• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Work With Me
  • Contact

CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Homemade Italian Meatballs

Homemade Italian Meatballs

beef entrees· pizza & pasta
September 29, 2023

Homemade Italian Meatballs – Made with pork and beef and, these are the most tender and flavorful meatballs you’ve ever…
Read More

Cheeseburger Egg Rolls

Cheeseburger Egg Rolls

appetizer· beef entrees· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
May 15, 2023

Cheeseburger Egg Rolls – Ground beef is flavored with mustard and a little Worcestershire and then stuffed into a wonton…
Read More

Beef Empanadas

Beef Empanadas

appetizer· beef entrees· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
May 2, 2023

Beef Empanadas – These beef empanadas are made with my classic pie dough and filled with a beef and tomato…
Read More

Pappardelle Bolognese

Pappardelle Bolognese

beef entrees· pizza & pasta
September 22, 2022

Pappardelle Bolognese – Homemade Bolognese is tossed with a wide-noodle pasta called Pappardelle. it’s the most comforting combination, that is…
Read More

Steakhouse Burgers

Steakhouse Burgers

beef entrees· sandwiches & wraps· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
May 10, 2022

Steakhouse Burgers – Beef patties are seasoned with beef bouillon and Worcestershire sauce, topped with caramelized onions and a homemade…
Read More

Chimichurri Steak Bites

Chimichurri Steak Bites

beef entrees· Summertime Favorites
May 5, 2022

Chimichurri Steak Bites – Sirloin pieces are marinated, seared, and drizzled with a fresh chimichurri sauce that packs a punch…
Read More

Classic Pot Roast

Classic Pot Roast

beef entrees· entrees
November 18, 2021

Classic Pot Roast – Chuck roast is slowly roasted in a jus made of beef broth, carrots, celery, and onions….
Read More

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next Page »

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

close up of two brown sugar cinnamon cookie bars stacked on top of each other

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookie Bars

close up of potato dinner rolls on a wooden round serving platter

Potato Dinner Rolls

close up of pretzel bread pudding slice on a plate in a pool of whiskey sauce

Pretzel Bread Pudding

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

Pumpkin Cheesecake Macarons

zoomed in shot of a bowl of sweet potato gnocchi, shot from a side angle

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Browned Butter

styled shot of a stack of chocolate pecan pie cheesecake bars

Chocolate Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

Breakfast
Appetizers
Entrees
Salads
Sides
Drinks
Desserts
Roundups
Holidays

Browse by Date

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy

holiday favorite

bailey cheesecake brownie bites on a dessert plate with one missing a bite to expose the creamy center

Baileys Cheesecake Brownie Bites

close up of beignets stacked on a plate, covered in powdered sugar

Beignets

zoomed in shot of a plate of sliced classic tiramisu with a glass dish of tiramisu in the background, shot from the front

Classic Tiramisu

two chocolate cherry crepes on a plate with powdered sugar dusted on top

Chocolate Cherry Crepes

zoomed in shot of portuguese egg tarts sitting on a plate

Portuguese Egg Tarts

 

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
This Classic Crumb Cake is EXACTLY like the one fr This Classic Crumb Cake is EXACTLY like the one from Starbucks – maybe even better! 

Y'all know I worked at Starbucks in college, and this crumb cake was my absolute OBSESSION. Soft, moist cake (hello, sour cream!) topped with thick cinnamon crumbs that just melt in your mouth. Paired with a coffee frappuccino? Pure heaven.

Here's what makes this recipe amazing:
✨ Ready in under 1 hour (rise and bake!)
✨ Super simple ingredients you probably have at home
✨ That sour cream makes it incredibly moist
✨ Perfect crumb-to-cake ratio

The best part? You probably don't even need to make a grocery run. No supermarket visits in pajamas today! 

This is perfect for lazy weekend mornings, Christmas Day breakfast, or whenever you want something special without the fuss. My husband kept complimenting it with EVERY. SINGLE. BITE. (Not that I'm complaining!)

Pro tip: Refrigerate the crumb mixture while you make the batter – this is KEY to getting those perfect crumbs on top! If you skip this step, they'll melt into the cake and you'll lose that amazing texture.

Want the full recipe with all my tips? Comment "CRUMB" below and I'll send it straight to your DMs!

#crumbcake #coffeecake #breakfastrecipes #starbuckscopycat #brunchideas
This Cacio e Pepe Pasta Risotto changed my pasta g This Cacio e Pepe Pasta Risotto changed my pasta game forever!

After having mind-blowing cacio e pepe at Eataly in Boston, I became obsessed with recreating it at home. But here's the problem: the traditional recipe only makes small portions. So I had a lightbulb moment – what if I cooked it risotto-style to feed a crowd?!

The result? Pure magic. By cooking short pasta (I use ditalini!) slowly in chicken broth, you get an ultra-creamy, luscious texture without any cream. Just simple Italian ingredients: Pecorino Romano cheese, fresh black pepper, butter, and good olive oil.

Here's what makes this amazing:
✨ Feeds a crowd (perfect for dinner parties!)
✨ Only 7 ingredients, but packed with flavor
✨ Takes 30 minutes but worth every second
✨ Creamy without any cream

The key? Using the BEST ingredients – fresh ground black pepper and quality extra virgin olive oil make all the difference. And cooking that pepper in the oil at the beginning? That's what gives it that signature cacio e pepe punch!

Pro tip: Dice those onions super small so they don't overpower each bite. Trust me on this one

Ready to make restaurant-quality Italian pasta at home? Comment "PASTA" below and I'll send the full recipe to your DMs! 

#cacioepepe #pastarisotto #italianfood #pastarecipes #dinnerparty

Copyright © 2025 Certified Pastry Aficionado · Web Design by Viva la Violet