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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Classic Pot Roast

Classic Pot Roast

beef entrees· entrees
November 18, 2021

Classic Pot Roast – Chuck roast is slowly roasted in a jus made of beef broth, carrots, celery, and onions….
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My Favorite Meatloaf

My Favorite Meatloaf

beef entrees· entrees
June 28, 2021

My Favorite Meatloaf – This recipe for meatloaf is lean yet flavorful and uses ingredients that you already have available!…
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Mongolian Beef

Mongolian Beef

beef entrees· entrees
May 18, 2020

Mongolian Beef – Tender strips of beef and vegetables are cooked in a sweet and savory soy sauce and served…
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The Easiest Thai Chicken Curry

The Easiest Thai Chicken Curry

chicken entrees· entrees
May 8, 2020

The Easiest Thai Chicken Curry – This red curry chicken is so simple but oh so flavorful. And with the…
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Orange Chicken

Orange Chicken

chicken entrees· entrees· Valentine's Day
January 2, 2020

Orange Chicken – Chicken is fried in tempura batter and then tossed in a homemade sticky orange sauce to make…
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Cacio e Pepe Pasta Risotto

Cacio e Pepe Pasta Risotto

entrees· pizza & pasta· Valentine's Day
October 14, 2019

Cacio e Pepe Pasta Risotto – This classic Italian pasta dish made with fresh ground pepper and Pecorino Romano cheese,…
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Pork Gouda Burgers

Pork Gouda Burgers

entrees· pork entrees· sandwiches & wraps· Summertime Favorites
May 13, 2019

Pork Gouda Burgers – Burgers made from ground pork and topped with smoked gouda cheese, caramelized onions, and homemade garlic…
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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

plate of stack of pistachio pancakes with a bite of them on a fork with pistachios sprinkled around on a cloth napkin, shot from overhead

Pistachio Pancakes

apple cinnamon charlotte sitting on a plate with cinnamon sabayon sliced in half to reveal the apples in the center

Apple Cinnamon Charlotte

warm banana bread with a couple bites removed sitting on a plate with two scoops on butter pecan ice cream stacked on top and caramelized bananas over the top and a spoon on the side

Banana Bread Sundae

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

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

Pumpkin Fettuccine with Sundried Tomatoes

a plate of pie crust chips with a bowl of Salted Caramel Apple Pie Dip on it and a jar of caramel behind it, shot from a side angle

Salted Caramel Apple Pie Dip with Pie Crust Chips

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

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holiday favorite

baked brie with roasted pears and walnuts on top

Roasted Pear Baked Brie

plate of mini ham and cheese quiche with caramelized onions and a plan of quiche in the back

Mini Ham & Cheese Quiche with Caramelized Onions

styled shot of Chocolate Chip Cookies Bites with Fudge Frosting

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites with Fudge Frosting

a plate of BLT benedicts on a cloth napkin with half a lemon in the background, shot from a side angle

BLT Benedict

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate styled with a spoon being dipped into it

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

 

Peach Raspberry Cobbler – fresh peaches and rasp Peach Raspberry Cobbler – fresh peaches and raspberries topped with a cakey, cinnamon-sugar crust that's so incredible you won't even need ice cream!

Cobblers have stolen my heart, you guys! The first cobbler I ever loved was blackberry, but after tasting this peach raspberry version at a work potluck, it took the top spot! 

The secret? That cinnamon sugar crust! It's not just a topping – it's the STAR of the show! The combination of fresh peaches, tart raspberries, and that cakey, cinnamon-sugar-coated crust is pure summer magic!

Pro tip: Let the cobbler cool for at least 15 minutes before serving so the filling can thicken up and it'll be much easier to scoop!

Perfect for summer gatherings, July 4th parties, potlucks, or anytime you want a Southern dessert with a delicious twist! 

💬 Comment "COBBLER" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for summer entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves fruit desserts!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/peach-raspberry-cobbler/
Nutella Macarons – delicate French almond cookie Nutella Macarons – delicate French almond cookies filled with chocolate-hazelnut Nutella spread! Classic macarons made with the proper technique learned straight from a pastry chef! 

You guys remember when I made French macarons for the first time and they were a HOT MESS? The tops were cracked and bumpy and looked more like brownies! I was determined to get them right, so I took a macaron baking class in person – and it changed EVERYTHING! 

The trickiest part? Mixing the dry and wet ingredients together. Under mix = too dry and cracked. Over mix = dense and heavy. But now I know exactly what the batter should look like!

Pro tip: Age your egg whites for 24-48 hours before making the meringue – this helps them get to the perfect consistency!

Perfect for Valentine's Day, gift-giving, special occasions, or anytime you want elegant French macarons at home! 🇫🇷

💬 Comment "NUTELLAMACARON" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for French cookie inspiration
📤 SHARE with someone who loves macarons!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/nutella-macarons/
Classic Pot Roast – chuck roast slowly cooked in Classic Pot Roast – chuck roast slowly cooked in a jus made of beef broth, carrots, celery, and onions! Balsamic vinegar, thyme, and mustard give that jus a kick of flavor! 

Cold weather is in full effect, you guys! So comfort food needs to be on the menu! My husband wanted to try a good pot roast, so I used a combination of recipes to come up with the perfect one! 

The secret? Traditional aromatics (carrots, celery, onions) PLUS balsamic vinegar and Dijon mustard set this roast apart with a tangy kick!

Pro tip: Sear the roast first to give it beautiful color on the outside – if you skip this step, the meat will look almost gray when cooked in the broth!

💬 Comment "POTROAST" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for comfort meals
📤 SHARE with someone who loves pot roast!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/classic-pot-roast/
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Browned Butter – Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Browned Butter – fluffy pillows of sweet potato dumplings tossed in a sage and browned butter sauce for a comforting pasta dish you didn't know you needed! 

This gnocchi was inspired by a dish I had at a local restaurant years ago, you guys! I was skeptical about sweet potato gnocchi with just butter and sage – no cream? no tomato? But MAN, was I wrong! 

The sweet potato gnocchi is even MORE flavorful than the original! It shines on its own with little help from a heavy sauce – that's why it pairs so perfectly with a light toss in sage and browned butter!

Pro tip: Use a potato ricer to break up the sweet potatoes – don't use a food processor or it will make the gnocchi gummy and pasty! The ricer makes it super fluffy!

Perfect for fall dinners, Thanksgiving, date nights, or anytime you want restaurant-quality comfort food at home! 

💬 Comment "GNOCCHI" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for fall cooking
📤 SHARE with someone who loves pasta!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/sweet-potato-gnocchi-with-sage-browned-butter/
Sour Cream Doughnuts – dense and crispy on the o Sour Cream Doughnuts – dense and crispy on the outside, moist and cakey on the inside! Your favorite old-fashioned cake doughnuts ready in half the time as yeast doughnuts!

These are also known as old-fashioned doughnuts, you guys! They're bulky, firm on the outside, but oh-so-moist on the inside! The BEST combination of textures – crunchy yet chewy, dense yet moist! 

I fell in love with these at a local bakery, and now my husband surprises me with them from time to time! Do I have a great man or what?!

Pro tip: Don't roll the dough too thin or the doughnuts will turn to hockey pucks when you fry them! You're better off making the dough too thick than too thin!

Perfect for weekend breakfast, Easter morning, brunch, or anytime you want homemade doughnuts without the wait! 

💬 Comment "DOUGHNUTS" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for weekend baking
📤 SHARE with someone who loves doughnuts!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/sour-cream-doughnuts

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