Manu’s Menu

Authentic Italian Home Cooking & More

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Gluten Free Chocolate Lavender Shortbread

Gluten-Free Chocolate Lavender Shortbread

Even though it’s summer here in Australia, I still like to bake at Christmas time. I especially like to bake cookies, but being Low Fodmap and lactose intolerant has made things a bit harder for me, especially since I absolutely LOVE shortbread. ManuLove travelling as much as cooking? Many of the recipes I share are…

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December Menu Plan

Today I will share with you my December Menu Plan. In this post, I will share a month worth of mouth-watering recipes. ManuLove travelling as much as cooking? Many of the recipes I share are inspired by places I’ve visited around the world. On Travel with Manu you’ll find destination guides, itineraries and travel inspiration…

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November Menu Plan

Today I will share with you my November Menu Plan. In this post, I will not just share one recipe with all of you, but I will share a month worth of mouth-watering recipes. ManuLove travelling as much as cooking? Many of the recipes I share are inspired by places I’ve visited around the world….

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October Menu Plan

October Menu Plan

Today’s post is a special one. In fact, I will not just share ONE recipe with all of you, but I will share a month worth of delicious recipes in this October Menu Plan. ManuLove travelling as much as cooking? Many of the recipes I share are inspired by places I’ve visited around the world….

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Torta di Mele della Nonna, a classic Italian apple cake with visible apple pieces and a soft crumb.

Torta di Mele della Nonna (Italian Apple Cake)

Golden apple cake with a soft crumb, buttery taste, and baked fruit throughout makes Torta di Mele della Nonna a reliable bake any day.

Salted Caramel Gelato

Salted Caramel Gelato #SundaySupper

This week the Sunday Supper team is sharing recipes for food that is served cold… as the majority of the group is based in the Northern hemisphere and it is a hot summer up there at the moment.  It has actually been quite cold down here lately.  I do not mind it one bit though, as…

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Sticky Ginger Marmalade Tea Loaf

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…

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GEORGIA’S 4TH BIRTHDAY

On the 1st my youngest daughter turned 4!  If you read this blog regularly, you will know that my family has been hit by a bout of flu that put my husband and daughters in bed for a week.  We had planned Georgia’s birthday party for the 1st of December.  Her nonni were meant to…

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Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE BROWNIES

Chocolate. Cheesecake. Brownies.  Yes, you read that right.  They are 3 treats that I love on their own, so when I saw this recipe over at my friend Lizzy’s That Skinny Chick Can Bake! I knew these brownies would taste amazing.  How awesome is it to combine three scrumptious desserts into one??  What you get…

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Chocolate Acorns

CHOCOLATE ACORNS

I have seen these on Pinterest and I just could not get them out of my mind.  I think they look really cute and they fitted in perfectly with my fairy theme for Victoria’s birthday party.  I have seen many “recipes” online and they all pretty much use ready made components that get assembled into…

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CHOCOLATE AND ORANGE MINI CUPCAKES

If you follow this site more or less regularly, you already know that I love small desserts… I love the fact that they are (almost) guilt free and even more I love the fact that you can eat 2 or 3 different desserts for the calories of a single big one.  You see, I love…

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GEORGIA’S 3RD BIRTHDAY

On the 1st my youngest daughter turned 3 and I have been quite busy organising her birthday party.  This was also the first time that her nonni were physically present for her birthday, so it was even more exciting for everyone!  Yes!  My parents are visiting us from Italy and we are having a great…

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Chestnut Rum Mousse

CHESTNUT RUM MOUSSE

Yesterday I showed you how easy it is to make your own Chestnut and Vanilla Cream… now that you have such a yummy treat in your fridge, how about making something else with it, if you haven’t finished it off the spoon yet, that is! Desserts in a glass are my kind of treat and…

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Homemade Crème de Marrons Vanillée, a smooth chestnut and vanilla cream in a glass jar wrapped with a pink ribbon.

Creme de Marron (Chestnut and Vanilla Cream)

A jar of Creme de Marron makes winter mornings sweeter. Sweet chestnuts and vanilla create a simple cream that adds warmth to breakfast or dessert on cold days.

Blood Orange Sorbet

BLOOD ORANGE SORBET

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.  Each month you are assigned a participating food blogger to make a recipe from and in turn someone else…

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MINI CHEESECAKE CUPCAKES

I love cheesecake… who doesn’t?  I have made my share of no-bake cheesecakes, but to tell you the truth, I still have to make a baked cheesecake at home.  Don’t ask me why, but baking a cheesecake always intimidated me.  After making these little gems though, I think I am going to have to bake myself…

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Chocolate and Vanilla Shark Mini Cupcakes

CHOCOLATE AND VANILLA SHARK MINI CUPCAKES

I made these mini cupcakes for Victoria’s 5th birthday party.  The theme was The Little Mermaid and the sea, so I decided to make the icing blue, like the sea.  I decorated them with some shark fins made out of chocolate.  As I had already made many sweets for the party, I kept the flavours of…

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Mango and Passion fruit Macarons

MANGO AND PASSION FRUIT MACARONS

And here it goes… another way to use that delicious Passion fruit Curd you have in the fridge!  I have made my share of macarons in the last few months, but this was the first time I filled them with a fruit based curd.  I can tell you one thing: I loved them, and I…

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Baby Shower Shortbread Cookies decorated with pink onesies, yellow duck, and white baby bottle cookies.

Baby Shower Shortbread Cookies

Celebrate a sweet new beginning with my Baby Shower Shortbread Cookies decorated with soft colours, playful shapes, and homemade royal icing.

Shortbread and Chocolate Hearts

SHORTBREAD AND CHOCOLATE HEARTS

I made these heart shaped cookies, to take to a charity tea party that was organised in the neighbourhood.  The aim of the event was to raise money and awareness about cancer and it was also a beautiful way to socialise with our neighbours.  I had planned to dip the cookies in white chocolate mixed…

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Vanilla and Lemon Mini Cupcakes

VANILLA AND LEMON MINI CUPCAKES

I think mini cupcakes are among the prettiest sweets ever.  There is nothing more beautiful and elegant than small, bite sized spongy cakes covered in a coloured swirl of fluffy icing.  I only recently discovered these treats, but they quickly became a favourite of mine to bake and I often take them to parties and…

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WHITE CHOCOLATE & RASPBERRY VERRINES WITH MASCARPONE & YOGURT CREAM

I often find that great recipes are born by chance (or by necessity?).  Actually, some of the best recipes, like the one I am going to post about today, get to see the light of day because I have a few things in the fridge (or freezer) that have to be finished.  I then take…

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Gateau Breton

GÂTEAU BRETON

Bretagne is the area of France I love the most (together with Provence).  I went there only once, as a child, but it was so breathtakingly beautiful that I remember it clearly.  I have the memory of eating a fantastic fish soup in a restaurant in the walled city of Saint-Malo, while it was raining…

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Passionfruit and Coconut Creme Brulee

PASSION FRUIT & COCONUT CRÈME BRULÉE

Crème brulée is one my favourite desserts.  I love to break the thick and bittersweet caramel crust to find the silky sweet cream underneath.  I love contrasting flavours and textures in food as you find that they all melt together when you savour them giving you ONE distinctive taste.  It is a bit like all…

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Filled Raspberry White Chocolate Macarons showing raspberry macarons with creamy ganache.

Raspberry White Chocolate Macarons

Raspberry and white chocolate make one of the dreamiest macaron combinations. Crisp shells, chewy centres, and creamy ganache make homemade Raspberry and White Chocolate Macarons irresistible.

FOODBUZZ 24X24: COME HAVE SOME AUSSIE TUCKER, MATE!

Even though I am Italian, I have been living in Australia for the past 6 years.  I love this country so much that I have formally become Australian a couple of years ago and I consider myself Australian as much as Italian. Australia is a wonderful country where people from different cultural backgrounds live together. …

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Chocolate Panna Cotta

CHOCOLATE PANNA COTTA AND THE GIVEAWAY WINNERS

Does it ever happen to you to feel like having a little sweet treat but you don’t really want to go out to the stores to buy the ingredients??  To me, it happens oh so often.  So, what do you do when you have a sweet craving to quench?  ManuLove travelling as much as cooking?…

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Welcome to Manu’s Menu!

Hi! I am Manu, the author of Manu's Menu. I was born and brought up in Italy and my blog can show you how to create authentic Italian food in your own home! Read More…

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Video Recipe: Orecchiette with Crudaiola Sauce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqSyzFElbRY
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manusmenu

Food blogger, cookbook author, food photographer & stylist.

A batch of homemade flaxseed crackers is always ha A batch of homemade flaxseed crackers is always handy to have in the kitchen.

They're crisp, easy to store, and pair well with dips, soft cheeses, fresh vegetables, or your favourite toppings whenever you need a quick snack.

#flaxseedcrackers #mealprep #healthysnacks #homemade #manu #manusmenu
Creamy goat cheese, crunchy pistachios, and a driz Creamy goat cheese, crunchy pistachios, and a drizzle of honey 🍯

The combination of creamy, sweet, and crunchy textures makes this such an easy appetiser to put together when you want something simple but a little different.

Serve with crusty bread or your favourite crackers and enjoy. 

#pistachios #HoneyDrizzle #sharingplatter #manusmenu
After sharing the scrambled eggs and tomato toast After sharing the scrambled eggs and tomato toast recently, I thought it would be a good time to highlight one of my favourite herb blends 🌿

Herbes de Provence is a traditional French herb blend usually made with herbs such as thyme, rosemary, oregano, and savoury.

It's a simple way to add extra flavour to everyday ingredients and works especially well with eggs, tomatoes, roasted vegetables, potatoes, chicken, and soups.

Have you used Herbes de Provence before?

#herbesdeprovence #frenchcooking #mediterraneanfood #herbblends #manu #manusmenu
Scrambled eggs with tomato on toast is one of thos Scrambled eggs with tomato on toast is one of those simple meals that always works 🍅

Warm, savoury, filling, and made with ingredients most people already have at home.

#scrambledeggs #QuickMeals #breakfastideas #homemademeals #manu #manusmenu
This calamari risotto turned out creamy, rich, and This calamari risotto turned out creamy, rich, and so satisfying 🍚

Made as a low FODMAP recipe, it’s a homemade seafood dinner option that feels filling and easier to enjoy for those with sensitive stomachs or lower FODMAP dietary needs.

 #lowfodmap #calamaririsotto #seafoodrecipes #homemademeals #manu #manusmenu
Pumpkin has a naturally gentle sweetness, which is Pumpkin has a naturally gentle sweetness, which is why ingredients like ginger, coconut cream, herbs, curry paste, or lime work so well with it.

Those subtle layers of flavour help create soups that feel comforting, warming, and more rounded 💛

 #pumpkinsoup #thaifood #homemademeals #homemade #manusmenu
Smooth, creamy, and filled with delicious Thai-ins Smooth, creamy, and filled with delicious Thai-inspired flavours 🍲 This pumpkin soup makes such a lovely homemade dinner idea ✨

#PumpkinSoupRecipe #homemadefood #thaifood #manu #manusmenu
A sweet homemade treat for the person who made lif A sweet homemade treat for the person who made life sweeter first 💖
These chocolate date hearts are filled with soft dates, rich chocolate, and a little homemade love for Mother’s Day 🌷

 #mothersday #mothersdaygiftideas #datehearts #manusmenu
more stories beyond the menu ✈️ #MatchaMoments #t more stories beyond the menu ✈️

#MatchaMoments #travelreels #travelwithmanuela
A simple treat for Mother’s Day 🌸 These chocolate A simple treat for Mother’s Day 🌸

These chocolate covered dates pair perfectly with a warm cup of tea and make a lovely homemade gift or afternoon treat.

Simple, sweet, and easy to make at home.

#mothersday #chocolatecovereddates #HomemadeTreats #dessertideas #teatime #manusmenu
This iced chai is simple to make and perfect when This iced chai is simple to make and perfect when you want something calm and comforting.

Made with a few ingredients and warm spices, it’s a drink you can easily prepare at home without much effort.

Sometimes it’s the simple drinks that you keep coming back to. 💓

#icedchai #homedrinks #teatime #homemade #manu #manusmenu
Ever wondered why your iced matcha tastes differen Ever wondered why your iced matcha tastes different every time?

It’s not just about the ingredients. Small details like the quality of the matcha, how you sift it, and how you whisk it can completely change the result.

Even the texture and colour can tell you a lot before you even take a sip.

Once you start paying attention to these steps, it becomes much easier to get a smoother, more balanced matcha at home 🍵

 #matcha #icedmatcha #Matchalatte #JapaneseTea #manusmenu
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