holiday favorite

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

Cherry Bourbon Spritz

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

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

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

Pistachio Loaf

Peppermint Shortbread Bites

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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

rice being spooned into a half of a red bell pepper

Chicken and Couscous Stuffed Peppers

chicken entrees· sides
January 26, 2017

Chicken and Couscous Stuffed Peppers – A new take on stuffed peppers. This lighted-up option includes Israeli couscous, chopped chicken, parsley and goat cheese. The combinations of flavors is stunning. You won’t be able to stop eating it! I think it’s pretty obvious: I don’t do healthy food. That doesn’t mean I don’t eat healthy food; I just don’t eat healthy…
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overhead zoomed in shot of Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Skewers

Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Skewers

chicken entrees· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
January 23, 2017

Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken Skewers – This is the most tender and most flavorful chicken you will ever make! The chicken gets marinated in a honey, lime, cilantro, garlic, and soy sauce marinade for a few hours, skewered, and then grilled. Super easy and always a hit! Perfect for serving a crowd. And the bizarre weather continues…Two weeks ago the city…
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Easy Parmesan Garlic Pretzels in a bowl with a pan of pretzels behind it

Easy Garlic Parmesan Pretzels

snacks· Tailgating Recipes
January 19, 2017

Easy Garlic Parmesan Pretzels – The recipe for these garlic parmesan pretzels couldn’t be any easier! You just toss store-bought pretzels in garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, dried dill, and a little oil and baked for 30 minutes! You’ll have a fun, homemade snack in no time! Man, I’ve just been all about the snack foods this past month, huh? I started…
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zoomed in shot of steak & blue cheese pizza on a pan

Steak & Blue Cheese Pizza

beef entrees· pizza & pasta
January 16, 2017

Steak & Blue Cheese Pizza – Spice up your pizza game with this steak and blue cheese pizza! Fresh pizza dough is topped with marinara, fresh mozzarella, caramelized red onions, grilled steak and blue cheese to make a dinner that is unforgettable! Happy Monday!! Did you have an amazing weekend? Watch any football? I watched more pro football this weekend than…
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styled shot of Easy Meatball Subs

Easy Meatball Subs

beef entrees· Popular Recipes· sandwiches & wraps· Tailgating Recipes
January 12, 2017

Easy Meatball Subs – Made with hot dog buns, frozen meatballs, marinara, and provolone, these meatball subs are so simple to make and perfect for feeding a crowd. Don’t have a crowd to feed? You can easily adjust this recipe for a smaller group! My husband Tyson and I don’t have a ton of favorite foods in common…well, outside of…
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zoomed in shot of Bacon & Gruyere Sliders with Beer Caramelized Onions

Bacon & Gruyere Sliders with Beer Caramelized Onions

beef entrees· sandwiches & wraps· Summertime Favorites· Tailgating Recipes
January 9, 2017

Messaging below is intended for ages 21+ and is intended to be enjoyed responsibly, in moderation. This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BeersAndBuns #CollectiveBias Bacon & Gruyere Sliders with Beer Caramelized Onions – The flavors of these sliders come together to make a perfect meal for a crowd, including…
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styled shot of Chocolate Chip Cookies Bites with Fudge Frosting

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites with Fudge Frosting

Cookies· dessert· Holiday Favorites
January 5, 2017

Chocolate Chip Cookies Bites with Fudge Frosting– Bite-sized pieces of chocolate chip cookies topped with fudge icing. It’s fun, new way to serve cookies for your parties! And it’s a great alternative to cookie cake. A new year always comes with new resolutions to live a healthy lifestyle. Welp, if that’s the case for you, you may want to look away….
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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 stack of three Apple Cider Crumb Doughnuts on a cloth napkin with more doughnuts around them, shot from the front

Apple Cider Crumb Doughnuts

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

Maple Molasses Cookies

zoomed in shot of a bowl of sweet potato gnocchi, shot from a side angle

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Sage Browned Butter

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

Spiced Carrots with Whipped Feta

a glass dish with pumpkin cinnamon rolls in it with some missing from the center and a spatula with a pumpkin the background, shot from a side angle

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

close up of sliced loaf of chocolate cinnamon babka with the center exposed to see the beautiful swirl of chocolate

Chocolate Cinnamon Babka

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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
Fluffernutter Sandwich Three Ways – marshmallow Fluffernutter Sandwich Three Ways – marshmallow creme and peanut butter come together to make the ultimate sweet sandwich using three unique peanut butter flavors: Mighty Maple, Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, and Dark Chocolate Dreams! 

Peanut butter is probably my favorite dessert flavor, you guys! I mean, I have posted THREE different peanut butter cookie recipes in the past year, and that's not even including my PB&J Ice Cream Sandwiches! If this is what addiction looks like, please don't make me control it! 😍

It's my go-to dessert when I have the biggest sweet tooth but no cake or ice cream or candy around! I almost always have the ingredients on hand for a fluffernutter, so I never have to suffer "sweet pains" for too long!

Instead of making a plain fluffernutter, I decided to test three unique peanut butter flavors from Peanut Butter & Co! And I was shocked by the results! Dark Chocolate Dreams (my first love!) trumped the Cinnamon Raisin Swirl! There's something about how the Dark Chocolate Dreams melts into the marshmallow creme that makes me melt after each bite!

Pro tip: Cook on medium-low temp so the peanut butter has time to melt before the bread gets toasty! The melty peanut butter is the BEST part!

Perfect for when you need a quick dessert fix, a sweet treat, or anytime your sweet tooth takes over! 

💬 Comment "FLUFFERNUTTER" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for sweet cravings
📤 SHARE with a peanut butter addict!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/fluffernutter-sandwich-three-ways/
Schnitzel Sub Sandwich – crispy fried chicken te Schnitzel Sub Sandwich – crispy fried chicken tenders topped with fresh baby arugula, a squeeze of lemon juice, and shaved Parmesan cheese in a soft hoagie bun! 

I tried this sandwich at a restaurant and fell so deeply in love that I HAD to recreate it at home, you guys! It was so SIMPLE yet so INCREDIBLE! 😍

The best part? It tastes fresh and light despite being a fried piece of chicken! The secret is all in the fresh toppings – the baby arugula, bright lemon juice, and shaved Parmesan cut through the richness of the fried chicken perfectly!

The biggest step is pounding and frying the chicken tenders, but don't worry – I use a shallow pool of oil instead of deep frying, which makes it SO much simpler at home! Just flatten the chicken evenly so it cooks through and gets super crispy!

Pro tip: Make sure to use the lemon! Fried food can taste rich and heavy, and the lemon juice is exactly what the chicken needs to lighten it up and add freshness!
Perfect for lunch, dinner, weeknight meals, or anytime you want a gourmet sandwich at home! 🥪

💬 Comment "SCHNITZEL" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for sandwich inspiration
📤 SHARE with someone who loves sandwiches!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/schnitzel-sub-sandwich/
Texas Sheet Cake – a thin, moist chocolate cake Texas Sheet Cake – a thin, moist chocolate cake with a generous layer of fudgy chocolate icing on top! The ratio of cake to icing is absolute PERFECTION! 

Chocolate cake has been hit or miss for me my whole life, you guys! Either it's dry or bland or not chocolatey enough! But this Texas Sheet Cake? BY FAR my favorite chocolate cake of all time! 

It's perfectly moist, FULL of chocolate flavor, and that icing on top just sets it into overdrive! After one bite, I simply cannot stop eating!

The secret to this incredible cake is the right ratio of icing to cake and placing the icing on the cake while it's HOT! This seals in all the moisture and makes it absolutely DIVINE!

Pro tip: Use Dutch-processed cocoa powder instead of classic unsweetened – the chocolate flavor is way more potent! Plus, this cake bakes in under 20 minutes, so it's perfect for last-minute cravings!

Perfect for potlucks, parties, crowd feeding, or anytime you need to satisfy those chocolate cravings! 

💬 Comment "TEXASCAKE" for the recipe
💾 SAVE for chocolate emergencies
📤 SHARE with someone who loves chocolate!

https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/texas-sheet-cake/

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