Appetisers - Manu’s Menu

Thanksgiving 2018 Round Up

As Thanksgiving 2018 is coming up, I thought it would be nice to put together a little Round-Up specifically for this occasion in honour of all my American readers. Pin It

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Garlic Scallops

After sharing with you my recipe for Pasta with Scallops and Lobster Oil, I am back with another recipe featuring scallops: Garlic Scallops. Pin It

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I must admit that I am not a huge seafood lover. However, I eat fish at least twice a week. So, I am always looking for different ways to serve it to the family, just to keep things interesting. Pin It

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Lightened-up Eggplant Caponata

After sharing with you the recipe for traditional Eggplant Caponata, today I am back with an healthier and quicker version of this Sicilian summer classic: Lightened-up Eggplant Caponata. Pin It

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Valentine’s Day Recipe Round-Up 2018

As Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, I thought of putting together a round-up of a few of my favourite recipes that I think would work great for a romantic dinner. Ready to drool?? Here goes MsM’s Valentine’s Day Recipe Round-up for 2018! Pin It

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Fried Bell Peppers and Potatoes

My readers often write to me to ask for some quick side dish ideas to serve with their Italian meals. I know, I don’t publish many side dishes on the site. I am not sure why as growing up, my mother would always serve at least one or two sides with our meal. Anyhow, these…

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Pigs in a Blanket Wreath

I love pigs in a blanket… they would always be served for parties when I was growing up, so I guess they remind me of happy times. I also love how easy they are to make. So this Holiday Season, I thought of serving them in a special way and I made the most delicious…

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Pizza Christmas Tree

I love puff pastry treats! They remind me of my childhood as they would always be part of all our festive spreads. This Pizza Christmas Tree is very easy and quick to make and it looks impressive. It would definitely make for a great appetiser idea to serve to family and friends this coming Christmas….

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Thanksgiving 2017 Round Up

I know, I know… I am not American and I don’t live in the USA either. However, the majority of my readers, do. So, with Thanksgiving coming up, I thought it would be nice to put together a little Round-Up specifically for this occasion. Probably not many of you know that the first time I…

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Meatball Marsala

A few weeks ago, I shared with you the recipe for Veal Marsala. Today instead I am back with a modern twist to the classic recipe. In fact, I will show you how to make Meatball Marsala. The sauce is not exactly the same as the one used for Veal Marsala, so make sure you…

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Danubio

Today I am going to share with you a traditional recipe from Naples: Danubio. It can be considered the “cousin” of both savoury baba and casatiello. Danubio is a savoury brioche made up of many small balls filled with a variety of fillings. It is often prepared for Easter, but not only. It is traditionally…

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Ham and Cheese Frittata Roll

Frittata is my favourite way to eat eggs. My mother would make it once a week: Saturday at lunch. I love the fact that you can add many different ingredients and turn it into a completely new dish every time. The one I used to like the most while growing up was with fried potatoes,…

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Beef Carpaccio alla Cipriani

Carpaccio is a dish of thinly sliced raw meat or fish served with a salad and a vinaigrette or a sauce. The beef version is one of my favourite appetisers. Carpaccio was invented in the 1950s by Giuseppe Cipriani from Harry’s Bar in Venice and it soon became very popular throughout Italy. He named it…

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Fiadoni

This year’s Easter recipe is Fiadoni. Fiadoni are a typical Easter dish from Abruzzo, in Central Italy. They are savoury ravioli, filled with cheese and then baked until golden brown. Usually, the cheese is a mix of dry grated sheep’s milk cheese (like Pecorino Romano) and a milder, less aged sheep’s milk cheese. I used…

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Walnut Spelt Bread

I absolutely adore baking bread. The aroma that comes out of the oven and spreads around the house when I bake bread just puts a smile on my face. My go-to recipe for home-made bread is definitely my ciabatta because it is very quick and easy to make. However, I also like to use spelt…

Valentine’s Day Recipe Round-up 2017

As Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, I thought of putting together a roundup of a few of my favourite recipes that I think would work great for a romantic dinner. Ready to drool?? Here goes MsM’s Valentine’s Day Recipe Roundup for 2017!

Ham and Stracchino Pinwheels

I recently made these Ham and Stracchino Pinwheels and it was love at first bite! I think these will make it to our dinner table during the Holiday Season. They make a great addition to any buffet! I love anything made with puff pastry, but these pinwheels are special. The stracchino cheese is what sets…

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Sicilian Bell Pepper Involtini

Today’s recipe is a very simple appetiser or side dish idea: Sicilian Bell Pepper Involtini. I love capsicums (or bell peppers), I always have. I have already shared a Bell Pepper Involtini recipe before, but this one is different. They are filled with what we call the ”Zangaras’ trademark”, as we use this same stuffing…

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Parmigiano Reggiano Brutti ma Buoni

Today’s recipe is a savoury variation of the more famous sweet Brutti ma Buoni (click here for the sweet recipe that I have already shared a while ago). Brutti ma Buoni are cookies made in Lombardy, the region I was born and grew up in, mainly to utilize leftovers – especially egg whites and nuts….

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Sicilian Eggplant Bake

Eggplant are my absolute favourite summer vegetable (while artichokes top my list in winter!) and today’s recipe is an absolute keeper. It is a Sicilian Eggplant Bake made with tomato sauce, salami, mozzarella, breadcrumbs, Pecorino Romano and topped with beaten eggs. It is then baked till golden brown. It is sort of like a variation…

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Olive Breadsticks

Olive Breadsticks – aka Grissini alle Olive – are a variation of the traditional “grissini stirati” recipe that I have already shared with you a while ago. I often make my own breadsticks, as they taste so much better than any store bought variety. I love the fact that they are crunchy and they are…

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Tuna Ricotta Balls

Today I am going to share with you the recipe for Tuna Ricotta Balls. They are crunchy savoury bites the whole family will love. These croquettes are baked and not fried, so they are also quite healthy and they make the perfect appetiser or snack idea. I love anything with tuna (remember my Italian Tuna…

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