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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Tomato Pesto Focaccia

Tomato Pesto Focaccia

appetizer· bread· pizza & pasta· snacks
August 23, 2022

Tomato Pesto Focaccia – Homemade focaccia dough is topped with basil pesto and fresh tomatoes, then baked to perfection. Baking…
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Cherry Tomato Prosciutto Pizza

Cherry Tomato Prosciutto Pizza

pizza & pasta
June 27, 2022

Cherry Tomato Prosciutto Pizza – Homemade pizza baked with fresh mozzarella and cherry tomatoes, then finished with Italian prosciutto and…
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Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Shells with Vodka Sauce

Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Shells with Vodka Sauce

pizza & pasta
March 10, 2022

Spinach & Cheese Stuffed Shells with Vodka Sauce – Jumbo pasta shells are stuffed with ricotta, spinach, and mozzarella, covered…
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Pumpkin Fettuccine with Sundried Tomatoes

Pumpkin Fettuccine with Sundried Tomatoes

Fall Flavors· pizza & pasta
November 15, 2021

Pumpkin Fettuccine with Sundried Tomatoes – Homemade pumpkin pasta is cooked to al dente and then tossed in a creamy…
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Roasted Tomato Mac & Cheese

Roasted Tomato Mac & Cheese

pizza & pasta
September 13, 2021

Roasted Tomato Mac & Cheese – The Parmesan roasted tomatoes on top of this mac and cheese help balance out…
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Lemon Pecorino Pasta

Lemon Pecorino Pasta

pizza & pasta
April 22, 2021

Lemon Pecorino Pasta – Long pasta is combined with lemon zest, lemon juice and Percorino Romano cheese to make a…
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Easy Ravioli Lasagna

Easy Ravioli Lasagna

beef entrees· pizza & pasta
October 5, 2020

Easy Ravioli Lasagna – Meat sauce, cheese ravioli, and mozzarella cheese are layered to make a yummy baked pasta dish…
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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

Pumpkin Tres Leches

styled shot of Sweet Yeast Rolls on a plate with a bowl of Whipped Pumpkin Butter and a basket of rolls and a pumpkin in the background, shot from a side angle

Sweet Yeast Rolls with Whipped Pumpkin Butter

portion of sweet potato gratin being removed from casserole dish, revealing gooey center

Sweet Potato Gratin

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

styled shot of of Salted Caramel Ice Cream in a glass dish with an ice cream scooper with sugar cones and a full ice cream cone next to it and a jar and spoon of caramel sauce

Salted Caramel Ice Cream

a baking sheet with banana bread granola and a whole banana on it, shot from a side angle

Banana Bread Granola

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

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

Pumpkin Cheesecake Macarons

a plate with stacked strawberry white chocolate eclairs, shot from the front

Strawberry White Chocolate Eclairs

Sweet Corn Risotto with Crispy Shrimp - Creamy, cheesy homemade risotto is taken up a notch with fresh sweet yellow corn and paired perfect with SeaPak Butterfly Shrimp and Clos du Bois Chardonnay.

Sweet Corn Risotto with Crispy Shrimp (+ wine pairing)

a slice of chocolate pecan pie on a plate with another plate of pie in the background, shot from a side angle

Chocolate Pecan Pie

nutella pastry rolls on a sheet of parchment paper with a spoonful of nutella next to them

Nutella Pastry Rolls

 

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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