• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • About Me
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Work With Me
  • Contact

CPA: Certified Pastry Aficionado

Mallorca Sweet Bread

Mallorca Sweet Bread

bread· breakfast· Easter· Holiday Favorites· pastries
February 2, 2024

Mallorca Sweet Bread – Fluffy, buttery sweet rolls covered in powder sugar. Perfect with a morning coffee! I first tried…
Read More

Chicken a la King

Chicken a la King

chicken entrees· Easter· Holiday Favorites
November 20, 2023

Chicken a la King – Creamy chicken cooked with peas, mushrooms, and pimentos, served in a puff pastry shell. Today’s…
Read More

Jelly Roll French Toast

Jelly Roll French Toast

breakfast· doughnuts and sweet rolls· Easter
April 14, 2023

Jelly Roll French Toast – Pieces of white bread rolled with raspberry jam, dipped in an egg custard, grilled, and…
Read More

Carrot Snack Cake

Carrot Snack Cake

cake· dessert· Easter· Fall Flavors
April 6, 2023

Carrot Snack Cake – A square single-layer carrot cake is topped with a homemade cream cheese and sprinkled with chopped…
Read More

Mixed Berry Fool

Mixed Berry Fool

dessert· Easter· Holiday Favorites· Summertime Favorites· Valentine's Day
April 3, 2023

Mixed Berry Fool – A no-bake dessert made from sweetened smashed berries folded into fresh sweetened whipped cream. Easter is…
Read More

Powdered Sugar Doughnuts

Powdered Sugar Doughnuts

doughnuts and sweet rolls· Easter· Holiday Favorites· pastries· Valentine's Day
February 12, 2023

Powdered Sugar Doughnuts – A classic, lightly spiced doughnuts is baked (not fried) and then covered in powdered sugar. This…
Read More

Raspberry Almond Muffins

Raspberry Almond Muffins

breakfast· Easter· muffins· pastries· Valentine's Day
January 29, 2023

Raspberry Almond Muffins – Yummy breakfast muffins made with all-purpose flour and almond flour and loaded with fresh raspberries. Who…
Read More

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 5
  • Next Page »

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

overhead shot of bright pumpkin fettuccine on a white plate with sundried tomatoes and wilted spinach throughout

Pumpkin Fettuccine with Sundried Tomatoes

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

Peach Upside-down Cake

apple cinnamon charlotte sitting on a plate with cinnamon sabayon sliced in half to reveal the apples in the center

Apple Cinnamon Charlotte

apple cinnamon monkey bread with a chunk out of it and sliced apples in front, shot from a side angle

Apple Cinnamon Monkey Bread

close up of a serving bowl with sage and brown butter mashed sweet potatoes

Sage & Brown Butter Mashed Sweet Potatoes

three Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting on a platter with two cupcakes on a pedestal on top of cotton napkin with whole pecans sprinkled around, shot from a side angle

Sweet Potato Cupcakes with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK NOW!

photo of entertaining made easy cookbook available for preorder now

Breakfast
Appetizers
Entrees
Salads
Sides
Drinks
Desserts
Roundups
Holidays

Browse by Date

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact Me
  • Privacy Policy

holiday favorite

a casserole dish of Berries & Cream Stuffed French Toast Casserole on top of a cloth napkin with a bowl of mixed berries next to it, shot from overhead

Berries & Cream Stuffed French Toast Casserole

Cheeseball Bites

styled shot of Monster Cookies

Monster Cookies

a plate of Slow Cooker Short Ribs with sprigs of thyme on top, shot from a side angle

Slow Cooker Short Ribs

a plate of Peanut Butter Blossoms and a wrapped hershey kiss next to them and a pan of more cookies and hershey kisses in the background, shot from a side angle

Peanut Butter Blossoms

 

There is honestly nothing better than the smell of There is honestly nothing better than the smell of fresh bread filling the house, and this Rosemary Olive Oil Focaccia is my absolute favorite to bake. 🍞🌿

I used to be so intimidated by yeast, but I’ve tried this specific recipe several times now, and it is foolproof. It’s crispy on the bottom, fluffy on the inside, and those little dimples filled with olive oil are everything.

My kids love getting involved with this one. I let them help with the "dimpling" part—pressing their fingers into the dough is basically like edible playdough to them! 

Do your kids play with this type of craft? Mine are obsessed, and it’s a great way to get them excited about being in the kitchen.

Whether you’re serving it with dinner or just snacking on it warm from the oven, you have to try this.

✨ Want the recipe? Comment “BREAD” below and I’ll send the link straight to your DMs!

#focaccia #breadmaking #easyrecipes #homemadebread
If you’re a fan of dessert for breakfast, you ha If you’re a fan of dessert for breakfast, you have to try this Berries & Cream Stuffed French Toast Casserole. 

I’m usually more of a savory breakfast person, but I tried this recipe recently and it’s basically like having cheesecake for brunch. The best part? Unlike most French toast casseroles, you don’t have to let this one sit in the fridge overnight. You just assemble and pop it straight into the oven.

I actually made a batch of this while we were hanging out at home last Sunday. The house smelled incredible, and even though it looks fancy, it was so low-stress. My kids are obsessed with anything that involves berries and "dip," so this was a massive hit. Do your kids play with this type of craft? (Mine are obsessed—though their "crafting" usually involves trying to pick all the blackberries out before it hits the table!)

Want the recipe? Comment “BERRY” below and I’ll send the link straight to your DMs!

#breakfastcasserole #brunchideas #frenchtoast #easyrecipes
If you’re looking for the ultimate weeknight com If you’re looking for the ultimate weeknight comfort food, this is it. 🍝✨

I recently tried this Baked Chicken Spaghetti and it is a total game-changer. Most recipes I see are overloaded with cheese that just adds fat without flavor, but this one is different. It’s incredibly creamy and relies on a base of browned chicken bits, onions, and garlic to give it a really deep, savory taste.

The best part? It’s a one-pot meal (if your braising dish is big enough!), which makes cleanup so much faster. I’ve found that it’s the perfect way to use up any leftover chicken you might have in the fridge, too.

I’m curious—do your kids play with this type of craft? Mine are obsessed. (Wait, I mean... do your kids eat everything you put in front of them? Mine can be picky, but they absolutely inhaled this pasta!)

Want the recipe? Comment “CHICKEN” below and I’ll send the link straight to your DMs!

#bakedspaghetti #weeknightdinner #easyrecipes
If you are looking for the perfect signature drink If you are looking for the perfect signature drink for your next holiday gathering, this is it. 🥂

I’ve tried quite a few seasonal cocktails, but this Holiday Mule is a standout because it brings in those crisp flavors of apple cider and cranberry without being overly sweet. The addition of Prosecco really levels it up from a standard mule—it adds a lightness that makes it so refreshing.

I love that it’s simple enough to make in a single copper mug but looks impressive enough for a big party. I’m curious, do you have a go-to garnish for your holiday drinks? I’m personally obsessed with the rosemary and cinnamon stick combo used here; it makes the whole house smell like Christmas! 🎄

Want the recipe? Comment “MULE” below and I’ll send the link straight to your DMs!

#holidaycocktails #moscowmule #holidayhosting
These Homemade Bagels are SO good, you'll never wa These Homemade Bagels are SO good, you'll never want to toast them again!

Y'all, I tried making bagels years ago and they were... not great. But after tons of research and a second attempt, these came out PERFECT! Chewy inside, crispy shiny shell outside, and that authentic bagel flavor you crave. They're honestly better than the bagel shop!

Here's what makes them amazing:
✨ Overnight rise = maximum chewiness
✨ Barley malt syrup = that signature flavor
✨ Boiling water bath = shiny crust
✨ Pizza stone = perfect texture

The secret? It's all about the process! The dough rises slowly overnight, gets a quick bath in boiling baking soda water (just like pretzels!), then bakes on a pizza stone for that perfect crispy exterior. The result is bagel shop quality at home!

Pro tips:
🍞 Use bread flour for that chewy texture
🌙 Let them rise overnight (patience = perfection!)
🔥 Pizza stone is a game-changer
🥯 Don't skip the barley malt syrup!

The best part? Fresh bagels warm from the oven need ZERO toasting. The crust is already perfectly crispy and the inside is so soft and chewy. Spread on some cream cheese and you're in bagel heaven!

Ready to make bagel shop quality at home? Comment "BAGELS" below and I'll send the full recipe straight to your DMs! 

#homemadebagels #bagels #breadmaking

Copyright © 2026 Certified Pastry Aficionado · Web Design by Viva la Violet