holiday favorite

two stemmed glasses of Cranberry Orange Aperol Spritz with orange slices and rosemary sprigs with cramberries rosemary and half an orange on the table underneath, shot from the front

Cranberry Orange Aperol Spritz

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

Fried Goat Cheese Balls

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 chocolate cherry crepes on a plate with powdered sugar dusted on top

Chocolate Cherry Crepes

Pigs in a Blanket Wreath on parchment paper with thyme sprigs and a dish of dipping sauce in the center with cans of dr pepper and plates in the background, shot from a side angle

Pigs in a Blanket Wreath

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

close up of beignets stacked on a plate, covered in powdered sugar

Beignets

breakfast· dessert· doughnuts and sweet rolls· Easter· Holiday Favorites
February 28, 2022

Beignets – Traditional New Orleans fried dough covered in powdered sugar and served fresh from the fryer. These chewy, yet airy sweet treats are best served with a cup of hot coffee. Recently, we made a quick trip over to New Orleans for my birthday. On the top of the list of things to do/eat, was beignets. I know it’s…
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shot of crispy pork medallions on a white plate with roasted carrots and potatoes

Crispy Pork Medallions

pork entrees
February 24, 2022

Crispy Pork Medallions – Pork tenderloin is sliced into round medallions, covered in panko breadcrumbs, and lightly fried until golden brown. Another easy dinner idea coming at you today! This one uses lean pork tenderloin in a fun, new way. I first saw these Crispy Pork Medallions in a magazine years ago. I love that I had all the ingredients…
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cranberry orange overnight oats in a bowl topped with blueberries with another bowl in the background

Cranberry Orange Overnight Oats

breakfast· Easter· Summertime Favorites
February 21, 2022

Cranberry Orange Overnight Oats – Rolled oats and chia seeds are soaked in milk, vanilla Greek yogurt, orange zest, and dried cranberries overnight until perfectly tender for a refreshing breakfast the next morning Ordering room service at a hotel is one of my guilty pleasures. I don’t travel often, but when I do, I looove getting room service. There’s nothing…
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Salmon Rice Bowls

seafood· seafood entrees
February 17, 2022

Salmon Rice Bowls – Pan fried salmon is covered in spices, honey, and a pinch of parsley and layered in a bowl with white rice, fresh veggies, and a drizzle of spicy mayo. You know I love an easy, flavorful weeknight meal. So when I saw these Salmon Rice Bowls on Instagram, I was immediately drawn to making them. I…
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slice of strawberry layer cake on a white plate with a few bites removed and the whole cake in the background

Strawberry Layer Cake

cake· dessert· Easter· Valentine's Day
February 14, 2022

Strawberry Layer Cake – Homemade strawberry cake, entirely from scratch, layered with strawberry cream cheese into a perfect 3-layer cake. Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s a day to celebrate the ones you love and there’s no better way than with this Strawberry Layer Cake. Not only are the colors just what you want on this day of love, but the strawberry…
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birthday cake pops arranged in a cup with white chocolate chips

Birthday Cake Pops

cake· candy· dessert
February 10, 2022

Birthday Cake Pops – Confetti cake pops are covered in white chocolate and sprinkles to make for a cute birthday treat. It’s my birthday month! I’m officially at the age where I need to do math to figure out how old I am because I simply can’t remember. But I am not yet at the age where getting old scares…
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chocolate strawberry parfaits on platter dusted with cocoa powder

Chocolate Strawberry Parfaits

dessert· Valentine's Day
February 7, 2022

Chocolate Strawberry Parfaits – Homemade chocolate pudding is layered with freshly whipped cream and chopped strawberries For Valentine’s Day, there’s no duo more iconic than strawberries and chocolate. If you’re looking for a fancy way to enjoy those flavors, these Chocolate Strawberry Parfaits are the way to do. I love these parfaits because the rich chocolate is slightly tamed by…
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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

a slice of apple cinnamon stuffed french toast on a plate with powdered sugae

Apple Cinnamon Stuffed French Toast

warm banana bread with a couple bites removed sitting on a plate with two scoops on butter pecan ice cream stacked on top and caramelized bananas over the top and a spoon on the side

Banana Bread Sundae

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

Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal

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

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

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

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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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