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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

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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Southern Cobb Salad

Southern Cobb Salad

chicken entrees· salad· Summertime Favorites
May 7, 2018

Southern Cobb Salad – A Southern take on a Cobb salad, loaded with fried chicken tenders, fresh strawberries, grapes, Granny…
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Healthy Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Healthy Parmesan Crusted Chicken

chicken entrees· Valentine's Day
January 22, 2018

Healthy Parmesan Crusted Chicken – Chicken fillets covered in Parmesan cheese and seasoned panko bread crumbs and baked until perfectly…
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Salsa Verde Chicken Chili

Salsa Verde Chicken Chili

chicken entrees· soup
November 30, 2017

Salsa Verde Chicken Chili – An incredibly comforting chicken chili made with shredded chicken and white beans and cooked in…
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Mexican Street Corn Chicken Salad

Mexican Street Corn Chicken Salad

chicken entrees· sandwiches & wraps
September 15, 2017

This post has been sponsored by The Kroger Co. Family of Stores in celebration of #HispanicHeritageMonth. As always, all opinions are…
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Greek Chicken Quesadillas

Greek Chicken Quesadillas

chicken entrees· Tailgating Recipes
August 21, 2017

Greek Chicken Quesadillas – Chewy flatbread covered in mozzarella and feta cheese and Greek-marinated chicken and grilled to perfection. Served with…
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Fried Chicken Tacos

Fried Chicken Tacos

chicken entrees· Summertime Favorites
June 15, 2017

Fried Chicken Tacos – A crispy buttermilk fried chicken tender wrapped in leafy lettuce and a flour tortilla and finished…
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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

closeup of mini pumpkin doughnut muffins with one with a bite out of it

Mini Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins

a bowl of Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Bread Pudding topped with ice cream with a casserole dish with bread pudding and two pumpkins stacked on top of each other in the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Bread Pudding

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)

zoomed in shot of Smashed Sweet Potatoes with cheese being shredded over them

Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Garlic Butter

pumpkin cinnamon pull apart loaf with a center slice visable

Pumpkin Cinnamon Pull Apart Loaf

a bowl of Butterscotch Vanilla Bean Sauce with a spoon in it and a bowl of brown sugar with a spoon in it on a cloth napkin, shot from a side angle

Butterscotch Vanilla Bean Sauce

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

cherry almond pastry cake with a wedge removed

Cherry Almond Pastry Cake

two copper mugs with Pomegranate Rosemary Moscow Mule with thyme sprigs in them and on a table with cloth napkins and a bottle of Schweppes in the background, shot from a side angle

Pomegranate Rosemary Moscow Mule

zoomed in shot of a plate of sliced classic tiramisu with a glass dish of tiramisu in the background, shot from the front

Classic Tiramisu

bailey cheesecake brownie bites on a dessert plate with one missing a bite to expose the creamy center

Baileys Cheesecake Brownie Bites

zoomed in shot of a piece of Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with a bite taken out of it with a plate of more cheesecake in the background, shot from the front

Vanilla Bean Cheesecake

 

Can we talk about how guava and cream cheese is TH Can we talk about how guava and cream cheese is THE most underrated flavor combination ever?! 

Growing up, guava was always around. My dad would spread it on toast with butter every morning, and I did the same. But it wasn't until I had guava with cream cheese at a Latin bakery in Florida that I truly appreciated this tropical fruit. 

The cream cheese perfectly balances the tangy guava jelly and makes everything ultra creamy. Wrapped in flaky puff pastry? KILLER.

I know this pastry braid looks super fancy and complicated, but here's the secret: IT'S SHOCKINGLY SIMPLE. When I first saw a pastry braid, I was so intimidated by how intricate it looked. It felt almost unattainable without tons of practice. But I'm here to tell you that is absolutely not the case!

Here's the whole process:
1️⃣ Roll out puff pastry and cut slits on the sides
2️⃣ Spread cream cheese and guava down the center
3️⃣ Overlap the side pieces to create the braid
4️⃣ Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with coarse sugar
5️⃣ Bake until deep golden brown

THAT'S IT! The braiding technique is so much easier than it looks, and the result is absolutely stunning.

Two critical tips:
-Keep it COLD before baking: Cold puff pastry = steam when it hits the hot oven = flaky layers! If the butter is too warm, it won't puff properly.
-Bake until DEEP golden brown: Not just golden, but DEEP golden. This ensures crispy, flaky pastry that's cooked all the way through. Nobody wants soggy pastry!

This is perfect for brunch, dessert, or honestly just because you want something that looks impressive but is secretly easy to make. You can also substitute any fruit preserves if you can't find guava!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'GUAVA' below and I'll send you the link!

#GuavaPastry #PuffPastry #PastryBraid #LatinDesserts #CreamCheese #BrunchRecipes #HomemadePastries #BakingFromScratch #WeekendBaking #ImpressiveButEasy
Do you remember those Danish butter cookies that c Do you remember those Danish butter cookies that came in the fancy blue tin? The ones your mom would buy every Christmas and you'd go absolutely CRAZY for? 

Well, guess what? You can make them YOURSELF! And they're shockingly simple!

I'm talking about those perfectly crispy-on-the-outside, melt-in-your-mouth-on-the-inside shortbread cookies that are basically edible butter. And honestly? 

I don't think they should be reserved just for the holidays. These cookies deserve to be eaten ALL YEAR LONG!

Here's what makes them so special:
-The Recipe: Only FIVE ingredients—butter, flour, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. That's it! If you can cream butter and sugar together, you can make these.
-The Texture: They're like shortbread cookies but slightly softer, so when you bite into them, they literally melt in your mouth. It's pure butter heaven.
-The Secret: Use European-style butter! It has a higher fat content which makes these cookies extra creamy and flavorful. It's worth the upgrade, I promise!

Important tips:
Be VERY careful measuring your flour—too much and the dough will be impossible to pipe
Use a LARGE star tip (not a small one!) or you won't be able to squeeze the dough out
These actually taste BETTER after they cool! The crispiness is what makes them so good, so resist eating them warm (I know it's hard!)

These are perfect for coffee breaks, gift-giving, parties, or honestly just because you deserve a good cookie. You can make them in under an hour from start to finish!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'BUTTER' below and I'll send you the link!

#DanishButterCookies #ButterCookies #ShortbreadCookies #HolidayBaking #CookieRecipe #HomemadeCookies
After making approximately ONE MILLION pumpkin tre After making approximately ONE MILLION pumpkin treats recently, I was desperate for something with all those cozy fall vibes but maybe... a little less pumpkin? 

So I set my sights on something that doesn't get nearly enough love in the dessert world: SWEET POTATOES! 

And here's my controversial opinion: Sweet potato beats pumpkin ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. There, I said it! 

These Sweet Potato Cupcakes are super moist, perfectly spiced, and topped with the creamiest cinnamon cream cheese frosting. 

They taste similar to pumpkin cupcakes (so if you're a die-hard pumpkin lover, you can absolutely swap in pumpkin puree!), but here's why sweet potato wins:
✨ More starch = MORE moisture and density in the cupcake
✨ The flavor is 100x better (fight me on this!)
✨ That perfect balance between sweet and earthy

But what I'm MOST proud of is how the frosting and cake work together. You know how sometimes you get a cupcake with frosting that's way too sweet so you just eat the cake? Or killer frosting but blah cake so you only eat the frosting? NOT THIS CUPCAKE. 

The spiced cake needs a little sweetness to balance it out, and the tart cream cheese frosting is PERFECT. They're soulmates! 

Important tips:
-Don't undercook them or they'll sink in the center (but more frosting fixes everything!)
-Fill the liners 3/4 full—not all the way—to get exactly 12 cupcakes
-Use a 2M Wilton tip for that fancy frosting swirl (or just spread with a knife!)

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'CUPCAKE' below and I'll send you the link!
Team Sweet Potato or Team Pumpkin? Let me know in the comments! 

#SweetPotatoCupcakes #CreamCheeseFrosting  #CupcakeRecipe
Y'all, I need to talk about these Kentucky Derby C Y'all, I need to talk about these Kentucky Derby Cookie Bars because they might just be the most decadent thing I've ever created!

So here's the deal: I love taking traditional recipes and giving them a major upgrade. 

Traditional Derby Pie is delicious, but I wanted to make something even MORE special. And these bars? They're Derby Pie on steroids!

Here's what makes them absolutely incredible:
The Cookie Crust: Instead of regular pie crust, we're using a thick chocolate chip cookie base. Game. Changer.
The Filling: Loaded with pecans, chocolate chips, and a hint of bourbon that adds this rich, complex flavor. The filling is more dense and cakey than traditional Derby Pie, which gives you the perfect chewy texture.
The Bourbon Caramel: This homemade bourbon caramel sauce is what takes these bars over the top. It's sweet, buttery, and has that gorgeous bourbon depth. And yes, the alcohol cooks out, so it's safe for everyone (even made these while I was pregnant!)!

Important tips:
Don't chop your pecans too finely—leave nice chunks for better texture
If the bars start browning too quickly, just cover them with foil while the center finishes baking
Don't over-thicken the caramel sauce on the stove—it will thicken as it cools!

These bars are perfect for Derby Day (obviously!), but honestly, they're amazing for any summer gathering, BBQ, or potluck. 

Want the full recipe with that bourbon caramel sauce? 💌 Comment 'DERBY' below and I'll send you the link!

#DerbyPie #CookieBars #BourbonDesserts #PecanDesserts
Y'all, I just made the BEST hot chocolate of my li Y'all, I just made the BEST hot chocolate of my life and I need you to try it immediately!

Growing up, I only knew hot chocolate from those packets where you just add hot water. I had NO idea you could make it from scratch so easily! 

All it takes is hot milk, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and the secret ingredient... PEANUT BUTTER!

I've always been obsessed with the peanut butter and chocolate combo (if you've been following me, you know this is true!), but for some reason, it never occurred to me to add it to hot chocolate until recently. And now I'm officially never going back to regular hot chocolate!

What makes this recipe so special? The peanut butter adds this incredible creaminess and depth of flavor without overpowering the chocolate. 

Plus, you don't need to add any extra sugar because the chocolate chips provide all the sweetness you need. 

Top it with marshmallows and maybe a drizzle of chocolate and peanut butter sauce, and you've got pure heaven in a mug.

Important tips:
-Be careful not to overheat the chocolate and peanut butter—too much heat will cause the chocolate to harden
-Add the milk SLOWLY to the chocolate mixture and whisk constantly. It makes blending so much easier!
-This recipe makes 4 cups, and leftovers keep for 5 days in the fridge!

This is the ultimate cozy drink for cold winter nights, holiday gatherings, or honestly any time you need a little comfort. It's ready in less than 10 minutes!

Want the full recipe? 💌 Comment 'COZY' below and I'll send you the link!

What's your favorite hot drink for winter? Let me know in the comments! 
#HotChocolateRecipe  #HomemadeHotChocolate #WinterRecipes

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