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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Cilantro Lime Sweet Potato Fries

Cilantro Lime Sweet Potato Fries

appetizer· sides· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
August 30, 2018

Cilantro Lime Sweet Potato Fries – Sweet potatoes are tossed in garlic, lime zest, and olive oil, baked to perfection,…
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Chicken Ranch Wraps

Chicken Ranch Wraps

appetizer· chicken entrees· snacks
June 14, 2018

Chicken Ranch Wraps – Flour tortillas are stuffed with grilled chicken, Monterrey jack cheese, ranch dressing, and chopped cilantro and…
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Sparkling Jalapeño Limeade

Sparkling Jalapeño Limeade

drinks· Summertime Favorites
May 10, 2018

Sparkling Jalapeño Limeade – This refreshing homemade limeade is made by creating a cilantro jalapeño simple syrup and combining with…
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Avocado and Charred Corn Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing

Avocado and Charred Corn Salad with Cilantro Ranch Dressing

salad· Summertime Favorites
May 23, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EchaleVida #VidaAguacate #CollectiveBias…
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Cilantro Lime Chicken Bites

Cilantro Lime Chicken Bites

chicken entrees
April 27, 2017

Cilantro Lime Chicken Bites – A super quick and easy dinner idea that’s made with chicken, cilantro, lime, and garlic….
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Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Skewers

Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Skewers

chicken entrees· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
January 23, 2017

Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Skewers – This is the most tender and most flavorful chicken you will ever make! The chicken…
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Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro Lime Rice

sides
September 29, 2016

Cilantro Lime Rice – Fluffy basmati rice mixed with fresh cilantro and lime juice. Just like the rice at Chipotle…
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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 cheddar crusted apple pie with lattice crust

Cheddar Crusted Apple Pie

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

Peach Upside-down Cake

a hand holding up a cinnamon bun soft pretzel

Cinnamon Bun Soft Pretzels

vinaigrette dressing being poured over a plate of Orchard Harvest Salad (Panera Copycat) from a glass bottle with a half and whole pair and cherry preserves in the background, shot from a side angle

Orchard Harvest Salad (Panera Copycat)

portion of sweet potato gratin being removed from casserole dish, revealing gooey center

Sweet Potato Gratin

front shot of pumpkin loaf cut into slices

My Favorite Pumpkin Loaf

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

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holiday favorite

close up of slice of roasted strawberry bundt cake taken from the side to show the inside of the slice

Roasted Strawberry Bundt Cake

a slice of blackberry doughnut cake is shown slightly removed from the whole cake on a plate

Blackberry Doughnut Cake

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

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

Raspberry Chocolate Molten Cakes

two copper mugs filled with holiday mule drinks and a pitcher in the background

Holiday Mule

 

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/
Nutella Macarons – delicate French almond cookie Nutella Macarons – delicate French almond cookies filled with chocolate-hazelnut Nutella spread! Classic macarons made with the proper technique learned straight from a pastry chef! 

You guys remember when I made French macarons for the first time and they were a HOT MESS? The tops were cracked and bumpy and looked more like brownies! I was determined to get them right, so I took a macaron baking class in person – and it changed EVERYTHING! 

The trickiest part? Mixing the dry and wet ingredients together. Under mix = too dry and cracked. Over mix = dense and heavy. But now I know exactly what the batter should look like!

Pro tip: Age your egg whites for 24-48 hours before making the meringue – this helps them get to the perfect consistency!

Perfect for Valentine's Day, gift-giving, special occasions, or anytime you want elegant French macarons at home! 🇫🇷

💬 Comment "NUTELLAMACARON" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for French cookie inspiration
📤 SHARE with someone who loves macarons!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/nutella-macarons/
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/

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