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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Warm Banana Pudding (Southern Style)

Warm Banana Pudding (Southern Style)

dessert· Easter
March 30, 2017

Warm Banana Pudding – Made with pound cake, homemade vanilla pudding, sliced bananas and topped with toasted meringue, this Southern…
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Pecan Sticky Buns

Pecan Sticky Buns

breakfast· doughnuts and sweet rolls· Easter· Fall Flavors· Holiday Favorites
March 27, 2017

Pecan Sticky Buns – A super ooey, gooey, sticky bun made with brioche dough and tons of brown sugar and…
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Goat Cheese Stuffed Sweet Peppers

Goat Cheese Stuffed Sweet Peppers

appetizer· Easter
March 9, 2017

Goat Cheese Stuffed Sweet Peppers – Creamy goat cheese is mixed with fresh basil and garlic and then stuffed into…
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Cheesy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

Cheesy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole

breakfast· breakfast casseroles· Easter· Holiday Favorites
February 23, 2017

Cheesy Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole – A breakfast casserole that incorporates all of your favorite breakfast foods – eggs, bacon,…
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Cream Cheese Pound Cake with Strawberry Coulis

Cream Cheese Pound Cake with Strawberry Coulis

cake· Easter· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
February 16, 2017

Cream Cheese Pound Cake with Strawberry Coulis – Think you know pound cake?! Well, you haven’t lived until you’ve tried…
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Soft, Frosted Sugar Cookies

Soft, Frosted Sugar Cookies

Cookies· Easter· Holiday Favorites· Valentine's Day
February 2, 2017

Soft, Frosted Sugar Cookies – These soft, frosted sugar cookies taste identical to the ones you love to buy at…
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Fresh Broccoli Salad with Crispy Bacon

Fresh Broccoli Salad with Crispy Bacon

appetizer· Easter· salad· sides· Summertime Favorites
January 3, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LeanCuisine #CollectiveBias Fresh…
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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 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

two pints of high road ice cream stacked on top of each other with glass dishes of apple pie sundaes next to them and an apple slice and a apple cut in half in front, shot from the front

Apple Pie Sundae

angled view of cup of dirt pudding

Cup of Dirt Pudding

styled shot of Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria

Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria

two copper mugs filled with holiday mule drinks and a pitcher in the background

Holiday Mule

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers on a baking sheet with parchment paper, shot from overhead

Butterscotch Pear Turnovers

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holiday favorite

sweet potato biscuits on parchment paper with butter to the side and a cast iron pan of more biscuits in it, shot from a side angle

Sweet Potato Biscuits

a White Chocolate Cream Puff cut in half with the filling showing and a plate of cream puffs in the background and white chocolate chips around it, shot from a side angle

White Chocolate Cream Puffs

styled shot of Chocolate Espresso Snowcaps

Chocolate Espresso Snowcaps

raspberry lime macaron sandwich on a white plate with lime zest garnish

Raspberry Lime Macaron Sandwich

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

 

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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