✨ Serves 12 (perfect for holiday gatherings)
✨ Best served warm with vanilla ice cream

The secret? French bread cubes soak up all that spiced pumpkin custard overnight, then get topped with cinnamon sugar before baking. The result is a creamy, custardy center with a crispy, cookie-like top. It's basically snickerdoodles meets pumpkin pie meets bread pudding!

Pro tip: Use crusty French bread – it soaks up the custard perfectly without getting mushy. And don't skip the overnight soak – that's what makes it so incredibly creamy!

Perfect for:
🦃 Thanksgiving dessert table
🎄 Christmas gatherings
🍂 Fall entertaining
☕ Cozy dessert nights

Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream (the kind with sea salt is chef's kiss) and watch it disappear! 

Comment "PUMPKIN" below and I'll send the full recipe straight to your DMs! 

#pumpkinrecipes #breadpudding #holidaybaking
Potato skins just got SO much easier! Y'all, I lo Potato skins just got SO much easier!

Y'all, I love potato skins, but hollowing out all those potatoes? No thank you! This hack changes EVERYTHING – slice potatoes into coins, bake them, and load them up with all your favorite toppings. Takes half the time and they're just as delicious!

Here's why these are genius:
✨ No tedious hollowing out required
✨ Way faster to make (hello, game day!)
✨ Perfect finger food size
✨ All the flavor, half the work

The combo of crispy potato coins topped with melted cheddar, crispy bacon, cool sour cream, and fresh green onions? Chef's kiss

Pro tips:
🥔 Choose uniform potatoes for even cooking
🍳 Cut bacon BEFORE cooking (saves time!)
📄 Use nonstick pans for easy flipping
Perfect for:
🏈 Football season
🎉 Watch parties
🏠 Homegating
🍔 BBQs and tailgates

One follower literally said "I would make a meal out of those" and honestly? Same. These are THAT good and so addictive. Your guests will be fighting over the last one!

Ready to make game day snacking easier? Comment "POTATO" below and I'll send the full recipe straight to your DMs! 

#potatoskins #appetizers #fingerfood
These Bacon & Gruyere Sliders with Beer Caramelize These Bacon & Gruyere Sliders with Beer Caramelized Onions are about to be your new game day MVP!

Y'all, the flavor combination here is UNREAL. Salty bacon + nutty gruyere cheese + sweet beer caramelized onions = pure perfection. These are the kind of sliders that make people ask for the recipe immediately!

Here's what makes them special:
✨ Beer caramelized onions (game-changer!)
✨ Mini burgers = perfect for tasting everything
✨ Gruyere cheese adds that gourmet touch
✨ Feeds a crowd (makes 12 sliders!)

Pro tip: The caramelized onions take about an hour, but you can make them the day before and just reheat! That way, game day is stress-free and you can actually enjoy the party 

Perfect for:
🏈 Super Bowl parties
🏟️ Tailgating
🍔 BBQs and cookouts
🎊 Any time you're feeding a crowd

The best part? Using those sweet slider buns that are the perfect size and have just a hint of sweetness to balance all those savory flavors. These aren't your average burgers – they're loaded with flavor in every single bite!

Ready to win game day with these sliders?  Comment "SLIDERS" below and I'll send the full recipe straight to your DMs! 

#sliders #gamedayfood #burgerrecipes
All the flavor of an old-fashioned doughnut, but i All the flavor of an old-fashioned doughnut, but in cake form!

This Blackberry Doughnut Cake is about to be your new holiday baking obsession. Dense coffee cake with a hint of nutmeg (that's the secret doughnut flavor!), filled with blackberry preserves, and rolled in cinnamon sugar. It's EVERYTHING.

Here's why this is genius:
✨ Way easier than making real doughnuts (no frying!)
✨ That nutmeg gives it authentic doughnut flavor
✨ Blackberry preserves add a fruity surprise in the center
✨ Cinnamon sugar coating = pure magic

The best part? No stand mixer needed! This batter comes together so simply, and the results are absolutely stunning. It's like having a giant gourmet doughnut you can slice and share.

Pro tips:
🔥 Warm the milk before mixing with butter
🎨 Use a piping bag to layer the preserves (keeps them centered!)
❄️ Cool completely before coating in sugar

Perfect for holiday mornings, weekend brunch, or any time you want to impress with minimal effort. The cinnamon sugar coating is totally reminiscent of those classic doughnuts, but you get to skip all the frying hassle!

Ready to bake something amazing? Comment "DOUGHNUT" below and I'll send the full recipe straight to your DMs! 💌
#doughnutcake #coffeecake #holidaybaking
These Sausage, Egg & Cheese Pastry Muffins are abo These Sausage, Egg & Cheese Pastry Muffins are about to become your new breakfast obsession!

During the cold winter months, I crave all the comforting breakfast foods – and these hit EVERY note. Flaky puff pastry cups filled with savory sausage, sharp cheddar, and fluffy eggs, baked to crispy golden perfection. They're basically portable breakfast heaven!

Here's why you need these in your life:
✨ Perfect for holiday mornings (Christmas, Easter, brunch!)
✨ Makes 18 muffins – great for meal prep
✨ Only 45 minutes from start to finish
✨ Everyone loves them (kids took them for lunch!)

The best part? Working with puff pastry is SO much easier than you think. Just keep it cold, and you'll have flaky, buttery results every time. 

Pro tip: Don't overfill with the egg mixture – it puffs up as it bakes!

These are perfect for:
🎄 Christmas morning breakfast
🐰 Easter brunch
🎉 Weekend entertaining
💼 Meal prep for busy mornings
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Feeding a crowd

One reader said she made these for her kids' lunch and they LOVED them. That's the kind of parent win we all need!

Ready to make breakfast magic happen? Comment "BREAKFAST" below and I'll send the full recipe straight to your DMs!

#breakfastmuffins #puffpastry #brunchrecipes #holidaybreakfast #mealprep

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