easy - 3/6 - Manu’s Menu

Pasta with Fried Zucchini

I know I don’t even enough pasta recipes on the blog… and that’s such a pity! So, I decided to fix it and I am planning a little series about quick, simple and affordable pasta recipes. Who says that you need to go out of budget to have “real, healthy food”? Pasta usually makes everyone…

Snapper all’Acqua Pazza

I must admit, we don’t eat a lot of fish. I think it’s because my kids are not crazy about it, so I just find it easier to cook something that pleases everyone. On the other hand, I grew up in a family that LOVES fish and we would eat it at least 3 times…

Nonna’s Poached Pears

Today’s recipe brings back very fond memories of my grandmother Bice. She was a fantastic cook and she could whip up amazing dishes. These easy pears though were like a trademark. Only she could turn something so simple into a fingerlicking dessert. To make this recipe, you need small cooking pears that are still hard…

Passion fruit Possets

I discovered possets only recently, when I made a Lemon and Lavender version for my daughter’s 8th birthday party. I had never even heard of possets before, but when I read the recipe, I knew I would love them. It’s an English dessert that is perfect for tea time. Possets are quite similar to panna…

Spiced Potato Wedges with Easy Sweet Chilli Sauce

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…

Rose Panna Cotta

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you are having a fantastic holiday season! And yes, another panna cotta recipe to start off this 2016 on a sweet note. I know, I know… I already have quite a few on the blog, but it is a dessert that I really love, so I often make it. I…

Spritz

For my last post of 2015 and to welcome the new year, I am sharing the recipe for one of the most classic Italian drinks: the Spritz. It is a wine-based cocktail commonly served as an aperitif. It is prepared with prosecco wine, a dash of some bitter liqueur such as Aperol, Campari or Cynar…

Bell Pepper Involtini

Today’s recipe is a very simple appetiser idea: Bell Pepper Involtini. I like to serve these involtini as part of a buffet or a barbecue and they are always a hit. They are very easy to make and I love how colourful they look. Besides, they should be served at room temperature, so you don’t…

Three-Ingredient Nutella Doughnuts

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…

Polipo Accupatello

Today I am sharing with you a special recipe. It is a Sicilian octopus stew with potatoes that my parents learnt from an old lady in the little village of San Vito Lo Capo. My dad started his teaching career at the local school when he was very young and he used to rent a…

Olive Bread

Since moving to Australia I have become more and more interested in baking my own bread. When I was living in Italy, buying artisanal bread was easy and convenient. I never lived too far from a bakery. In fact, come to think of it, nobody lives more than a 5 minute walk from one, at…

Skillet Pizza Chicken

My kids love pizza… I know, I know… who doesn’t? The thing is, when it comes to pizza, they are very picky. It must be their Italian genes… They also love chicken (it is their favourite source of protein), so I thought it would be a great idea to combine these 2 likes into a…

Tonkatsu

Today’s recipe is one of my favourite Japanese dishes: Tonkatsu. It is a deep fried panko coated pork cutlet. Nothing fancy, really. To tell you the truth, I did not know what all the fuss about it was before going to Japan and tasting it myself. In the end, I thought, it is a fried…

Home-made Ketchup

And here I am with another one of my DIY projects. Only, this one is really easy. Did you know that making ketchup at home only took 20 minutes? And it is as easy as stirring all the ingredients together and put the pot on the stove. That’s it. It probably takes longer for it…

Tuna, Olive and Caper Pasta with Garlic Breadcrumbs

Today’s recipe is a classic in my kitchen. I make it often and it is one of my husband’s favourite pasta dishes. I cannot believe that I have been blogging for over 4 years and I haven’t shared this recipe yet! But I guess it’s like all the things that you are very familiar with:…

Pasta with Bell Pepper and Gorgonzola Cream

I first had something similar to this Pasta with bell pepper and Gorgonzola cream years ago in Milano. My husband and I would go and eat at our favourite restaurant for every special occasion and this pasta was often on the menu. Bell peppers/capsicums and Gorgonzola make for a fantastic combination: the first are sweet,…

Beer Braised Chicken Tenders

I always have chicken tenders in the freezer. Chicken is what my kids like to eat the most and tenders are very handy as they are very versatile and cook quite fast. The other day I had some beer in the fridge that begged to be used, so I whipped up a quick and delicious…

Pomegranate Panna Cotta

Oh yes, another panna cotta recipe. I know, I know… I already have quite a few on the blog, but it is a dessert that I really love and I often make it. Besides, it is so easy and quick to put together that it often comes in handy. Panna cotta is a little like…

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…

Pappardelle alla Contadina

A few weeks ago, I reviewed the Toollio, an amazing multi-function food processor that really makes your life easier in the kitchen. I am very happy with it and, as promised, I am doing a little series on recipes developed using the Toollio to showcase its versatility. After making some hearty meatballs and a luscious cheesecake, today…

Brutti ma Buoni

It’s been a while since I have posted one of my Regional Italian recipes, so I think it’s time to publish one. This is a recipe that is very dear to me, as it is one that we would often make at home when we had some egg whites left over from other recipes. It…

Pan fried Pork Loin Cutlets

Today’s recipe is one of my favourite mid week dinner ideas. My mum would often make pan fried pork cutlets and she would always serve them with hot fries. It is a hearty dish that I have always enjoyed. It’s easy and quick to make and it tastes delicious thanks to the abundance of herbs…