holiday favorite

styled shot of Chocolate Espresso Snowcaps

Chocolate Espresso Snowcaps

salted caramel banana cream puffs on a round serving plate with bananas in the background

Salted Caramel Banana Cream Puffs

a short glass with a gold rim filled with cherry bourbon spritz and a garnish of rosemary twig

Cherry Bourbon Spritz

overhead shot of pistachio creme brulee with a few bites take out and sugar cracked

Pistachio Crème Brulee

Maple Pecan Scones

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

plate of air fryer lemon pepper wings

Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings

chicken entrees· snacks· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
May 16, 2022

Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Wings – Wings are fried until perfectly crispy and then tossed in a zesty lemon pepper sauce Crispy chicken wings have been hard for me to recreate at home without frying them. I’ve tried the oven and the grill, but neither give the wings the perfect crunch on the outside. But I had yet to try…
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set of three pulled pork tacos arranged next to each other

Pulled Pork Tacos with Avocado Salsa

pork entrees· sandwiches & wraps
May 13, 2022

Pulled Pork Tacos with Avocado Salsa – Pork shoulder is slow-cooked, pulled and then placed in a flour tortilla, along with homemade avocado salsa and white onions. Tacos are a new favorite of mine. But most importantly, I love simple tacos with just a couple components. Today’s recipe features just that. It’s got one protein, one sauce, and a little…
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steakhouse burgers stacked on top of each other in a pyramid

Steakhouse Burgers

beef entrees· sandwiches & wraps· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
May 10, 2022

Steakhouse Burgers – Beef patties are seasoned with beef bouillon and Worcestershire sauce, topped with caramelized onions and a homemade aioli and served on a sesame seed bun. There’s just something about a good burger that just hits the spot. It can mend any troubles before it (even if only temporarily) and make you let out a sigh with every…
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a hand dipping a steak into chimichurri sauce

Chimichurri Steak Bites

beef entrees· Summertime Favorites
May 5, 2022

Chimichurri Steak Bites – Sirloin pieces are marinated, seared, and drizzled with a fresh chimichurri sauce that packs a punch of flavor. Chimichurri is one of my favorite sauces ever. It looks basic and unremarkable, but once you take a bite, it packs a punch so intense, you have to bow down to the hold it has over your taste…
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pic of chicken birria tacos being dipped in extra sauce

Easy Birria Tacos

chicken entrees· Summertime Favorites
May 2, 2022

Easy Birria Tacos – The traditional Mexican birria taco gets a shortcut to cut hours out of the cook time and have these tacos ready in 30 minutes! Birria tacos have been taking over my Instagram feed this year. Have you noticed how they are extremely popular now? I had never heard of them before, but after seeing them on…
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strawberry habanero margarita on the rocks

Strawberry Habanero Margarita

drinks· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
April 28, 2022

Strawberry Habanero Margarita – Strawberries and small amounts of habanero are muddled together and shaken with lime juice, agave, and tequila before pouring over ice Margarita’s are one of my favorite drinks so if I see a new version of a margarita on a menu, you can almost guarantee that I will want to try it. When I saw this…
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mexican stuffed baked potatoes sitting on a serving platter

Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

sides
April 25, 2022

Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes – Baked sweet potatoes are stuffed with seasoned black beans, fresh white onion, cilantro and finished with a squeeze for fresh lime. Cinco de Mayo is approaching so get ready for a few perfect recipes coming your way to get you perfectly prepared. Today’s recipe is derived from a yummy taco I had at a local…
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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 carrot snack cake on a pink plate

Carrot Snack Cake

a stack of three pumpkin oatmeal cream pies on cotton napkins with a platter behind it with more pies in the background, shot from the front

Pumpkin Oatmeal Cream Pies

front shot of sweet potato cornbread in a cast iron skillet

Sweet Potato Cornbread

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

Cranberry Apple Sangria

Candied Pecans

a slice of peach upside down cake on a white plate with the rest of the cake in the background

Peach Upside-down Cake

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This Cacio e Pepe Pasta Risotto changed my pasta g This Cacio e Pepe Pasta Risotto changed my pasta game forever!

After having mind-blowing cacio e pepe at Eataly in Boston, I became obsessed with recreating it at home. But here's the problem: the traditional recipe only makes small portions. So I had a lightbulb moment – what if I cooked it risotto-style to feed a crowd?!

The result? Pure magic. By cooking short pasta (I use ditalini!) slowly in chicken broth, you get an ultra-creamy, luscious texture without any cream. Just simple Italian ingredients: Pecorino Romano cheese, fresh black pepper, butter, and good olive oil.

Here's what makes this amazing:
✨ Feeds a crowd (perfect for dinner parties!)
✨ Only 7 ingredients, but packed with flavor
✨ Takes 30 minutes but worth every second
✨ Creamy without any cream

The key? Using the BEST ingredients – fresh ground black pepper and quality extra virgin olive oil make all the difference. And cooking that pepper in the oil at the beginning? That's what gives it that signature cacio e pepe punch!

Pro tip: Dice those onions super small so they don't overpower each bite. Trust me on this one

Ready to make restaurant-quality Italian pasta at home? Comment "PASTA" below and I'll send the full recipe to your DMs! 

#cacioepepe #pastarisotto #italianfood #pastarecipes #dinnerparty
Black Forest Cupcakes are the ultimate delight! R Black Forest Cupcakes are the ultimate delight!

Rich chocolate cupcakes stuffed with amaretto-roasted cherry compote, topped with fresh whipped cream and a chocolate-dipped cherry. They're basically the fancy cupcake version of the classic German cake, and they're absolutely stunning!

Here's what you need to know:
✨ Made with FRESH cherries (it's their peak season!)
✨ Amaretto instead of Kirsch for better flavor
✨ Three delicious components: cake + filling + topping
✨ Easier than they look – just takes some time

Fun fact: The chocolate represents the Black Forest, while the red and white represent traditional colors worn by women of that region. How beautiful is that? 

These are perfect for gatherings, BBQs, or whenever you want to impress someone with an elegant dessert. Multiple people said these were devoured within 2 days – and I totally believe them!

Pro tip: Make sure everything is completely cooled before assembling, or you'll have a melty mess on your hands 

Ready to make cherry season magic? Comment "CHERRIES" below and I'll send the full recipe straight to your DMs!

#blackforestcake #cherryseason #chocolatecupcakes #summerrecipes #elegantdesserts
The secret to getting kids to eat their veggies? W The secret to getting kids to eat their veggies? Wrap them in puff pastry and cheese.

These Broccoli Cheese Pinwheels are a total game-changer in our house. My kids never want vegetables (ok, who are we kidding – NO kid does), but these? They gobble them up without a single complaint!

Here's what makes them amazing:
✨ Only 4 ingredients – puff pastry, cream cheese, broccoli, and shredded cheese
✨ Ready in 30 minutes from start to finish
✨ Perfect for snacks, lunch boxes, or appetizers
✨ Can make them meal-sized or appetizer-sized

The flaky puff pastry + creamy cheese + tender broccoli combo is chef's kiss. One follower said these were gone in SECONDS at their party and everyone wanted the recipe!

Pro tip: Add some shredded chicken to make these a complete meal!

Want the full recipe with all my tips for perfect pinwheels? Comment "PINWHEELS" below and I'll send it straight to your DMs!

#kidfriendlyrecipes #healthysnacks #puffpastry #pinwheels #hiddenveggie
Pull-apart perfection in every bite! This Apple Pull-apart perfection in every bite! 

This Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread is the ultimate fall treat – fluffy balls of sweet dough stuffed with warm cinnamon apples, rolled in cinnamon sugar, and baked with a sticky brown sugar glaze. It's basically like a giant apple fritter you can pull apart with your hands!

Apple picking season is actually at its peak RIGHT NOW (did you think it was October too?!) so this is the perfect recipe to make with all those fresh apples 🍏

Here's what you need to know:
✨ Easier than you think – yeast dough isn't scary!
✨ 40 little dough balls = maximum pull-apart fun
✨ Each bite has warm cinnamon apples inside
✨ That brown sugar goo? Chef's kiss

Pro tip: Use a nonstick Bundt pan and grease it REALLY well. Trust me on this one.

Perfect for weekend brunch, holiday mornings, or honestly any time you want to impress your people. One follower said her 5-year-old declared this is what they're giving Santa – so you KNOW it's good!

Want the full recipe with all my tips and tricks? Comment "APPLES" below and I'll send it straight to your DMs! 

#monkeybread #applecinnamon #fallbaking #applerecipes #brunchideas
The FLUFFIEST sweet yeast rolls you'll ever make! The FLUFFIEST sweet yeast rolls you'll ever make!

These beauties are perfectly soft, subtly sweet, and paired with the most incredible whipped pumpkin butter (butter + pumpkin + cinnamon + honey = heaven!).

My husband said these are the best rolls he's ever had, and trust me—he doesn't give compliments lightly 😄

Here's why you need to make these:
✨ Easier than you think (no fancy skills needed!)
✨ Perfectly fluffy and chewy texture
✨ That whipped pumpkin butter is ADDICTIVE
✨ Make ahead and freeze for up to 2 months

Whether it's Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just a cozy family dinner, these rolls will steal the show. The secret? Scalded milk for maximum fluffiness and making sure they're touching in the pan before baking.

Want the full recipe with step-by-step instructions? Comment "ROLLS" below and I'll send it straight to your DMs! 💌
#homemadebread #yeastrolls #thanksgivingrecipes #holidaybaking #pumpkinrecipes

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