Manu’s Menu

Authentic Italian Home Cooking & More

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Georgia's 5th Birthday

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…

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Mushroom Vol au Vents served on a white plate with parsley garnish.

Mushroom Vol au Vents

Bake Mushroom Vol au Vents for a classic party appetiser with creamy porcini filling inside buttery puff pastry shells, perfect for buffets or elegant dinners.

Close-up of fried cheese bitterballen with crisp coating.

Cheese Bitterballen

Crunchy on the outside and creamy in the middle, Cheese Bitterballen deliver crisp crumbs and hot, melted cheese in one rich, savoury mouthful.

Fried Manchego with Tomato and Orange Blossom Jam

Fried Manchego with Tomato and Orange Blossom Jam

In my early 20’s I visited Spain a few times. Oh Spain, an amazing country, one of my favourite places in the world.  I have been to the North (in the Basque country), the center (Madrid is such a beautiful city), the east (I left a piece of my heart in Barcelona and Catalunya) and…

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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…

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Baked Margarita chicken wings with glaze served with lime and salt.

Margarita Chicken Wings

Crispy Margarita Chicken Wings coated in a citrusy lime glaze with a light sweetness and caramelised edges. Juicy inside with a slightly sticky coating, great for sharing.

Buffalo style Wings

BUFFALO STYLE WINGS

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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Albondigas en Salsa de Almendras

ALBÓNDIGAS EN SALSA DE ALMENDRAS

The June Daring Cooks’ challenge sure kept us rolling – meatballs, that is! Shelley from C Mom Cook and Ruth from The Crafts of Mommyhood challenged us to try meatballs from around the world and to create our own meatball meal celebrating a culture or cuisine of our own choice. Wow! What a great theme!…

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Parmigiano Reggiano Panna Cotta served in small cups with balsamic glaze and crisp cheese hearts.

Savoury Parmigiano Reggiano Panna Cotta

A spoonful of Parmigiano Reggiano Panna Cotta is silky and rich. Finished with balsamic glaze and crisp cheese hearts, it’s smooth, savoury, and completely spoonable.

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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COCA COLA CHICKEN WINGS

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…

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Strawberry and Lemon Cheesecake in a glass

STRAWBERRY AND LEMON CHEESECAKE IN A GLASS

Who doesn’t love cheesecakes??  I do!  I must say that I discovered them quite late in my teenage years as they are not an Italian “thing” (though now they are quite popular in Italy too).  I was in New York for 3 weeks as an exchange student when I was 17 and one of the (many) things…

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Sweet Chilli and Orange Chicken Wings

SWEET CHILLI AND ORANGE CHICKEN WINGS

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…

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Golden Pasteis de Bacalhau stacked on a plate with lemon wedges and tomato in the background.

Pasteis de Bacalhau

Warm, crisp, and savoury, Pasteis de Bacalhau make an easy addition to any meal. Serve them with lemon wedges or a green salad for a light, balanced plate that always feels satisfying.

Pork Meatballs with Peanut Sauce

PORK MEATBALLS WITH PEANUT SAUCE

Thai is one of my favourite Asian cuisines.  Believe it or not, there were no Thai restaurants in Milan, at least up until 6 years ago!  Some Chinese restaurants would serve some Thai dishes, but they obviously did not have a lot of variety.  That’s why, the moment I saw it, I bought this little…

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Pizza Flavoured Piggy Buns

PIZZA FLAVOURED PIGGY BUNS

I saw these piggy shaped buns on Pinterest and I could not get them out of my mind!  They look too cute!  As the theme of my youngest daughter’s birthday party was Peppa Pig, I thought it would be a good time for me to try and make them!  I had so much fun and…

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Salami and Smoked Scamorza Bundt Cake

CIAMBELLA RUSTICA – SALAMI AND SMOKED SCAMORZA BUNDT CAKE

The weather is getting warmer around here… this is the time of the year when I prefer to eat out.  In a few weeks it will be too hot for my liking.  So I try to enjoy this weather as much as I can!  Today I am going to share with you the recipe for…

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Assembled sweet sushi pieces arranged on a serving plate.

Sweet Sushi

Cake shaped into sushi-style bites creates a fun dessert option, with Sweet Sushi fitting easily into birthday parties and buffet-style celebrations.

Sea Marshmallow Pops

SEA MARSHMALLOW POPS

Organising a little girl’s birthday party can be lots of fun… but it also requires a bit of research.  Especially when the little one has a clear idea of what she wants (and she’s only 5!).  The theme HAD to be The Little Mermaid.  So I started looking around the web for ideas (thank you…

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Mini meat pies served warm with ketchup on the side.

Mini Meat Pies (Aussie Mini Beef Pies)

Crisp pastry on the outside and a rich, savoury minced beef filling inside make these Mini Meat Pies a must-try. Great for snacks, lunchboxes, or relaxed weekend baking.

Whole Wheat Cheese Crackers

WHOLE WHEAT CHEESE CRACKERS

The other day, I was drooling over checking out Foodgawker and when I saw these, I just could not get over them.  I don’t know if it ever happens to you… you know, when you see something that you “just have to make”, right then and there!  Well, I was lucky enough to have all…

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SUPER BOWL OR FOOTY NIGHT SUGGESTIONS

I must admit I am no football lover.  In fact, the only football I like is soccer… I am Italian after all.  After reading quite a bit about the upcoming Super Bowl though, I started thinking that the most fun part about the event would be watching it with friends and family while sharing some…

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Sausage Rolls

SAUSAGE ROLLS

Today we celebrate Australia Day!  You all know I was born and brought up in Italy… but I also became an Australian citizen 2 years ago.  I love this country and I am very happy to be part of such a wonderful and diverse community.  People often ask me how I cope so far from…

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Crispy fried Italian rice balls filled with melted mozzarella.

Suppli al Telefono

Loaded with stretchy mozzarella and rich tomato sauce, Suppli al Telefono are dangerously good and guaranteed to upgrade your weekend plans.

Gorgonzola and Mascarpone filled Dates

GORGONZOLA AND MASCARPONE FILLED DATES

I love cheese… I am almost as addicted to cheese as I am to chocolate and coffee!!!  And gorgonzola is my all time favourite cheese.  This is a very easy “recipe” for an elegant appetiser that is perfect for Christmas or New Year’s Eve or any other special occasion.  The contrast between gorgonzola and the…

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OLIVE ALL’ASCOLANA

This has always been one of my favourite antipasti, perfect along a good glass of chilled white wine while waiting to serve dinner.  I have never seen it here in Sydney and I was looking for the perfect occasion to try and make it at home.  And what better occasion than my series on Regional…

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Crisp flaky pastry with visible layers on freshly fried curry puffs.

Curry Puffs

Crispy golden Curry Puffs with flaky pastry and warmly spiced potato filling make such a satisfying homemade snack, especially served warm with sweet chilli sauce.

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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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