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Chocolate cookies decorated with smooth royal icing shaped like Miffy faces.

Easy Royal Icing Recipe

Transform your cookies into eye-catching treats with this easy Royal Icing recipe. With three simple ingredients and a splash of colour, it’s ideal for outlining and flooding cookies for any occasion.

Christmas Tree Cupcakes

Christmas Tree Cupcakes

These Christmas Tree Cupcakes are so much fun to make! I baked chocolate cupcakes to use as the base of the tree and then topped them with green vanilla buttercream to make the tree. To decorate the “tree” you can use anything you like. I used mini chocolate chips of different colours, silver pearls and…

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Melting Moments with Passion fruit Buttercream

Melting Moments with Passion fruit Buttercream

After a very Italian recipe, today I am back with something from my new country.  I have discovered these amazing cookies only recently and I simply adore them.  Melting Moments do really melt in your mouth, the moment you take a bite!  They are similar to shortbread, but they are even more buttery and delicate. …

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Mini carrot cakes with cream cheese frosting and fondant carrots served on a plate.

Mini Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Perfect for small servings, Mini Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting stay soft and lightly spiced, finished with fondant carrots on top.

Miffy Chocolate Cookies

MIFFY CHOCOLATE COOKIES

I made these cookies for my daughter’s 4th birthday party.  If you follow this blog, you will already know that the theme was Miffy, the little bunny.  I made some Mini Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting, some Miffys/Bunny Marshmallow Pops, a Miffy Cake and these cookies.  They were quite successful and they were all gone…

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Whole Cassata Siciliana decorated with colorful candied fruits and white icing, placed on a lace tablecloth.

Cassata Siciliana

Layers of sponge filled with sweet ricotta and almond marzipan make Cassata Siciliana a true Sicilian classic known for its rich flavour, vibrant colour, and timeless craftsmanship.

A full tray of decorated Peppa Pig Chocolate Cookies displayed on a patterned tablecloth.

Peppa Pig Chocolate Cookies

Peppa Pig Chocolate Cookies are playful piggy delights. The chocolatey dough and cheerful icing always bring giggles to the kitchen and make baking feel like a muddy-puddle moment children love.

Chocolate Cookies with Orange and Mint Glazes

CHOCOLATE COOKIES WITH ORANGE AND MINT GLAZE

A little while ago, my friend Diane from Muppys asked me if I wanted to take part to this year’s Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap.  I checked it out and immediately said yes.  The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap brings together food bloggers from around the world in a big cookie swap: you sign up, receive…

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A tray of Peppa Pig cupcakes decorated with green and blue icing and fondant figures of Peppa, ducks, and clouds.

Peppa Pig Chocolate and Vanilla Cupcakes

Few things brighten a birthday like Peppa Pig Chocolate and Vanilla Cupcakes. The recipe is easy, the flavours are comforting, and the decorations always make little faces light up.

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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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.

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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Classic lamingtons coated in chocolate icing and rolled in desiccated coconut on a serving plate.

Lamingtons

Tender sponge squares dipped in chocolate icing and rolled in coconut, with a soft crumb and rich coating make Lamingtons a classic tea time favourite.

Carbone della Befana cut into pieces on a plate.

Carbone della Befana (Italian Sweet Coal)

Don’t be fooled by its eerie look. Carbone della Befana, the traditional Italian Sweet Coal, is a wickedly fun and delicious treat to share at Halloween.

GINGERBREAD MEN

These are definitely not Italian traditional cookies, but I have always loved them and I have made them every Christmas since moving to Australia (my girls leave some on a plate for Santa to eat on Christmas Eve along with a glass of milk…).  I guess you could say it’s an “acquired” tradition in our…

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THYME SCENTED LEMON COOKIES

The other day I had some fresh thyme left in my kitchen and I was trying to figure out how to use it… the only thing I knew was that I wanted to make something sweet with it as I am always intrigued by the use of herbs in sweets.  I surfed the web for…

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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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