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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

Philly Cheesesteak Sliders

appetizer· beef entrees· sandwiches & wraps· Tailgating Recipes
March 11, 2019

This post was sponsored by Kroger and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions expressed on my site are my own.  Philly…
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Asian Steak Skewers

Asian Steak Skewers

beef entrees· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
May 28, 2018

Asian Steak Skewers – Tender sirloin is marinated in Asian flavors and skewered with red onion and red pepper before…
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Slow Cooker Short Ribs

Slow Cooker Short Ribs

beef entrees· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
March 29, 2018

Slow Cooker Short Ribs – Beef short ribs are cooked in a slow cooker to help break down the meat…
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Chili Mac & Cheese

Chili Mac & Cheese

beef entrees· pizza & pasta· soup
January 4, 2018

Chili Mac & Cheese – Hearty bean chili is cooked with macaroni and covered with cheese to make for one…
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Taco Spaghetti

Taco Spaghetti

beef entrees· pizza & pasta
March 23, 2017

Taco Spaghetti – A fun, new way to enjoy Taco Tuesday! Taco spaghetti is an easy weeknight meal that is…
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Steak & Blue Cheese Pizza

Steak & Blue Cheese Pizza

beef entrees· pizza & pasta
January 16, 2017

Steak & Blue Cheese Pizza – Spice up your pizza game with this steak and blue cheese pizza! Fresh pizza dough…
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Easy Meatball Subs

Easy Meatball Subs

beef entrees· Popular Recipes· sandwiches & wraps· Tailgating Recipes
January 12, 2017

Easy Meatball Subs – Made with hot dog buns, frozen meatballs, marinara, and provolone, these meatball subs are so simple…
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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

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

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Browned Butter

close up of a serving bowl with sage and brown butter mashed sweet potatoes

Sage & Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes

zoomed in shot of cut up apple cider caramels

Apple Cider Caramels

pumpkin cinnamon pull apart loaf with a center slice visable

Pumpkin Cinnamon Pull Apart Loaf

overhead shot of spiced carrots on a bed of whipped feta dip

Spiced Carrots with Whipped Feta

side shot of banana bread doughnuts on a purple plate with more doughnuts in the background

Banana Bread Doughnuts

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

a slice of blackberry doughnut cake is shown slightly removed from the whole cake on a plate

Blackberry Doughnut Cake

Peppermint Shortbread Bites

picture of fried goat cheese balls stacked on an appetizer plate with honey drizzling over the top

Fried Goat Cheese Balls

close up of slice of roasted strawberry bundt cake taken from the side to show the inside of the slice

Roasted Strawberry Bundt Cake

Maple Pecan Scones

 

There’s something whimsical about a dessert that There’s something whimsical about a dessert that looks like you’ve painted it in black and white, classic, bold, but full of surprises.

When I first created these Black & White Cake Pops, I was playing around with leftover cake crumbs and two glazes (dark chocolate + white chocolate). 

The result? Elegant, crunchy on the outside, cake-soaked inside, with that satisfying first bite where the two tones meet.

They’re the perfect party treat, a nostalgic twist, or just a fun way to make ordinary cake pops feel extraordinary.

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/black-white-cake-pops/
Some of my favorite memories start with the smell Some of my favorite memories start with the smell of coffee swirling through a chilly morning. This Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew was born from one of those mornings, when I had leftover pumpkin cream and too much cold brew not to pair them together.

This isn’t just a seasonal drink, it’s that edgy, cozy twist you crave when autumn meets caffeine: chilled cold brew topped with airy pumpkin-spiced cream that slowly melts in and mingles with every sip. It’s smooth, spiced, and addictive in the best way.

Would you take yours extra creamy or light and dreamy?

Comment COLD BREW and I'll send you  a recipe

#pumpkincreamcoldbrew #coldbrewroutine #pumpkincoffee #fallcoffee #creamycoldbrew
I’ll never forget the first time I bit into a ca I’ll never forget the first time I bit into a cake that tasted like summer itself: the sun-warmed sweetness of strawberries, carried into every crumb. That memory stayed with me until I decided to capture it in cake form.

This Roasted Strawberry Bundt Cake starts with macerating strawberries so their juices deepen, roasting them to intensify flavor, then folding them into a tender, buttery bundt cake that’s bursting with berry brightness. Every slice is soft, moist, and dotted with those roasted ruby surprises.

Comment STRAWBERRY and i'll send you a recipe?

#berrybundtcake 
#roastedstrawberrycake #bundtcakerecipe #summerberries #strawberrydessert #berrybundtcake
The first time I tasted chocolate raspberry mousse The first time I tasted chocolate raspberry mousse, I was at a small café on a rainy afternoon overseas. A spoonful felt like velvet, silky chocolate dancing with tart raspberry, so light it dissolved in your mouth. That memory haunted me until I made it myself.

This Chocolate Raspberry Mousse is my tribute to that moment. Rich dark chocolate, whipped light as air, with a swirl of bright raspberries cutting through the sweetness. Elegant, indulgent, yet surprisingly approachable.

It’s the kind of dessert that feels special, but doesn’t require hours or dozens of ingredients. Sometimes, the most unforgettable dishes are the simplest.

Would you dig into it plain or top it with fresh raspberries & whipped cream?

Comment or DM with a “MOUSSE” and I'll send you a recipe.
#easydesserteasydessert
#chocolateraspberrymousse #raspberrymousse #chocolatemousse #dessertrecipe #easydessert
It all started on a cozy fall evening. I was cravi It all started on a cozy fall evening. I was craving pie + cheesecake, and I couldn’t decide which to make. So I thought: Why not both?

That’s how these Chocolate Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars came to be. A buttery pecan pie layer rich with toasted pecans and deep caramel, sandwiched over creamy cheesecake, drizzled with chocolate, all baked into a bar you can slice and serve.

Every bite hits: the nutty crunch, the silky cheesecake center, the chocolate swirl that ties it all together. It’s indulgence without the fuss of flipping pies or cutting perfect slices.

Comment “BARS”  and I sent you the link to the recipe. 

#chocolatepecan #piecheesecakebars #dessertbars #pecanpie #cheesecakelove

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