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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

White Chocolate Cream Puffs

White Chocolate Cream Puffs

dessert· Easter· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
December 26, 2017

White Chocolate Cream Puffs – Light and airy puffs are filled with homemade white chocolate pastry cream and finished with…
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Breakfast Pizza

Breakfast Pizza

breakfast· breakfast casseroles· Easter· pizza & pasta
December 21, 2017

Breakfast Pizza – Crispy puff pastry is loaded with your breakfast favorites: eggs, two kinds of cheese, and bacon. It’s…
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Blueberry Coffee Cake

Blueberry Coffee Cake

cake· Easter· Summertime Favorites
September 7, 2017

Blueberry Coffee Cake – An incredibly moist coffee cake studded with fresh blueberries, a hint of lemon, and covered with a…
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Mini Ham & Cheese Quiche with Caramelized Onions

Mini Ham & Cheese Quiche with Caramelized Onions

appetizer· breakfast· breakfast casseroles· Easter· Holiday Favorites
April 13, 2017

Mini Ham and Cheese Quiche with Caramelized Onions – A mini, buttery pastry crust filled with a mixture of eggs,…
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Traditional English Trifle

Traditional English Trifle

dessert· Easter· Holiday Favorites· Popular Recipes· Summertime Favorites
April 10, 2017

Traditional English Trifle – This traditional English trifle is a layered dessert made with ladyfingers soaked in sherry, fresh berries,…
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30 Irresistible Springtime Sweets

30 Irresistible Springtime Sweets

Easter· round-up
April 6, 2017

Easter is next week, people! Next. Week. Are you panicking yet?? Have no fear! I am here to help you…
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Blueberry Muffin Tops

Blueberry Muffin Tops

breakfast· Easter· muffins· Summertime Favorites
April 3, 2017

Blueberry Muffin Tops – Everyone knows the best part of the blueberry muffin is the top. Why not make them…
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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

front shot of pumpkin loaf cut into slices

My Favorite Pumpkin Loaf

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

Pumpkin Fettuccine with Sundried Tomatoes

Cinnamon Latte Whoopie Pies

overhead shot of quinoa harvest salad on a plate

Quinoa Harvest Salad

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

overhead shot of spiced carrots on a bed of whipped feta dip

Spiced Carrots with Whipped Feta

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

Honey Wheat Bread Loaves

a plate with a slice of stone fruit tart and slices of fruit in the background, shot from the front

Stone Fruit Tart

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

close up of beignets stacked on a plate, covered in powdered sugar

Beignets

shortcut apple strudel on a marble serving platter cut down the middle to expose the apple center with vanilla ice cream on top and a fork in the foreground

Shortcut Apple Strudel

 

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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