holiday favorite

close up of a piece of chocolate hzelnut toffee with chopped hazelnuts sitting beside it

Chocolate Hazelnut Toffee

Candied Pecans

a slice of texas sheet cake sitting on a white plate

Texas Sheet Cake

styled shot of Cranberry Apple Crumble

Cranberry Apple Crumble

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

Cherry Bourbon Spritz

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

two bowls of honey mustard chopped salad with a fork next to them, shot from overhead

Honey Mustard Chopped Salad

chicken entrees· salad· Summertime Favorites
April 13, 2020

Honey Mustard Chopped Salad – Chicken breast is marinated in a honey mustard vinaigrette, cooked, and then topped on a bed of chopped Romaine, cherry tomatoes, red onion, bacon, and avocado. With spring comes tons of yummy produce. And because of that, I always get in a salad kick this time of year. I love all kinds of salad. There’s…
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a fork pulling a bite of cheesy crab dip from a baking dish on a cotton napkin with crackers next to it, shot from a side angle

Cheesy Crab Dip

appetizer· dips· snacks· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
April 10, 2020

Cheesy Crab Dip – Fresh lump crab meat is tossed with cream cheese, Old Bay seasoning, fresh lemon juice, and green onions and topped with mozzarella cheese before being baked to perfection. It’s a creamy, cheesy masterpiece, perfect for any event. After my Lobster Bisque turned out so great, I was inspired to take on more seafood recipes that I…
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plate with a raspberry sweet roll with a fork with a bite on it with another plate of sweet rolls in the back, shot from a side angle

Raspberry Sweet Rolls

breakfast· doughnuts and sweet rolls· Easter· pastries· Valentine's Day
April 6, 2020

Raspberry Sweet Rolls – Sweet yeast dough is filled with raspberry jam and fresh raspberries and then baked until golden perfection. They’re topped with a tangy icing that takes them to a whole other level. I’m always trying to step up my cinnamon roll game. I’ve taken this classic recipe and made it special is so many ways. Here are…
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a spoon scooping some lobster bisque onto it in a bowl of bisque with bread and a pan in the background, shot from a side angle

Lobster Bisque

seafood· seafood entrees· soup
April 2, 2020

Lobster Bisque – Creamy soup made with homemade lobster stock and served with fresh lobster meat. Today’s recipe is a result of wanting to try new things. Seafood is something I cook very seldom at home but still love to eat when I’m out at restaurants. Now that we’re home-bound for a while, I’m getting more adventurous with my cooking…
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cinnamon crunch bagel with a sliced bagel with cream cheese and a cup of cream cheese with a knife on top next to it, shot from a side angle

Cinnamon Crunch Bagels

bread· breakfast· Easter
March 30, 2020

Cinnamon Crunch Bagels – Chewy cinnamon bagels are baked with a sugar and cinnamon mixture on top to make a yummy, crunchy coating. About 2 years ago, I finally perfected my bagel recipe. This recipe produced the chewiest, most flavorful bagel that I’ve ever had, including store-bought! Granted, I haven’t had a NYC bagel so who knows if it can…
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zoomed in show of a baking dish with biscuits and gravy casserole with a scoop out of the center and a wooden spoon resting in it, shot from a side angle

Biscuits and Gravy Casserole

biscuits· breakfast casseroles· Easter
March 26, 2020

Biscuits and Gravy Casserole – Sausage gravy is cooked with biscuits on top to make a yummy casserole fit for any breakfast or brunch. How is everyone holding up during the COVID-19 social quarantine? We’ve been doing fine so far and not too stir-crazy. At this point, however, it looks like most of us will be spending Easter at home….
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plate with a glass dish of coconut banana pudding on it with a spoon sprinkled with toasted coconut and more dishes with pudding in them in the background, shot from a side angle

Coconut Banana Pudding

Uncategorized
March 23, 2020

Coconut Banana Pudding – Classic banana pudding is taken up a notch by using coconut milk and coconut cream in the recipe. We also finish it off with a topping of toasted coconut! It’s been a week of isolation for us and it’s going by faster than we thought. Anyone else? I think it helps that we still have unpacking…
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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 slice of apple cinnamon stuffed french toast on a plate with powdered sugae

Apple Cinnamon Stuffed French Toast

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

styled shot of pumpkin snickerdoodles

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

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

Spiced Carrots with Whipped Feta

angled view of cup of dirt pudding

Cup of Dirt Pudding

a bowl of Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Bread Pudding topped with ice cream with a casserole dish with bread pudding and two pumpkins stacked on top of each other in the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Snickerdoodle Bread Pudding

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There was a rainy afternoon when I wandered into t There was a rainy afternoon when I wandered into the kitchen with nothing but a craving, and I ended up mixing melted chocolate, warm cinnamon, and muffin batter until something magical happened. 

That’s how these Cinnamon Chocolate Muffins came to life: rich chocolate, a whisper of cinnamon spice, and a crunchy cinnamon-sugar topping that makes every bite feel like comfort.

They remind me of cozy mornings, a cup of coffee, and the kind of treat you tell yourself you deserve.

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/cinnamon-chocolate-muffins/
There’s something about the first cool morning o There’s something about the first cool morning of fall that just feels different. 🍂

You step outside, the air is crisp, the leaves have that faint earthy smell… and suddenly all you want is pumpkin spice, warm muffins, and cozy socks.

Mini Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins - They’re soft, cakey, perfectly spiced, and coated in buttery cinnamon sugar. It’s like a pumpkin doughnut met a muffin and decided to make your morning ten times better. 

The best part? They’re baked, not fried, which means you can totally justify having more than one. 

If you love fall baking, these muffins are a must-try. Whether you’re bringing them to a brunch, sharing them with family, or just sneaking one with your morning coffee, they’ll make your kitchen smell like pure happiness. 

Would you like me to send you the full recipe link directly here so you can save it for your next cozy baking day? 🍁 Just comment PUMPKIN below and I’ll send it straight to your DMs!

#minipumpkindoughnutmuffins #pumpkindessert #fallbaking #pumpkinmuffins #cinnamonsugar
There’s something about digging into a bowl of s There’s something about digging into a bowl of soup that reminds you of cozy evenings. The soft glow of the kitchen light, the aroma of buttery potatoes, cheese melting, and bacon crisping.

This loaded potato soup is all of that and more: tender chunks of potato, a rich creamy base, sharp cheddar, smoky bacon, green onions popping with flavor. It’s hearty comfort food at its finest.

It started on a night when I needed something substantial, something that felt like a hug in a bowl, and this soup answered the call.

Would you rather serve yours with an extra drizzle of melted cheese on top or let it sit so the flavors mingle?

comments “POTATO SOUP” and I'll send you a recipe.

#loadedpotatosoup #potatosouprecipes #comfortfood #soupseason #onepotmeals
There’s something about the moment you press pea There’s something about the moment you press peanut butter into soft chocolate dough. It’s like two flavors finally realizing they belong together.

I first experimented with chocolate + peanut butter cookies late one winter evening, trying to recreate that bakery magic I remembered from childhood. 

When the first batch came out warm, chewy, with that melt-in-your-mouth peanut butter swirl… I knew I had a new favorite.

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies are rich, indulgent, and downright comforting, perfect with a glass of milk or a cu#bakedtreats 

Comment COOKIES and I'll send you a link to the recipe. 

#chocolatepeanutbuttercookies #peanutbutterchocolate #homemadecookies #cookieoftheday #bakedtreats
Some of the best meals come from desperation—and Some of the best meals come from desperation—and this Chili Mac & Cheese was born on one of those nights. I had leftover chili and boxes of pasta, and I thought “why not combine them?”

What came out was something magical: creamy cheese sauce folding into hearty chili, elbow macaroni soaking up every bit of flavor, topped with melty cheese and baked to a golden crust. It’s comfort food squared.

This is my go-to when I want something filling, nostalgic, and totally satisfying.

Comment “MAC” and I'll send you a recipe.

#chilimacandcheese #comfortfood #onepotmeals #macandcheese #chilirecipe

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