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CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Story behind the blog

Uncategorized
November 6, 2011

At work, we get these AMAZING doughnuts from Sublime Doughnuts every Friday. And when I say amazing, I mean ah-may-zing. If you live in the Atlanta area, and haven’t tried these yet, don’t talk to me until you do. I mean it.

Anywho, the reason why I bring this up is because, last Friday, someone decided that they didn’t want to bring doughnuts to work that day (I’m not going to mention names, but you know who you are!) and I was heartbroken.  So to prevent this painful feeling from entering my life ever again, I decided to implement Baked Goods Friday! And what is that, you ask? Well let me tell you! Instead of us having the same doughnuts every Friday, we each take turns bringing some baked good to share with the office (preferably homemade, but I realize that not everyone in the office shares this knack for making delicious items from scratch (oh and that reminds me, at times my cocky side will come out and I can’t help that so please, bear with me; you’ll learn to love me one day)).

I decided to take the reigns this week and pull out one of my favorite crowd-pleasers: croissants. People are so amazed that normal human beings (aka non-professional bakers) are capable of baking such intricate little pastries. But praise and amazement are not the main reason why I like making them; I love making them mostly because your average person hasn’t had a freshly made croissant before. Most people, I’ve noticed, pick up a croissant from a bakery at the local grocery store, which, most times, isn’t baked fresh (you can tell if it’s fresh by the texture of the dough; if it’s flaky and crispy, its fresh). If I broaden someone’s horizon by showing them what real, fresh food should taste like, then I’ve done my job.

Croissants stacked on a plate
The first batch I ever made


After bringing the croissants to work, every single one of my co-workers asked me how I made them. And the more I explained the 101 steps (and 3 days for work) I went through to deliver these croissants to them, the more I realized how difficult this recipe must seem. So we decided to look up the most difficult recipes and see where croissants ranked….

Number 9!

I was pretty surprised, if I do say so myself. I knew all the hard work I went through to make them, but I NEVER though they’d be this close the top. We looked through the other 9 and I was pretty surprised; all the other recipes didn’t seem so intense and even doable for a amateur baker like myself (see the full list here)

Which has led me to start this blog. I’d always wanted to start a blog but never had a real reason to. I mean, who wants to hear about my food obsession. I mean, really? So when we stumbled upon this list,  I figured this blog could be about my baking adventures!

My first task: make every single item on this list.

I will begin baking sometime this week so keep a look out for some pics of how things are going!

Post your comments and let me know what you think. And let me know if there’s anything you would like to see me bake.

Wish me luck!

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5 Comments

Parmesan and Gruyere Cheese Souffle »

Comments

  1. Geometry Dash says

    October 29, 2024 at 12:35 am

    So amazing recipe!

    Reply
  2. conduitalveoli says

    September 19, 2024 at 3:41 am

    That’s so yummy recipe!
    google

    Reply
  3. ImperfectPerfection says

    November 6, 2011 at 3:18 am

    I can't wait to hear about your Baked Alaska! YUMMY!!!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Classic Butter Croissants says:
    June 26, 2019 at 12:28 pm

    […] I decided to teach a class on croissants. After all, it’s what started the blog in the first place. I talk more about that here. […]

    Reply
  2. Classic Butter Croissants | CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado says:
    March 21, 2017 at 6:37 am

    […] I decided to teach a class on croissants. After all, it’s what started the blog in the first place. I talk more about that here. […]

    Reply

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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!

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These Dijon Apple Pork Chops are proof that weekni These Dijon Apple Pork Chops are proof that weeknight dinners can be BOTH quick and fancy!

Perfectly cooked pork chops topped with a Dijon apple pan sauce made with fresh apples, rosemary, apple cider, and a touch of Dijon mustard. It's fall flavors at their finest, and it's ready in just 30 minutes!

Why you'll LOVE this recipe:
✨ Quick weeknight dinner (30 minutes!)
✨ Fall flavors you can enjoy all season
✨ Restaurant-quality at home
✨ Simple ingredients you probably have
✨ Pan sauce is EVERYTHING

Here's the magic: while the pork stays hot, we make the sauce first - apples sautéed with rosemary, then simmered in apple cider until tender, finished with Dijon and butter. Pour it over perfectly seared pork chops and you've got a dinner that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen!

The combination of sweet apples, fragrant rosemary, and tangy Dijon is absolutely PERFECT with pork. Serve with roasted Brussels sprouts and mashed potatoes for the ultimate fall dinner!

Pro tips:
🔸 Use pork chops that are at least 1 inch thick
🔸 Go easy on rosemary (it's powerful!)
🔸 Let pork rest 5 minutes before serving
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Want the full recipe? Comment PORK below and I'll send it straight to your DMs! 

#DijonApplePorkChops #PorkChops #FallDinner #WeekNightDinner #EasyDinner #PorkRecipes #FallRecipes #QuickDinner #30MinuteMeals #PanSauce #AppleRecipes #FallFlavors #DinnerIdeas #EasyRecipes #WeeknightMeals #PorkChopRecipe #FallCooking #HealthyDinner #HomeCooking #DinnerRecipe #FallFood #QuickRecipes #FoodBlogger #Rosemary #AppleCider #FamilyDinner #SeasonalCooking #ComfortFood #Foodie #DeliciousDinner
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What makes these pancakes SPECIAL:
✨ Ground pistachios for nutty flavor (no crunch!)
✨ Honey instead of sugar (pairs perfectly with pistachios)
✨ Almond extract brings out the pistachio flavor
✨ Super fluffy texture (the secret: let the batter rest!)
✨ Unique & impressive breakfast

The ground pistachios give these pancakes an incredible flavor and that gorgeous green tint without adding any crunch to your pancakes. The almond extract enhances the pistachio flavor and creates this rich, nutty taste that's SO good! And using honey instead of regular sugar? Game changer!

Top with butter, maple syrup, and extra crushed pistachios for the ultimate presentation!

Pro tips for FLUFFY pancakes:
🔸 Let the batter rest 15-30 minutes (don't skip this!)
🔸 Only add batter to a HOT pan
🔸 Look for bubbles on top before flipping
🔸 Use buttermilk for that classic fluffy texture

Trust me, once you try these pistachio pancakes, you'll want to make them every weekend! The flavor is incredible and they look so impressive stacked up on a plate.

Want the full recipe? Comment PANCAKES below and I'll send it straight to your DMs! 

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Here's what makes this gratin special: the sweet potatoes are cooked in a cream sauce with maple sugar (or maple syrup), cinnamon, and nutmeg, then topped with grated Parmesan before baking. 

The result is a gorgeous layered side dish that's creamy, rich, and absolutely delicious! The texture is what sets this apart from traditional sweet potato casserole - those thinly sliced layers give you the perfect bite every time. And that crispy, golden Parmesan top? Chef's kiss 

Pro tips:
🔸 Use a mandolin slicer for perfectly even slices (be careful!)
🔸 Use GRATED Parmesan, not shredded (it melts better!)
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🔸 Can swap maple sugar for maple syrup

This is going straight on my Thanksgiving menu, and I think you should add it to yours too! It's fancy enough to impress but easy enough to not stress about. Win-win! 

Want the full recipe? https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/sweet-potato-gratin/
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These Banana Nut Cinnamon Rolls are the breakfast dream you never knew you needed!

Here's what makes them INCREDIBLE:
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Yes, homemade cinnamon rolls take time (about 3 hours total with rising), but they are SO WORTH IT. 

The keys to success:
🔸 Use fresh yeast (make sure it foams!)
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🔸 Don't rush the proofing time - fluffy rolls need time to rise!

These are perfect for weekend brunch, special occasions, or any time you want to seriously impress! The combo of bananas, walnuts, and cinnamon is absolutely divine.

Pro tip: You can prep these the night before! Let them do the second rise in the fridge overnight, then bake fresh in the morning. Your house will smell AMAZING! 

Want the full recipe? https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/banana-nut-cinnamon-rolls/
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What makes this crumb cake SO good:
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This is one of my all-time favorite coffeehouse treats, and the pumpkin version is PERFECT for fall! The cake is incredibly moist thanks to the pumpkin puree, and those crispy crumbs on top add the most satisfying texture contrast. It's divine!

You can serve it warm or at room temperature, and it stays fresh for days (if it lasts that long!). 

Perfect for:
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Pro tip: Make the crumb topping first and chill it in the fridge while you make the batter. This helps the crumbs stay crispy during baking!

Want the full recipe? https://www.certifiedpastryaficionado.com/pumpkin-crumb-cake/

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