holiday favorite

Fudge Striped Cookies on a wire rack drizzled chocolate, shot from a side angle

Fudge Striped Cookies

close up of raspberries & cream profiterole sitting on a white plate

Raspberries & Cream Profiteroles

photo of creme brulee doughnuts stacked together with the top doughnut missing a bite

Crème Brûlée Doughnuts

plate of pecan sticky bun

Pecan Sticky Buns

Pesto cheese roll sitting on a wooden plate with marinara sauce in the background for dipping

Pesto Cheese Rolls

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Fried Chicken Breakfast Burrito, shot from overhead

Fried Chicken Breakfast Burritos

breakfast· Easter
June 21, 2019

Fried Chicken Breakfast Burritos – Crispy fried chicken is wrapped in a breakfast burrito loaded with eggs, cheese, sauteed onions & peppers, and fresh cilantro Just when I thought I had everything figured out, I got my world rocked a little. A new food entered my life a few weeks ago that changed everything. It wasn’t anything complicated or sophisticated…
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two Mini Peanut Butter Explosion Cheesecakes on a plate with another plate of mini cheesecakes in the background, shot from a side angle

Mini Peanut Butter Explosion Cheesecakes

cake· dessert
June 17, 2019

Mini Peanut Butter Explosion Cheesecakes – Peanut butter cheesecake is speckled with crushed Butterfingers and stuffed with a peanut butter cup and topped with a dollop of fresh whipped cream I had so much fun making these mini chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecakes last month. I seem to have so much more fun making things in mini form than the…
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zoomed in shot of cucumber pineapple gin refreshers on a cloth napkin with a slice of cucumber and a half of a lime and pineapple slices in the background, shot from a side angle

Cucumber Pineapple Gin Refresher

drinks· Summertime Favorites
June 13, 2019

Cucumber Pineapple Gin Refresher – Cucumber, pineapple, and mint are muddled together and added to homemade cucumber syrup, fresh lime juice, gin, ice, and topped with sparkling water.  Gin is a liquor that I rarely ever drink. I had it once back in college and I can’t even remember what it tasted like. I remember liking it but I couldn’t…
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zoomed in shot of Strawberries & Goat Cheese Chicken, shot from a side angle

Strawberry & Goat Cheese Chicken

chicken entrees· Summertime Favorites
June 10, 2019

Strawberry & Goat Cheese Chicken – Cooked chicken breasts are layered with creamy goat cheese, sliced strawberries, and freshly sliced basil and finished with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.  Hurray for strawberry season! It’s the time of year when I pick up a quart of strawberries every time I’m in the grocery store. I just can’t help it! The berries…
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a plate of Wasabi Soy Wings with sesame seeds and green onion sprinkled over it, shot from overhead

Wasabi Soy Wings

appetizer· chicken entrees· snacks· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
June 6, 2019

Wasabi Soy Wings – Chicken wings are marinated in a wasabi soy sauce, grilled, and lathered in a sticky wasabi soy glaze My pregnancy last year brought on some hardcore cravings for all the things I couldn’t have: sushi, beer, and deli meat. For sushi, specifically, the cravings were controllable. I could have cooked sushi, like shrimp tempura rolls or…
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cannoli cones on a baking sheet with parchment paper on it, shot from overhead

Cannoli Cones

dessert
June 3, 2019

Cannoli Cones – An easy way to make a homemade cannoli without the hassle of frying cannoli shells. Made with sugar ice cream cones which are stuffed with homemade cannoli cream and dipped in your favorite cannoli toppings.  There’s something about a fresh cannoli with creamy ricotta cheese filling and covered in chocolate that just speaks my language. I love…
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a wooden bowl of avocado cucumber salad, shot from overhead

Avocado Cucumber Salad

appetizer· Easter· salad· Summertime Favorites
May 30, 2019

Avocado Cucumber Salad – Fresh avocado and mini cucumber slices are tossed with red onion, cilantro, and homemade avocado lime dressing Summer is herrrrrrre so bust out the avocados, y’all! Who am I kidding…it doesn’t have to be summer for me to enjoy avocados. However, they are much more flavorful (and cheaper!) in the summertime so I get especially excited…
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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

styled shot of Turkey Noodle Soup

Turkey Noodle Soup

zoomed in shot of Smashed Sweet Potatoes with cheese being shredded over them

Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Garlic Butter

shortcut apple strudel on a marble serving platter cut down the middle to expose the apple center with vanilla ice cream on top and a fork in the foreground

Shortcut Apple Strudel

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

angled view of cup of dirt pudding

Cup of Dirt Pudding

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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
Creamy Poblano Enchiladas – tortillas stuffed wi Creamy Poblano Enchiladas – tortillas stuffed with shredded chicken, covered in a creamy poblano sauce and cheese, then baked until creamy perfection! 

I'm more of a green enchiladas fan than red, you guys! While this sauce isn't traditional green enchilada sauce, it's got similar flavor notes! Plus, with the added milk, it's super creamy and decadent! 

The secret? A roux makes the sauce ultra creamy without needing tons of heavy cream!

Pro tip: Don't skip the lime juice! It's KEY to balancing out the flavors – this is NOT an optional ingredient!

Perfect for Cinco de Mayo, dinner parties, family dinners, or anytime you want creamy enchiladas! 🎉

💬 Comment "POBLANO" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for Cinco de Mayo
📤 SHARE with someone who loves enchiladas!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/creamy-poblano-enchiladas/
Beef Empanadas – flaky pie dough filled with cum Beef Empanadas – flaky pie dough filled with cumin-spiced beef and tomato mixture!

These are perfect for Cinco de Mayo, you guys! Small party-perfect size (makes about 20!) with super flavorful filling that's NOT spicy – everyone will love them! 😍

Made with my classic pie dough for the flakiest crust, then filled with seasoned beef, onions, and tomatoes!

Pro tip: Make sure to chill the dough before rolling it out – this lets it rest and firm up so it gets nice and flaky while baking!

Perfect for Cinco de Mayo parties, game day, meal prep, or anytime you want delicious hand-held snacks!

💬 Comment "EMPANADAS" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for party planning
📤 SHARE with someone who loves empanadas!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/beef-empanadas

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