holiday favorite

apple cinnamon charlotte sitting on a plate with cinnamon sabayon sliced in half to reveal the apples in the center

Apple Cinnamon Charlotte

a whisking bowl with Garlic & Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes with a wooden spoon in it, shot from overhead

Garlic & Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes

Apple Pie Cake

a casserole dish of Berries & Cream Stuffed French Toast Casserole on top of a cloth napkin with a bowl of mixed berries next to it, shot from overhead

Berries & Cream Stuffed French Toast Casserole

Pecan Pie Brownies

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

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

Chocolate Cherry Crepes

breakfast· dessert· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
August 19, 2021

Chocolate Cherry Crepes – Chocolate crepes are stuffed with almond whipped cream and fresh black cherries to make for a yummy dessert or breakfast treat French crepes have been a favorite of mine ever since me made them in my high school French class. We would sell them to students to raise money for the French Club. We sold three…
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lemon basil chicken salad on a roll with lettuce and tomato

Lemon Basil Chicken Salad

chicken entrees· sandwiches & wraps
August 16, 2021

Lemon Basil Chicken Salad – Shredded chicken in mixed with Greek yogurt, mayo, lemon zest, and fresh basil to make for an incredible chicken salad One of my favorite meals to eat when I’m in need of something cool and refreshing is chicken salad. I just love how it can be super filling but also great for those relentless summer…
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close up of a smores brownie with more brownies in the background

S’mores Brownies

bars and brownies· dessert
August 12, 2021

S’mores Brownies – Chewy chocolate brownies are baked on a homemade graham cracker crust and then topped with marshmallows that get perfectly toasted before serving. After a couple new recipes for savory dishes, it’s time to get back to what I do best – chocolate! Today’s recipe is a delicious sweet treat with familiar flavors. It’s my recipe for S’mores…
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overhead shot of grilled shrimp summer salad in a large serving plate

Grilled Shrimp Summer Salad

salad· seafood· seafood entrees· Summertime Favorites
August 10, 2021

Grilled Shrimp Summer Salad – Grilled shrimp is placed on top of a bed of romaine lettuce, sliced avocado, and sprinkled with grilled corn cut off the cob and a homemade green goddess dressing. Grilling and summer go hand and hand. And so does yummy fresh produce. But what if I told you I could combine all of those into…
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close up of shrimp crab cakes with a drizzle of garlic aioli

Shrimp & Crab Cake

appetizer· Easter· seafood· seafood entrees· Summertime Favorites
August 6, 2021

Shrimp & Crab Cake – Lump crab is mixed with pieces of shrimp and breadcrumbs and pan fried to make a yummy little cake. Serve it with homemade garlic aioli. Along with tons of fresh fruit, summer brings with it some delicious seafood. I don’t necessarily think fish is only good in the summer. But it is super light and…
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black forest cupcake with the cupcake liner removed and crumbs surrounding it

Black Forest Cupcakes

cake· dessert
August 2, 2021

Black Forest Cupcakes – Fresh black cherries are roasted in amaretto liquor and stuffed into a chocolate cupcake. The cupcake is then topped with fresh whipped cream and a chocolate-dipped cherry. Cherry season is in full force! It’s one of my favorite times of the year because cherries are so flavorful and juicy and healthy so I’m chowing on them…
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close up shot of wedding cake ice cream in a serving glass and a spoon

Wedding Cake Ice Cream

cake· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· Summertime Favorites
July 29, 2021

Wedding Cake Ice Cream – Almond ice cream is loaded with real pieces of white cake and swirls of cream cheese icing And just like that, National Ice Cream Month is coming to an end. I had a blast coming up with new ice cream recipes for you guys but I’m happy to give my sweet tooth a break soon….
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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

close up pork chops on a plate with Dijon apple pan sauce on top and a rosemary garnish

Dijon Apple Pork Chops

Candied Pecans

Pumpkin Tres Leches

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

Baked Carrot Cake Oatmeal

chicken and biscuits in a dutch oven overhead shot

Chicken and Dumplings

zoomed in shot of Sage & Browned Butter Hasselback Sweet Potatoes, shot from a side angle

Sage & Browned Butter Hasselback Sweet Potatoes

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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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