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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Mini Pesto Grilled Cheese

Mini Pesto Grilled Cheese

appetizer· sandwiches & wraps· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
August 28, 2017

Mini Pesto Grilled Cheese – Fresh basil pesto and sliced provolone cheese are sandwiched into a crusty baguette and grilled to…
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Italian Herb Wings with Gorgonzola Dipping Sauce (+wine pairing)

Italian Herb Wings with Gorgonzola Dipping Sauce (+wine pairing)

appetizer· snacks· Tailgating Recipes
August 15, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Charles Smith Wines. All opinions are mine alone. The following…
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Grilled Bang Bang Shrimp Skewers

Grilled Bang Bang Shrimp Skewers

appetizer· seafood entrees· Summertime Favorites
August 10, 2017

Grilled Bang Bang Shrimp Skewers – Grilled shrimp skewers covered in a spicy, creamy, sweet chili sauce. Perfect for the…
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Cobb Salad Dip

Cobb Salad Dip

appetizer· dips· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
July 6, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SeeHowFreshWorks #CollectiveBias Cobb…
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BBQ Chicken Nachos

BBQ Chicken Nachos

appetizer· snacks· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
June 26, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Constellation Brands. All opinions are mine alone. The following content…
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Jalapeño Pineapple Sticky Wings

Jalapeño Pineapple Sticky Wings

appetizer· chicken entrees· snacks· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
June 5, 2017

Jalapeño Pineapple Sticky Wings – The best recipe for sticky, sweet, and spicy wings! These wings are grilled and tossed…
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Tomato & Whipped Feta Crostini

Tomato & Whipped Feta Crostini

appetizer· snacks· Summertime Favorites
May 18, 2017

Tomato & Whipped Feta Crostini – Crispy baguette rounds spread with a creamy layer of lemony whipped feta cheese and topped…
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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 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 chocolate snickerdoodles on parchment paper with a spoon in front, shot from a side angle

Chocolate Snickerdoodles

a plate of pie crust chips with a bowl of Salted Caramel Apple Pie Dip on it and a jar of caramel behind it, shot from a side angle

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Dip with Pie Crust Chips

Roasted Brussel Sprouts in a baking dish with melted butter and a spoon in it, shot from a side angle

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

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 glass dish with pumpkin cinnamon rolls in it with some missing from the center and a spatula with a pumpkin the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

a glass dish with bacon corn casserole with half scooped out and a wooden spoon in it, shot from a side angle

Bacon Corn Casserole

cranberry lime mojitos with cranberries and slices of lime

Cranberry Lime Mojitos

a slice of chocolate cream pie with a bite out of it on a plate with more pie in the background, shot from the front

Chocolate Cream Pie

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

whole nutella cream pie shot from an overhead angle

Nutella Cream Pie

 

The Pumpkin Cheesecake Macaron! Pumpkin butter i The Pumpkin Cheesecake Macaron! 

Pumpkin butter is just like apple butter – a spreadable puree of deliciousness with tons of spices – but made with pumpkin puree instead of apple (duh). I've seen pumpkin butter sold in stores (near the jams and jellies) but it wasn't available at my store yet. 

So I just made my own using a recipe from Skinnytaste. I only made a half-batch and it was more than enough!

Side note: I've been using the leftover pumpkin butter to flavor my coffee in the mornings. Just a teaspoon goes a long way! 

Why these are special: These macarons are so delicate, yet chewy and BEYOND flavorful, you guys! Move over, pumpkin spice latte, there's a new favorite pumpkin treat in town! 

These are restaurant-quality French cookies you can make at home! Yes, they take some practice and attention to detail, but they're SO worth it! The "wow" factor alone is incredible, and they taste even better than they look!

RECIPE: https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/pumpkin-cheesecake-macarons/
These babies are called Peanut Butter Blossoms! T These babies are called Peanut Butter Blossoms!

The peanut butter cookie base is so soft and chewy, with just the right amount of sweetness from the sugar coating. And that Hershey Kiss on top? It's not just decoration – it's an essential part of the experience! Every bite has peanut butter AND chocolate!

Perfect for Christmas cookie trays, holiday cookie exchanges, bake sales, homemade gifts, or honestly ANY time you're craving that classic peanut butter and chocolate combo! 

Ready to make these classics? https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/peanut-butter-blossoms/
These Mint Chocolate Fudge Cookies have so many el These Mint Chocolate Fudge Cookies have so many elements that it was really hard to name them! They're chewy, chocolatey, minty, have a layer of buttercream, and a nice dollop of fudge on top. I decided 4 words were the max I could use when naming them so I settled on mint chocolate fudge cookies!

Mint cookies have long been a love of mine, whether it's a thin mint or mint cookie ice cream. I love the duo of chocolate and mint together, but it is EVEN better when the chocolate is in the form of a cookie! 

March tends to be the unofficial month of mint because of St. Patrick's Day and the Shamrock Shake at McDonald's making its annual appearance this time of year. So I had to give you a fun, new mint cookie to celebrate these flavors! 

Perfect for St. Patrick's Day parties, cookie exchanges, gifts for mint chocolate lovers, or any time you want to impress with a stunning cookie! 

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/mint-chocolate-fudge-cookies/
I present to you my Pigs in a Blanket Wreath! The I present to you my Pigs in a Blanket Wreath!

The wreath isn't hard to assemble at all! You just make the little pigs in a blanket like you normally do - using crescent dough and mini hot dogs - but just arrange them in a ring and bake. Simple as that! I added a little poppy seeds to step up the presentation a little. But if you have picky little eaters, you can leave them off!

About that dipping sauce... When serving the wreath, don't forget the dipping sauce! I love honey mustard with my hot dogs so that's what I wanted to serve with this wreath. But not just any honey mustard. No, no. This is a Dr Pepper honey mustard, guys! I make a killer Dr Pepper mustard glaze for my Thanksgiving ham so I know first-hand how well Dr Pepper pairs with the mustard flavors! 

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/pigs-in-a-blanket-wreath/
For this Roasted Tomato Mac & Cheese, I've topped For this Roasted Tomato Mac & Cheese, I've topped it with roasted tomatoes to help balance out the richness of the cheese and pasta. Because the tomatoes are roasted, they have a similar flavor you would find in a tomato soup. And we all know how incredible cheese and tomato soup go together! 

The combination of creamy, rich mac and cheese with those slightly acidic, charred roasted tomatoes is PERFECTION. It's like eating grilled cheese with tomato soup, but elevated! The tomatoes cut through the richness in the best way possible.

Perfect for cozy nights, family dinners, or potlucks! 

Ready to make this? 💌 Comment "MAC" below and I'll send you the link!

#MacAndCheese #ComfortFood #PastaRecipes

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