holiday favorite

Almond Butter Chocolate Tarts on a platter with a spoon of almond butter on it, shot from a side angle

Almond Butter Chocolate Tarts

overhead shot of Cinnamon Roll Wreath

Cinnamon Roll Wreath

two bowls of goat cheese sweet corn grits with a spoon in it on a cotton napkin with corn cobs next to it, shot from overhead

Goat Cheese & Sweet Corn Grits

a slice of bread being dipped into the butter in a dish of roasted garlic mushrooms with a loaf of bread in the background, shot from a side angle

Roasted Garlic Mushrooms

a plate with an Almond Croissant on it with a baking sheet of more croissants on it with almonds sprinkled around the table, shot from a side angle

Almond Croissants

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

pveread shot of whipped feta in a blue bowl with roasted balsamic strawberries

Whipped Feta with Roasted Balsamic Strawberries

dips· Easter· Summertime Favorites
April 21, 2022

Whipped Feta with Roasted Balsamic Strawberries – Smooth, whipped feta dip is topped with juicy, roasted balsamic strawberries and served with perfectly toasted bread. I love a great dip, especially one with a variety of flavors and textures. This Whipped Feta with Roasted Balsamic Strawberries does exactly that. The tangy, smooth feta and the bold, sweet strawberries, spread on crunchy…
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close up of caramel swirl meringue on a baking sheet

Caramel Swirl Meringues

candy· Cookies· Easter· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
April 18, 2022

Caramel Swirl Meringues – Freshly whipped meringues are swirled with caramel sauce and then baked until perfectly crisp on the outside and light on the inside. Meringue cookies don’t get enough love nowadays. When done right, they are perfectly chewy on the inside and crisp on the outside. And you can even add additional flavors to them to make them…
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bowl of cheese grits, bacon, and poached egg

Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Grits

breakfast· Easter
April 11, 2022

Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Grits – Cheese grits are topped with a poached egg, chopped bacon, and a drizzle of hot sauce. Today’s recipe was inspired by a recent breakfast that blew me away. It was so simple but man, did it hit the spot. The breakfast was called “Hangover Grits” because they were loaded with protein and heartiness that…
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cherry bran muffin sitting on muffin pan with other muffins in the background

Cherry Bran Muffins

Easter· muffins· snacks
April 7, 2022

Cherry Bran Muffins – Hearty bran muffins are loaded with dried cherries to make for a yummy (and healthy!) breakfast. It’s brunch season! With Easter coming up and then Mother’s Day soon after, all of us will be spending more time with family. And most likely, we’ll be spending that time eating brunch. To help you assemble a well-rounded menu…
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bbq chicken salad

BBQ Chicken Salad

chicken entrees· salad· Summertime Favorites
April 5, 2022

BBQ Chicken Salad – Green lettuce is topped with BBQ chicken, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, pickled red onions, and mozzarella cheese. It’s finished with a combo of ranch dressing and sweet BBQ sauce and tossed all together for one of the best salads you’ll ever have. All salads are not created equal. To be good, a salad needs to…
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truffle scrambled eggs on sourdough with chives on top

Truffle Scrambled Eggs

breakfast· Easter
March 31, 2022

Truffle Scrambled Eggs – Creamy eggs are cooked in a white truffle oil with a hint of chopped chives and serve on a slice of sourdough toast I was recently surprised by a yummy breakfast while out at brunch with my husband. He ordered these incredible eggs that were served on a slice of sourdough bread and cooked in truffle…
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Scallion Pancakes

appetizer· bread· snacks
March 28, 2022

Scallion Pancakes – A simple dough is rolled and layered with scallion oil and freshly chopped scallions and fried until perfectly golden brown. The final product is a chewy scallion pancake that can be eaten alone or along with your meal. When it comes to bread, I don’t discriminate. It can be yeasted, fried, baked – I love them all!…
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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

overhead shot of partially eaten baked carrot cake oatmeal in casserole dish with serving spoon

Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal

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

a bowl of Butterscotch Vanilla Bean Sauce with a spoon in it and a bowl of brown sugar with a spoon in it on a cloth napkin, shot from a side angle

Butterscotch Vanilla Bean Sauce

a slice of peach upside down cake on a white plate with the rest of the cake in the background

Peach Upside-down Cake

close up of a slice of pumpkin crumb cake separated from the rest of the cake but not on a plate yet

Pumpkin Crumb Cake

zoomed in shot of chocolate snickerdoodles on parchment paper with a spoon in front, shot from a side angle

Chocolate Snickerdoodles

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Classic Pot Roast – chuck roast slowly cooked in Classic Pot Roast – chuck roast slowly cooked in a jus made of beef broth, carrots, celery, and onions! Balsamic vinegar, thyme, and mustard give that jus a kick of flavor! 

Cold weather is in full effect, you guys! So comfort food needs to be on the menu! My husband wanted to try a good pot roast, so I used a combination of recipes to come up with the perfect one! 

The secret? Traditional aromatics (carrots, celery, onions) PLUS balsamic vinegar and Dijon mustard set this roast apart with a tangy kick!

Pro tip: Sear the roast first to give it beautiful color on the outside – if you skip this step, the meat will look almost gray when cooked in the broth!

💬 Comment "POTROAST" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for comfort meals
📤 SHARE with someone who loves pot roast!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/classic-pot-roast/
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Browned Butter – Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Browned Butter – fluffy pillows of sweet potato dumplings tossed in a sage and browned butter sauce for a comforting pasta dish you didn't know you needed! 

This gnocchi was inspired by a dish I had at a local restaurant years ago, you guys! I was skeptical about sweet potato gnocchi with just butter and sage – no cream? no tomato? But MAN, was I wrong! 

The sweet potato gnocchi is even MORE flavorful than the original! It shines on its own with little help from a heavy sauce – that's why it pairs so perfectly with a light toss in sage and browned butter!

Pro tip: Use a potato ricer to break up the sweet potatoes – don't use a food processor or it will make the gnocchi gummy and pasty! The ricer makes it super fluffy!

Perfect for fall dinners, Thanksgiving, date nights, or anytime you want restaurant-quality comfort food at home! 

💬 Comment "GNOCCHI" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for fall cooking
📤 SHARE with someone who loves pasta!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/sweet-potato-gnocchi-with-sage-browned-butter/
Sour Cream Doughnuts – dense and crispy on the o Sour Cream Doughnuts – dense and crispy on the outside, moist and cakey on the inside! Your favorite old-fashioned cake doughnuts ready in half the time as yeast doughnuts!

These are also known as old-fashioned doughnuts, you guys! They're bulky, firm on the outside, but oh-so-moist on the inside! The BEST combination of textures – crunchy yet chewy, dense yet moist! 

I fell in love with these at a local bakery, and now my husband surprises me with them from time to time! Do I have a great man or what?!

Pro tip: Don't roll the dough too thin or the doughnuts will turn to hockey pucks when you fry them! You're better off making the dough too thick than too thin!

Perfect for weekend breakfast, Easter morning, brunch, or anytime you want homemade doughnuts without the wait! 

💬 Comment "DOUGHNUTS" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for weekend baking
📤 SHARE with someone who loves doughnuts!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/sour-cream-doughnuts
Creamy Poblano Enchiladas – tortillas stuffed wi Creamy Poblano Enchiladas – tortillas stuffed with shredded chicken, covered in a creamy poblano sauce and cheese, then baked until creamy perfection! 

I'm more of a green enchiladas fan than red, you guys! While this sauce isn't traditional green enchilada sauce, it's got similar flavor notes! Plus, with the added milk, it's super creamy and decadent! 

The secret? A roux makes the sauce ultra creamy without needing tons of heavy cream!

Pro tip: Don't skip the lime juice! It's KEY to balancing out the flavors – this is NOT an optional ingredient!

Perfect for Cinco de Mayo, dinner parties, family dinners, or anytime you want creamy enchiladas! 🎉

💬 Comment "POBLANO" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for Cinco de Mayo
📤 SHARE with someone who loves enchiladas!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/creamy-poblano-enchiladas/
Beef Empanadas – flaky pie dough filled with cum Beef Empanadas – flaky pie dough filled with cumin-spiced beef and tomato mixture!

These are perfect for Cinco de Mayo, you guys! Small party-perfect size (makes about 20!) with super flavorful filling that's NOT spicy – everyone will love them! 😍

Made with my classic pie dough for the flakiest crust, then filled with seasoned beef, onions, and tomatoes!

Pro tip: Make sure to chill the dough before rolling it out – this lets it rest and firm up so it gets nice and flaky while baking!

Perfect for Cinco de Mayo parties, game day, meal prep, or anytime you want delicious hand-held snacks!

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

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/beef-empanadas

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