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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Cuban Sandwiches

Cuban Sandwiches

pork entrees· sandwiches & wraps· Summertime Favorites
September 3, 2020

Cuban Sandwiches – my take on the classic Cuban, made with ham, Mojo pork, Swiss cheese, and a homemade garlic…
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Mojo Pork Tenderloin

Mojo Pork Tenderloin

Easter· pork entrees· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
August 31, 2020

Mojo Pork Tenderloin – Pork tenderloin is marinated in a classic Cuban citrus marinade and roasted to perfection. One good…
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Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Skewers

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Skewers

appetizer· chicken entrees· pork entrees· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
June 25, 2020

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Skewers – Skewers are loaded with BBQ chicken, pineapple chunks, ham, and red onion and grilled to…
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Bourbon Brown Sugar Bacon

Bourbon Brown Sugar Bacon

appetizer· breakfast· pork entrees· sides
June 18, 2020

Bourbon Brown Sugar Bacon – Oven-baked bacon is topped with bourbon and brown sugar to give you a yummy sweet…
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Pork Gouda Burgers

Pork Gouda Burgers

entrees· pork entrees· sandwiches & wraps· Summertime Favorites
May 13, 2019

Pork Gouda Burgers – Burgers made from ground pork and topped with smoked gouda cheese, caramelized onions, and homemade garlic…
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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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Blackberry & Rosemary Pork Tenderloin (+wine pairing)

Blackberry & Rosemary Pork Tenderloin (+wine pairing)

pork entrees· Summertime Favorites
July 10, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. The following content…
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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

a hand holding up a maple molasses cookie to show all the detailed cracks in the top of the cookie

Maple Molasses Cookies

autumn kale salad in a blue salad bowl

Autumn Kale Salad

sweet potato biscuits on parchment paper with butter to the side and a cast iron pan of more biscuits in it, shot from a side angle

Sweet Potato Biscuits

styled shot of Cranberry Apple Crumble

Cranberry Apple Crumble

zoomed in shot of cut up apple cider caramels

Apple Cider Caramels

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes

a slice of cinnamon swirl doughnut bread with a fork cutting it in with the other half of the bread next to it on a piece of parchment paper and a cloth napkin, shot from a side angle

Cinnamon Swirl Doughnut Loaf

two copper mugs with Pomegranate Rosemary Moscow Mule with thyme sprigs in them and on a table with cloth napkins and a bottle of Schweppes in the background, shot from a side angle

Pomegranate Rosemary Moscow Mule

Black & White Bundt Cake

close up of a phyllo triangle sitting on a platter drizzled with honey and chopped walnuts

Goat Cheese & Honey Phyllo Triangles

 

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Mustard Vinaig Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette – crispy roasted Brussels sprouts tossed in a tangy, sweet honey mustard vinaigrette! 

If you had told me 5 years ago that I'd be posting a brussels sprouts recipe on this blog, I wouldn't have believed you, you guys! All I knew about them was that they were a stinky vegetable nobody liked!

Then all of a sudden, brussels sprouts were on EVERY menu at EVERY restaurant I visited! I was shocked! So when my girlfriends ordered a large side to share at dinner, I decided to try them – and I was CONVERTED! 😍

They were roasted until crispy, coated in a honey mustard vinaigrette that was tangy, crispy, and sweet! Now I'm sharing MY version so you can convert brussels sprout haters too!

Pro tip: Toss the brussels sprouts in the vinaigrette while they're still hot so they absorb all those amazing flavors!

Perfect for holiday dinners, dinner parties or anytime you need a delicious side dish! 

💬 Comment "SPROUTS" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for entertaining
📤 SHARE with a brussels sprout hater!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/roasted-brussel-sprouts-with-honey-mustard-vinaigrette/
Cheeseburger Egg Rolls – ground beef seasoned wi Cheeseburger Egg Rolls – ground beef seasoned with mustard and Worcestershire, stuffed with American cheese and pickles, all wrapped in a crispy wonton wrapper! Served with a tangy burger sauce for dipping! 

Frying foods is not always my favorite thing to do, you guys! But when I decide to, it's gotta be worth it! And these cheeseburger egg rolls are TOTALLY worth it! You just can't get the same crisp on the wonton wrapper in the oven or air fryer!

The filling is just like a classic cheeseburger – ground beef, American cheese, a pickle, and just a hint of mustard! And the burger sauce with ketchup, mustard, and relish rounds out those classic burger flavors!

Pro tip: Drain the beef extremely well! Any excess oil will put holes in the wonton wrapper while it's frying!

Perfect for appetizers, game day, parties, tailgating, or anytime you want cheeseburger flavor in a crispy, fun package! 🍟

💬 Comment "EGGROLLS" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for party planning
📤 SHARE with someone who loves burgers!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/cheeseburger-egg-rolls/
Coconut Tres Leches – a tropical twist on the cl Coconut Tres Leches – a tropical twist on the classic! Spongy cake soaked in three milks (including coconut cream instead of heavy cream!) and topped with whipped cream and toasted coconut! 

Despite my Hispanic heritage, tres leches is something I only started loving in my 20s, you guys! And when I did? I was almost ANGRY I had waited so long to try it!

I love taking classic recipes and giving them unique twists! For this one, I replaced the heavy cream with coconut cream and topped it with toasted coconut – because I LOVE coconut cream cake! The result? The best of both worlds – all the tres leches flavor with all the coconut goodness!

Pro tip: Make this cake a day in advance and let it sit overnight! Tres leches gets BETTER over time, and it makes a world of difference!

One of the best desserts I've made in a while – seriously, your mind will be blown with every bite! 

💬 Comment "TRESLECHES" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for dessert inspiration
📤 SHARE with someone who loves coconut!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/coconut-tres-leches/
Italian Herb Wings with Gorgonzola Dipping Sauce – crispy baked wings tossed in garlic, Parmesan, and Italian herbs, served with a creamy Gorgonzola dipping sauce! 🍗

I've been obsessed with wings ever since high school when we'd have 25-cent wing nights at our local pub, you guys! These are a little bit of a step up from those days! 

Instead of my usual teriyaki wings, these are dry wings (not tossed in sauce) coated in the trifecta of flavor – Italian herbs, garlic, and Parmesan! And the best part? They're BAKED, not fried! You can put away that gallon of vegetable oil!

Pro tip: Dry the wings extremely well before coating – excess moisture keeps them from browning! And don't flip them during baking – the longer they're untouched, the deeper the skin will brown!

Perfect for football Sundays, tailgating parties, game day snacks, or anytime you want incredible wings without the fuss! 

💬 Comment "ITALIANWINGS" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for game day
📤 SHARE with someone who loves wings!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/italian-herb-wings-gorgonzola-dipping-sauce/
Peach Raspberry Cobbler – fresh peaches and rasp Peach Raspberry Cobbler – fresh peaches and raspberries topped with a cakey, cinnamon-sugar crust that's so incredible you won't even need ice cream!

Cobblers have stolen my heart, you guys! The first cobbler I ever loved was blackberry, but after tasting this peach raspberry version at a work potluck, it took the top spot! 

The secret? That cinnamon sugar crust! It's not just a topping – it's the STAR of the show! The combination of fresh peaches, tart raspberries, and that cakey, cinnamon-sugar-coated crust is pure summer magic!

Pro tip: Let the cobbler cool for at least 15 minutes before serving so the filling can thicken up and it'll be much easier to scoop!

Perfect for summer gatherings, July 4th parties, potlucks, or anytime you want a Southern dessert with a delicious twist! 

💬 Comment "COBBLER" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for summer entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves fruit desserts!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/peach-raspberry-cobbler/

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