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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Bourbon Brown Sugar Bacon

Bourbon Brown Sugar Bacon

appetizer· breakfast· pork entrees· sides
June 18, 2020

Bourbon Brown Sugar Bacon – Oven-baked bacon is topped with bourbon and brown sugar to give you a yummy sweet…
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Shrimp Ceviche Tostadas

Shrimp Ceviche Tostadas

appetizer· seafood· seafood entrees· Summertime Favorites
May 4, 2020

Shrimp Ceviche Tostadas – Poached shrimp tossed with a citrus vinaigrette, cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions and placed on top of…
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Mexican Street Corn Queso

Mexican Street Corn Queso

appetizer· dips· snacks· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
April 30, 2020

Mexican Street Corn Queso – Creamy white queso is cooked with green chiles and roasted corn to make for a…
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Twice Baked Potatoes

Twice Baked Potatoes

appetizer· sides· Summertime Favorites
April 27, 2020

Twice Baked Potatoes – Russet potatoes are baked to soften them up and then the filling is mixed with cheese,…
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Cheesy Crab Dip

Cheesy Crab Dip

appetizer· dips· snacks· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
April 10, 2020

Cheesy Crab Dip – Fresh lump crab meat is tossed with cream cheese, Old Bay seasoning, fresh lemon juice, and…
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Chicken Philly Quesadillas

Chicken Philly Quesadillas

appetizer· chicken entrees· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
March 19, 2020

Chicken Philly Quesadillas – Tortillas are stuffed with cooked chicken, melted Provolone cheese, and tender onions & peppers. Great for…
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Wisconsin Trio Cheese Fondue

Wisconsin Trio Cheese Fondue

appetizer· snacks
March 16, 2020

Wisconsin Trio Cheese Fondue – A decadent cheese fondue made of three incredible cheeses – Butterkase, Fontina, and blue cheese….
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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

Pumpkin Tres Leches

pumpkin challah bread sliced with a knife

Pumpkin Challah Bread

two stacked Cinnamon Chocolate Muffins and one muffin cut in half next to it and a pan of cinnamon chocolate muffins, shot from a side angle

Cinnamon Chocolate Muffins

a hand holding up a maple molasses cookie to show all the detailed cracks in the top of the cookie

Maple Molasses Cookies

a cinnamon stick being dipped into a mug of mulled wine with another mug of mulled wine and a glass dish of mulled spices in the background, shot from a side angle

Slow Cooker Mulled Wine

Cinnamon Latte Whoopie Pies

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

Maple Pecan Scones

baked brie with roasted pears and walnuts on top

Roasted Pear Baked Brie

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

close up of cinnamon raisin rugelach to shot the spiral side and yummy filling

Cinnamon Raisin Rugelach

close up of a split bun with cream & jam

Split Buns with Cream and Jam

 

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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