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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Mini Baked Alaska

Mini Baked Alaska

dessert· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· Valentine's Day
July 27, 2020

Mini Baked Alaska – Ice cream is placed on top of a brownie, covered in sweet meringue, and toasted to…
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Watermelon Mint Sorbet

Watermelon Mint Sorbet

dessert· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· Summertime Favorites
July 23, 2020

Watermelon Mint Sorbet – Refreshing sorbet made with real watermelon, fresh mint, and a hint of lime juice. July is…
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Banana Bread Sundae

Banana Bread Sundae

dessert· Easter· Fall Flavors· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· Summertime Favorites
July 20, 2020

Banana Bread Sundae – Warm banana bread is topped with butter pecan ice cream and caramelized bananas to make for…
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Peach Cobbler Ice Cream

Peach Cobbler Ice Cream

dessert· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· Summertime Favorites
July 16, 2020

Peach Cobbler Ice Cream – Cinnamon peach ice cream is loaded with pie crust pieces and swirled together. It’s peach…
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Rum Raisin Ice Cream

Rum Raisin Ice Cream

dessert· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month
July 13, 2020

Rum Raisin Ice Cream – Creamy, custardy ice cream with a hint of dark rum and rum-soaked raisin sprinkled throughout….
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Milk & Cookies Ice Cream

Milk & Cookies Ice Cream

dessert· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· Summertime Favorites
July 6, 2020

Milk & Cookies Ice Cream – Cookie-soaked vanilla ice cream is loaded with chunks of Oreos and chocolate chip cookies….
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Cinnamon Swirl Chocolate Ice Cream

Cinnamon Swirl Chocolate Ice Cream

dessert· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
July 2, 2020

Cinnamon Swirl Chocolate Ice Cream – Homemade chocolate ice cream is swirled with a homemade cinnamon syrup and loaded with…
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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 Apple Cider Crumb Doughnuts on a cloth napkin with more doughnuts around them, shot from the front

Apple Cider Crumb Doughnuts

side shot of banana bread doughnuts on a purple plate with more doughnuts in the background

Banana Bread Doughnuts

close up of sliced loaf of chocolate cinnamon babka with the center exposed to see the beautiful swirl of chocolate

Chocolate Cinnamon Babka

a baking sheet with banana bread granola and a whole banana on it, shot from a side angle

Banana Bread Granola

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

overhead shot of bright pumpkin fettuccine on a white plate with sundried tomatoes and wilted spinach throughout

Pumpkin Fettuccine with Sundried Tomatoes

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

a slice of texas sheet cake sitting on a white plate

Texas Sheet Cake

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

Baileys Cheesecake Brownie Bites

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

Blackberry Doughnut Cake

Pecan Pie Brownies

strawberry brioche bun on a gray table

Strawberry Brioche Buns

 

Asparagus Risotto – creamy, cheesy homemade riso Asparagus Risotto – creamy, cheesy homemade risotto loaded with crispy bright green asparagus! The perfect fancy-yet-simple spring side dish that tastes like it came straight from a fancy restaurant! 🌿

Risotto was one of the first "fancy" dishes I learned to make, you guys! I watched so much Giada De Laurentiis on Everyday Italian growing up, and she always made risotto seem intimidating yet achievable!

 So I decided to try it about 10 years ago for Mother's Day (or maybe Easter? – it was so long ago!) and made a mushroom risotto that turned out INCREDIBLE! 

Mushroom risotto is still one of my favorite variations, but asparagus is the PERFECT spring twist! The bright green color and fresh taste pairs so beautifully with that creamy, cheesy risotto!

Pro tip: The key to amazing risotto is patience! Add the broth just 2 ladles at a time and stir constantly. This slow process is what creates that luxurious, creamy texture!

Perfect for spring dinners, Easter, Mother's Day, or anytime you want an elegant yet simple dish that will impress everyone at the table! 🍽️

💬 Comment "RISOTTO" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for spring entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves Italian food!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/asparagus-risotto/
Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake – vanilla ice cr Strawberry Cheesecake Milkshake – vanilla ice cream blended with real strawberries, actual cheesecake chunks, and topped with whipped cream, graham cracker crumbs, and a fresh strawberry! 🍓

I am very picky about my milkshakes, you guys! They HAVE to be (1) thick, (2) full of flavor, and (3) loaded with texture! This milkshake checks all the boxes!

This one was inspired by my husband's obsession with the Strawberry Cheesequake Blizzard from Dairy Queen! 

He LOVES it, so I decided to recreate it at home – but better! Instead of using strawberry ice cream and cream cheese, I used REAL strawberries and a real slice of cheesecake for that authentic chunky texture!

The key to making this milkshake so thick? I only use ½ cup of milk! The juice from the fresh strawberries helps liquefy the ice cream, so you don't need much liquid at all!
Pro tip: Make sure you're using the BEST vanilla ice cream you can find! Since this recipe is so simple, the quality of the ingredients really makes all the difference!

Perfect for summer treats, date nights, hot days, or anytime you want a decadent, fruity dessert in a glass! 🥤

💬 Comment "STRAWBERRYCHEESECAKE" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for milkshake inspiration
📤 SHARE with someone who loves dessert!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/strawberry-cheesecake-milkshake/
Watermelon Basil Lemonade – homemade lemonade sw Watermelon Basil Lemonade – homemade lemonade sweetened with basil sugar and fresh watermelon juice for a complex, refreshing summer drink!

I love making my lemonade from scratch, you guys! It gives me the freedom to experiment with unique flavors like this watermelon basil combo! I've used watermelon in drinks before (hello, Watermelon Sangria and Watermelon Margaritas!), so I knew it would be PERFECT with lemonade!

Watermelon is such a major symbol of summer, so pairing it with fresh basil takes it to another level! The basil adds an herbaceous, complex flavor that regular lemonade could never achieve! 

This is one of those drinks that looks impressive but is incredibly simple to make – just 10 minutes of prep time and you've got something that tastes like it came straight from a summer garden!

Pro tip: Don't skip the salt! With a drink as sweet and sour as this lemonade, a little salt balances it all out and prevents it from being overly cloying!
Perfect for summer BBQs, entertaining guests, hot days, or anytime you want a refreshingly unique drink! 

💬 Comment "WATERMELONLEMONADE" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for summer entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves lemonade!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/watermelon-basil-lemonade
Fluffernutter Sandwich Three Ways – marshmallow Fluffernutter Sandwich Three Ways – marshmallow creme and peanut butter come together to make the ultimate sweet sandwich using three unique peanut butter flavors: Mighty Maple, Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, and Dark Chocolate Dreams! 

Peanut butter is probably my favorite dessert flavor, you guys! I mean, I have posted THREE different peanut butter cookie recipes in the past year, and that's not even including my PB&J Ice Cream Sandwiches! If this is what addiction looks like, please don't make me control it! 😍

It's my go-to dessert when I have the biggest sweet tooth but no cake or ice cream or candy around! I almost always have the ingredients on hand for a fluffernutter, so I never have to suffer "sweet pains" for too long!

Instead of making a plain fluffernutter, I decided to test three unique peanut butter flavors from Peanut Butter & Co! And I was shocked by the results! Dark Chocolate Dreams (my first love!) trumped the Cinnamon Raisin Swirl! There's something about how the Dark Chocolate Dreams melts into the marshmallow creme that makes me melt after each bite!

Pro tip: Cook on medium-low temp so the peanut butter has time to melt before the bread gets toasty! The melty peanut butter is the BEST part!

Perfect for when you need a quick dessert fix, a sweet treat, or anytime your sweet tooth takes over! 

💬 Comment "FLUFFERNUTTER" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for sweet cravings
📤 SHARE with a peanut butter addict!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/fluffernutter-sandwich-three-ways/
Schnitzel Sub Sandwich – crispy fried chicken te Schnitzel Sub Sandwich – crispy fried chicken tenders topped with fresh baby arugula, a squeeze of lemon juice, and shaved Parmesan cheese in a soft hoagie bun! 

I tried this sandwich at a restaurant and fell so deeply in love that I HAD to recreate it at home, you guys! It was so SIMPLE yet so INCREDIBLE! 😍

The best part? It tastes fresh and light despite being a fried piece of chicken! The secret is all in the fresh toppings – the baby arugula, bright lemon juice, and shaved Parmesan cut through the richness of the fried chicken perfectly!

The biggest step is pounding and frying the chicken tenders, but don't worry – I use a shallow pool of oil instead of deep frying, which makes it SO much simpler at home! Just flatten the chicken evenly so it cooks through and gets super crispy!

Pro tip: Make sure to use the lemon! Fried food can taste rich and heavy, and the lemon juice is exactly what the chicken needs to lighten it up and add freshness!
Perfect for lunch, dinner, weeknight meals, or anytime you want a gourmet sandwich at home! 🥪

💬 Comment "SCHNITZEL" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for sandwich inspiration
📤 SHARE with someone who loves sandwiches!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/schnitzel-sub-sandwich/

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