I made these Ham and Cheese Sicilian Brioches for my daughter’s 8th birthday party. When I was a child, I would spend part of my summer holidays at my nonni’s house in Palermo. Not far from where they used to live, there was a place called I Cuochini (aka the little cooks) where my mum…
Pumpkin Rolls
Tt is time again for the “Secret recipe club” reveal! I am sure you all know what the club is about, but for the few of you who still don’t know about it, here goes a brief explanation. It is a great concept… each month you are assigned a participating food blogger to make a…
Torta Pasqualina Umbra
Today I’d like to share with you a traditional Easter recipe from the Italian region of Umbria. Umbria is famous around the world for its hilly landscapes and old towns, such as Assisi and Orvieto to name just two. It is a wonderful area of Italy and besides being beautiful, it also boasts delicious hearty…
Chocolate Chip Banana and Pumpkin Bread
I love new recipes that come to life using leftovers. Doesn’t it feel great to clean out the fridge (or pantry) AND enjoy something new? Today’s recipe came about just like that. I had some overripe bananas and some leftover pumpkin purée that absolutely needed to be finished, quickly! So, I mixed them up to…
Garlic Knots
It is time again for the “Secret recipe club” reveal! I am sure you all know what the club is about, but for the few of you who still don’t know about it, here goes a brief explanation. It is a great concept… each month you are assigned a participating food blogger to make a…
Za’atar Manouche
Manouche, also known as Manakish, is a popular Levantine bread topped with a thyme mixture (Za’atar), cheese, or ground meat. It is similar to a pizza and it can be sliced or folded. It is often served for breakfast, which makes this bread perfect for the Middle Eastern breakfast I had to prepare for this…
Angelica Cake with Nutella
Sara from Ms. Adventures in Italy and Michelle from Bleeding Espresso have declared February 5th “World Nutella Day 2015″ – “a day to celebrate, to get creative with, and most importantly, to EAT Nutella”. Raise your hand if you like Nutella!!! It’s got quite a few fans in my house! So, World Nutella Day is always awelcome around…
Quick No- Knead Ciabatta Bread
A couple of weeks ago, I shared a few photos of this bread on MsM’s facebook page and did get quite a few requests for the recipe, both online and via email. So, here you have it: quick no-knead Ciabatta bread! It is a really simple recipe and, unlike other no-knead bread recipes, it is also…
Kitty Cat Bread Buns
I made these savoury Kitty Cat Bread Buns for my daughter’s 5th birthday party and they were a hit. Not only did they taste yummy, they also looked quite cute, which is always an important factor, especially for a kid’s party. The brown dough is made with cocoa powder, but rest assured that the cocoa powder…
Georgia’s 5th Birthday
On the 1st my youngest daughter turned 5!! I cannot believe she is 5 already and that in January she will be going to “big school”. Georgia is definitely ready for it… mum, not so much. She’s the baby of the house and seeing her grow up so fast is both amazing and scary. She…
Piadina Romagnola with Mortadella and Stracchino and a Barilla Cooking Class
Over the weekend, I was invited by Barilla Australia to one of their Hands-on Cooking Classes at Casa Barilla, here in Sydney. The class was about food from Emilia Romagna, home of many iconic Italian products like Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, Balsamic Vinegar and Mortadella, to cite just a few. It is a true…
Smorrebrod
You may not know this, but I have always had a fascination for Scandinavia. I have visited Denmark a few times and I have been to Finland and Norway too. Growing up, I have had my share of Scandinavian food and I must say it is delicious. One of my favourite dishes is definitely Smørrebrød…
Elsa’s Plait
I love savoury dishes much more than sweets, so I always make sure to have a few savoury options at parties as I know kids will need something more than sugary treats. I made this bread plait for Victoria’s Frozen party, to simulate Elsa’s long plait. It’s a soft bread filled with ham and mozzarella. …
Cucumber Sandwiches
The first time I had Cucumber Sandwiches, they were served as part of a high tea I attended with friends. To me, the idea of having savoury treats along with tea sounded quite weird. You see, Italians only have sweets with tea (mainly cookies or pastries), so the thought of eating a cucumber sandwich (of…
Victoria’s 7th Birthday
On the 16th we celebrated my eldest daughter Victoria’s 7th birthday!!! I know I always say this, but I really cannot believe how fast time flies. Victoria is turning into a beautiful and thoughtful little girl and I am trying to enjoy these years as much as I can, as I know she will soon…
Panino con la Salamella #SundaySupper
Today the Sunday Supper group is inviting everyone to a big Virtual Picnic! It is summer in the Northern hemisphere and a picnic is in order. Even for us down here, stuck in the coldest months of the year, picnic food is fun and always great to pin and bookmark. I love “dreaming” of summer time and…
Salmon Sliders with Aioli
Who said burgers have to be made with meat?? I love a good veggie burger and I love a fish burger even more. These sliders are made with fresh salmon, home-made buns, vegetables and home-made aioli, so besides being utterly delicious they are also fully home-made and they are a healthier take on regular sliders. …
Hot Cross Buns with Honey Butter
Today’s recipe is not Italian. In fact, I had never eaten Hot Cross Buns before moving to Australia 8 years ago. Hot Cross Buns are traditionally eaten for breakfast on Good Friday and they are marked with a cross to represent the crucifixion of Jesus. Traditionally these buns are made with lots of spices (especially…
Sticky Ginger Marmalade Tea Loaf
It is time again for the “Secret recipe club” reveal! I am sure you all know what the club is about, but for the few of you who still don’t know about it, here goes a brief explanation. It is a great concept… each month you are assigned a participating food blogger to make a…
Fattoush with Sumac Dressing
For March’s Daring Cooks’ Challenge, Ruth, Shelley and Sawsan asked us to totally veg out! We made salads and dressings, letting the sky be the limit as we created new flavors and combinations that reflect our own unique tastes. Ohhhh yesss! That’s exactly what went through my mind when I read about the challenge! It…
Olive and Walnut Mini Madeleines
Today I want to share with you the recipe for a great appetiser: mini savoury madeleines made with walnuts and olives. I saw these in an Italian food magazine and I just HAD to make them. Actually, I made these for Christmas and served them as one of our appetisers, with blue cheese and honey. …
Durum Wheat Italian Bread Rolls
I have a confession to make. I don’t eat bread. Mmmm, well, that’s not really true. Let me start again. I don’t usually buy bread. The reason is simple… I like bread so much that if I have it in the house, I cannot leave it alone. And my little ones like it even more…
