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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Cobb Salad Dip

Cobb Salad Dip

appetizer· dips· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
July 6, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SeeHowFreshWorks #CollectiveBias Cobb…
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Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

Cookies· ice cream· National Ice Cream Month· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
July 3, 2017

Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches – Your favorite ice cream is sandwiched with the chewiest chocolate chip cookies to…
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Peach Raspberry Cobbler

Peach Raspberry Cobbler

dessert· Summertime Favorites
June 29, 2017

Peach Raspberry Cobbler – A Southern peach cobbler given a little twist with the addition of fresh raspberries and a…
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BBQ Chicken Nachos

BBQ Chicken Nachos

appetizer· snacks· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
June 26, 2017

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Constellation Brands. All opinions are mine alone. The following content…
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Chocolate-Covered Key Lime Pie

Chocolate-Covered Key Lime Pie

dessert· pie· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
June 22, 2017

Chocolate-Covered Key Lime Pie – A rich and tangy slice of key lime pie dipped in creamy dark chocolate. It’s…
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Watermelon Margaritas

Watermelon Margaritas

drinks· Popular Recipes· Summertime Favorites
June 19, 2017

Watermelon Margaritas – A refreshing margarita that is made with fresh watermelon juice, triple sec, fresh lime juice, and silver tequila….
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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

slice of pistachio loaf on a cutting board with the rest of the loaf in the background

Pistachio Loaf

styled shot of Turkey Noodle Soup

Turkey Noodle Soup

a hand holding up a maple molasses cookie to show all the detailed cracks in the top of the cookie

Maple Molasses Cookies

picture of apple pecan farro salad served on a white plate

Apple Pecan Farro Salad

plate of pecan sticky bun

Pecan Sticky Buns

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

Banana Bread Granola

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holiday favorite

The Best Waffles

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

Beignets

photo of two glasses of sangria with the pitcher in the background

Cranberry Apple Sangria

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

Banana Bread Doughnuts

close up of potato dinner rolls on a wooden round serving platter

Potato Dinner Rolls

 

Turkey Cranberry Pinwheels – leftover turkey rol Turkey Cranberry Pinwheels – leftover turkey rolled in a wrap with cranberry rosemary cream cheese spread and dried cranberries, then sliced into adorable pinwheels! 🦃

Years ago, wraps got a bad rap because people thought they were healthier than sandwiches (spoiler: they're not!). But I LOVE a great wrap! I ate them all the time in high school! Then I turned my back on them like everyone else. 

Recently, I found an AMAZING turkey and cranberry wrap at my local deli that completely changed my mind! 

The combination of turkey and cranberry is KILLER! I always go for cranberry sauce over gravy with carved turkey, so you KNOW I'm obsessed with this flavor combo!

But here's the thing – I knew this wrap needed more! So I created a cranberry rosemary cream cheese spread to take it over the top! That spread is the SECRET WEAPON that makes these pinwheels absolutely incredible!

Pro tip: Make sure to spread the cream cheese evenly over the wrap so when you roll and slice, you get those perfect tight, even corkscrew pinwheels!

Perfect for holiday parties, tailgating, or anytime you need an easy, impressive appetizer! 

💬 Comment "PINWHEELS" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for holiday entertaining
📤 SHARE with someone who loves wraps!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/turkey-cranberry-pinwheels/
Avocado Cucumber Salad – fresh avocado and crisp Avocado Cucumber Salad – fresh avocado and crispy mini cucumber slices tossed with red onion, cilantro, and a homemade avocado lime dressing! 🥑

Summer is HERE, you guys! And that means busting out the avocados! Although, let me be real – I don't need a reason to eat avocados year-round! But they ARE way more flavorful and cheaper in the summer, so I get extra excited! 

I LOVE this recipe because it's so refreshing thanks to the cucumber and the lime dressing! Plus, it's a nice break from the guacamole that tends to hog all the avocado spotlight! This salad is simple with just a few ingredients, but don't let that fool you – the flavor is INCREDIBLE!

The homemade dressing uses mashed avocado as the base, which creates a creamy texture that you just can't get from a bottled dressing!

Pro tip: Make sure you use mini cucumbers because they have way less water than traditional cucumbers! And use semi-ripe avocados so they hold their shape when tossed!

Perfect for summer entertaining, appetizers, picnics, or anytime you want a fresh, refreshing salad! 

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

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/avocado-cucumber-salad/
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

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