Manu’s Menu

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Chicken and Sun-dried Tomato Rolls

Chicken and Sun dried Tomato Rolls #FridgeShelfies

Last week I blogged about PHILADELPHIA #FridgeShelfies, a campaign that wants to inspire Aussies to get more creative in the kitchen, with new and exciting recipes developed using the ingredients already in their fridges.  I immediately loved the concept because, let’s face it, that’s what we have to do everyday.  We open the fridge and…

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Close-up of golden, chewy coconut cookies in a bowl.

Chewy Coconut Cookies

Chewy, buttery, and irresistibly coconutty, these Chewy Coconut Cookies are everything you need for a quick homemade snack. Perfect for cosy afternoons or when the kids crave something sweet.

Colomba Muffins

Colomba Muffins #SundaySupper

This week we will be sharing Easter and Passover recipes for #SundaySupper!  I cannot wait to see what my fellow Sunday Supper bloggers have made, so make sure to check out all the yummy links at the end of this post! After making Hot Cross Buns, today I am contributing some special muffins.  I have…

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Creamy Apple Cake

Creamy Apple Tart

It is autumn down here… and it’s also been quite rainy in the last few weeks.  So, what better way to cheer the family up than baking a cake?  And being autumn, it had to be an apple cake!  I make all sorts of apple cakes and tarts, like my Apple Tart (one of the very…

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Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Who doesn’t love Chocolate Chip Cookies??  I fell in love with them at 17, when I visited the States for the first time… I had never eaten them before.  Cookies in Italy were different: crunchy and delicious, but different.  The Chocolate Chip Cookies I had in the US were chewy and sugary and oh so…

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Sugar-dusted bombolone topped with crema pasticcera on parchment paper.

Bomboloni alla Crema

Soft dough, creamy filling, and a light sugar coat make Bomboloni alla Crema such a satisfying treat. Whip up a batch and taste how good homemade can be. Happy Mardi Gras, everyone! As promised in my last post about Ravioli di Carnevale, I am back with another delicious treat that suits this time of the…

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Ravioli dolci di Carnevale

Ravioli dolci di Carnevale #SundaySupper

This week we are going to have a Fat Sunday celebration for Sunday Supper!  YAY!  As you all know, Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras is on the 4th of March, so we are all sharing decadent or Mardi Gras inspired recipes. This is an absolute treat for me.  If you follow Manu’s Menu, you will know that…

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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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Miffy Marshmallow Pops

MIFFY MARSHMALLOW POPS

I love making marshmallow pops for my girls’ birthday parties.  They are very fast to make, fun and versatile: you can make almost anything out of marshmallows (check out my Sea Marshmallow Pops and my Pixie Dust Marshmallow Pops).  What I like the most though, is the fact that they are easy and quick to make…

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Finished Miffy Cake decorated with green fondant, flat Miffy design, balloon detail, and small fondant flowers.

Miffy Cake

Miffy Cake cuteness is hard to resist and easier to make than it looks. Bake it for your next party and enjoy the smiles it brings to everyone around.

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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SALTED NUTELLA CHOCOLATE FUDGE

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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Chocolate Chocolate Chunk Muffins

CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATE CHUNKS MUFFINS

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…

Read More »

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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Smoked Salmon and Prosciutto Crespelle Snails

SMOKED SALMON AND PROSCIUTTO CRESPELLE SNAILS

For my daughter’s 6th birthday party, I wanted to make a few savoury items as well.  As the theme was fairies and nature, I thought of playing around with shapes.  My first thought was to make sandwiches and cut them into cute shapes, but then I changed my mind as I wanted something a bit…

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Pixie Dust Marshmallow Pops

PIXIE DUST MARSHMALLOW POPS

Pops are always a great idea for kids parties.  I love cake pops, but they can be quite time consuming to make and as I was already making quite a bit of time consuming food for Victoria’s 6th birthday party, I decided to go for marshmallow pops instead.  They were a great hit at her…

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Full view of the Tinkerbell fondant cake with green base and character decorations.

Tinkerbell Cake

Sprinkle some fairy magic on your next party table. This Tinkerbell Cake has soft layers, cute details, and all the charm kids love.

VICTORIA’S 6TH BIRTHDAY

On the 16th my eldest daughter turned 6!!!  I cannot believe how fast time flies.  Before I had kids, a year seemed to last forever… now it’s finished before I even get used to saying “Victoria is 5”!!!   She is turning into a precious little girl and she can look so “grown up” at times……

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Close-up of a blended fruit smoothie with apple and strawberries in the background.

Strawberry, Banana and Apple Smoothie

Juicy strawberries and soft banana blend with crisp apple in this Strawberry Banana and Apple Smoothie for a cool, creamy drink that feels refreshing.

Honey and Ginger Pork Stir Fry served over steamed rice with broccolini and capsicum.

Honey and Ginger Pork Stir Fry

Sweet honey, fresh ginger, and tender pork come together in this Honey and Ginger Pork Stir Fry with a glossy, flavour-packed sauce.

Smooth banana and coconut smoothie in glass jars with paper straws.

Banana Passion Fruit Smoothie

Creamy, tropical, and easy to sip, this Banana Passion Fruit Smoothie brings banana, coconut, and passion fruit together for a refreshing drink that feels light and sunny.

Top-down view of pizza with prosciutto, fresh rocket, and Grana slivers.

Rocket Pizza with Prosciutto and Grana Cheese

Freshly baked Rocket Pizza with Prosciutto and Grana Cheese makes a light and savoury dinner, with salty prosciutto, peppery rocket, and nutty cheese in every slice.

Crispy Nutella dessert cut open with a warm chocolate-hazelnut centre.

Fried Nutella

With frozen Nutella, crushed cornflakes, and coconut, Fried Nutella fries up crisp and golden, with a warm chocolate-hazelnut centre inside.

Biscotti di fichi - Fig Cookies

BISCOTTI DI FICHI – FIG COOKIES

Today, as part of my series on Regional Italian Cuisines, I want to share with you the recipe for a very traditional Christmas Sicilian sweet: biscotti di fichi.  They are made with the same dough and filling of Buccellato (the traditional Sicilian cake I have shared with you last year), but they are a bit…

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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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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

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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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