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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Spiced Carrots with Whipped Feta

Spiced Carrots with Whipped Feta

appetizer· Easter· Fall Flavors· sides· snacks
March 15, 2024

Spiced Carrots with Whipped Feta – Organic small carrots are tossed with cumin, paprika and cinnamon and then roasted to…
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Everything Focaccia

Everything Focaccia

bread· snacks
January 9, 2024

Everything Focaccia – Homemade focaccia dough is topped with everything seasoning (salt, poppyseeds, sesame seeds, and onion) and baked to…
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Monte Cristo Pinwheels

Monte Cristo Pinwheels

appetizer· sandwiches & wraps· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
January 5, 2024

Monte Cristo Pinwheels – Puff pastry dough is rolled with black forest ham and Swiss cheese and baked to perfection….
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Grown-up Chocolate Chip Cookies

Grown-up Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookies· dessert· snacks
October 9, 2023

Grown-up Chocolate Chip Cookies – Chocolate chip cookies loaded with finely chopped pistachios, walnuts, and dried cherries. A sprinkle of…
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Goat Cheese Phyllo Cigars

Goat Cheese Phyllo Cigars

appetizer· Easter· Holiday Favorites· snacks· Valentine's Day
September 4, 2023

Goat Cheese Phyllo Cigars – Thin phyllo dough is filled with goat cheese and herb filling, rolled into cigars, and…
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Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookie Bars

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookie Bars

bars and brownies· Cookies· dessert· Easter· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites· snacks
August 22, 2023

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookie Bars – Brown sugar cinnamon filing is placed between shortbread cookie layers. It all gets a…
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Fried Onion Petals

Fried Onion Petals

appetizer· snacks
June 8, 2023

Fried Onion Petals – Sweet onion is sliced into petals, seasoned, and fried until perfectly crispy. Served with homemade horseradish…
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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

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers on a baking sheet with parchment paper, shot from overhead

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers

a bowl of Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Bread Pudding topped with ice cream with a casserole dish with bread pudding and two pumpkins stacked on top of each other in the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Bread Pudding

overhead shot of cheddar crusted apple pie with lattice crust

Cheddar Crusted Apple Pie

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

Brown Sugar Cinnamon Cookie Bars

a stack of three pumpkin oatmeal cream pies on cotton napkins with a platter behind it with more pies in the background, shot from the front

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cream Pies

zoomed in shot of a plate of stacked chocolate gingerbread truffles with one with a bite out of it, shot from a side angle

Chocolate Gingerbread Truffles

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photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

a purple plate with 4 churro waffles

Churro Waffles

plate of stack of pistachio pancakes with a bite of them on a fork with pistachios sprinkled around on a cloth napkin, shot from overhead

Pistachio Pancakes

a slice of victoria sandwich cake with a bite remove and a few crumbs on the plate

Victoria Sandwich Cake

a plate of BLT benedicts on a cloth napkin with half a lemon in the background, shot from a side angle

BLT Benedict

raspberry chocolate molten cake on a plate with bites removed to reveal the center

Raspberry Chocolate Molten Cakes

 

This Cranberry Apple Crumble is my absolute favori This Cranberry Apple Crumble is my absolute favorite alternative to apple pie - and here's why you're gonna love it too!

First of all, let's be real... making pie is SUCH a process. Make dough, chill dough, roll out dough, make filling, create pretty top crust, bake. It's just too much, especially during the holidays! And don't even get me started on that first slice that NEVER comes out pretty. I usually keep it for myself to save the embarrassment 😅

But THIS? This is SO much easier! It's the same balance of fruit and carbs you crave in a pie but with like half the effort. Plus it's scoopable, so no messy slicing! Hallelujah!

The cranberries pair SO beautifully with the apples - I've been embracing cranberries a lot more this year and I'm so glad I did! The tart berries balance perfectly with the sweet apples and that buttery crumble topping.

A few tips that will help you:
1️⃣ Slice the apples, don't dice them - better apple to cranberry ratio
2️⃣ Fresh or frozen cranberries work! DO NOT use dried
3️⃣ Let the crumb mixture chill for at least 10 minutes so it hardens up
4️⃣ Granny Smith apples hold their texture perfectly when baked

This crumble is warm, comforting, and absolutely irresistible. The only thing that can make it better is that generous scoop of vanilla ice cream melting on top! 🤤
Perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or honestly any time you want something delicious without all the pie stress!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment "CRUMBLE" below and I'll send you the link!

#AppleCrumble #HolidayBaking #EasyDesserts #AppleDesserts #CranberryDessert  #DessertRecipes #ComfortFood #AppleRecipes
Okay so I need to talk to you about these Salami & Okay so I need to talk to you about these Salami & Cheese Rolls because they're basically my new obsession! 

I've been on a serious bread-making kick lately (there's just something about that smell, you know?!) and these rolls are EVERYTHING. They're kinda like stromboli but with way more bread, which honestly is exactly how I like it!

Here's what makes them SO good:
🔥 Light on the filling, HEAVY on that chewy bread
🔥 Stuffed with salami, mozzarella, and fresh basil
🔥 Topped with cherry tomatoes and rosemary
🔥 Served with a parmesan herb dipping oil that will BLOW YOUR MIND

Guys, about that dipping oil... I'm telling you right now it's NOT optional. That spicy, garlicky, herby goodness takes these rolls to a whole other level. Trust me on this!

The best part? These are surprisingly easy to make! You can even use store-bought pizza dough if you're short on time (though I give you my homemade recipe too because that fresh bread smell is unbeatable).

Perfect for game day, parties, or honestly just because it's Tuesday and you deserve something delicious!

Want the full recipe? Comment 'ROLLS' and I'll send you the link!

#SalamiCheeseRolls #HomemadeBread #BreadRecipe #Stromboli #GameDayFood #AppetizersRecipe #ItalianFood
These Strawberry White Chocolate Eclairs are WAY e These Strawberry White Chocolate Eclairs are WAY easier to make than you'd think!

I know what you're thinking - "Sharon, those look fancy and complicated!" But hear me out! Pâte à choux (that's the fancy French pastry dough) is literally just water, butter, flour, and eggs. That's IT!

I first made this dough for my white chocolate cream puffs and had SO much fun that I decided to level up with éclairs. But classic just isn't my style, so I made them STRAWBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE! 🍓

Here's what makes these so good:
✨ Homemade strawberry pastry cream (thick, custardy, and SO pink!)
✨ Light and airy pâte à choux shells
✨ White chocolate ganache on top
✨ Dusted with freeze-dried strawberry powder
✨ Perfect for Valentine's Day, bridal showers, or anytime you want something impressive!

The filling process is actually kinda therapeutic - you just pipe the cream into each end until they're nice and full. And that white chocolate dip? Chef's kiss

Critical tips:
🎯 Keep the oven closed for the first 20 min or they'll deflate!
🎯 Use white chocolate BARS, not chips (they won't melt right)
🎯 The shells should be golden brown with NO foaming on top
🎯 Find freeze-dried strawberries in the produce or dried fruit section

These are perfect for impressing your friends, date night at home, or just treating yourself because you deserve it! The strawberry and white chocolate combo is absolutely heavenly.

Want to try them? 💌 Comment 'ECLAIRS' below and I'll send you the link to the full recipe!

#StrawberryWhiteChocolateEclairs #Eclairs #HomemadeEclairs #PateAChoux #FrenchPastry #ValentinesDayDesserts
Sliders are becoming my go-to burger and I'm SO ex Sliders are becoming my go-to burger and I'm SO excited to share these Italian Cheeseburger Sliders with you! 

Here's why you'll LOVE these:
✨ Smaller than regular burgers (less mess, more fun!)
✨ Crispy, juicy patties using the SMASH technique
✨ Balsamic caramelized onions that are SO simple but SO flavorful
✨ Fresh mozzarella + peppery arugula + Italian seasoning
✨ Adorable ciabatta rolls

The best part? These cook WAY faster than regular burgers because they're smaller! Perfect for when you're hungry NOW.

Fun fact: The colors actually match the Italian flag - red onions, green arugula, white mozzarella! How cute is that?! 

I used the smash burger technique instead of grilling and WOW. The patties get super crispy on the outside while staying juicy inside. Game. Changer.

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'SLIDERS' below and I'll send you the link!

#ItalianCheeseburgerSliders #SliderRecipe #SmashBurgers #BurgerRecipe #GameDayFood #TailgatingRecipes #EasyDinner
Raspberry and chocolate is a match made in heaven! Raspberry and chocolate is a match made in heaven! I just love how the juicy, tart raspberries balance out even the darkest chocolate. This combo is hard to beat, especially around this time of year!

I took my favorite molten chocolate cake recipe and made it even BETTER by adding fresh raspberry puree and a fresh raspberry in the center. The result? Pure indulgence!

These mini molten cakes are:
🍫 The perfect individual serving size (no more giant cakes!)
🍓 Light yet completely decadent
💕 Romantic and festive with those gorgeous colors
⚡ Ready in just 35 minutes total

The best part? That gooey, molten center with the surprise raspberry inside! Every bite is heaven.

Want the complete recipe? Comment 'MOLTEN' below and I'll send you the link!

#RaspberryChocolateMoltenCake #MoltenCake #ChocolateLavaCake #ValentinesDayDessert #RaspberryChocolate

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