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Rava Ladoo

Rava Ladoo

Happy Diwali! Sunday will mark the beginning of Diwali (दिवाली), the “festival of lights”, a 5-day Indian festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. Light is the symbol of the celebrations and many clay lamps filled with oil are lit during the 5 days of the festival. As part…

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Close-up of baked coca topped with spinach, raisins, and pine nuts.

Coca de Espinacas a la Catalana

Thin, crisp Coca de Espinacas a la Catalana with spinach and raisins, savoury and golden, perfect for brunch, slicing and sharing.

Espinacas a la Catalana

Espinacas a la Catalana

Today I am taking you back to Spain, to Catalonia to be precise. I have realised I don’t have many side dishes on the blog, so this recipe for Espinacas a la Catalana is an attempt to fix the problem. When I was a child I used to dislike spinach. They tasted bitter and just…

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Hot Cross Buns with Honey Butter

Hot Cross Buns with Honey Butter

Today’s recipe is not Italian.  In fact, I had never eaten Hot Cross Buns before moving to Australia 8 years ago.  Hot Cross Buns are traditionally eaten for breakfast on Good Friday and they are marked with a cross to represent the crucifixion of Jesus.  Traditionally these buns are made with lots of spices (especially…

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HOT CROSS BUN CUPCAKES

How cute are these??  That was my reaction when I first saw these beauties over at Not Quite Nigella’s site!  Lorraine always has amazing ideas and this was one that stuck to my mind.  I saw them last Easter and knew then that I HAD to make them.  You see, I discovered hot cross buns…

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Panettone

PANETTONE

Merry Christmas everybody!  I know you will be very busy in your kitchens today (or at the malls, getting your last minute Christmas shopping done!), but I just could not stop myself from sharing this special recipe with all of you today: Panettone!

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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PASTA WITH SICILIAN STUFFED ARTICHOKES

Today I am sharing a pasta recipe – Pasta with Sicilian Stuffed Artichokes – in a guest post at Chef Dennis’ blog, A Culinary Journey.  I think pretty much all food bloggers know Chef Dennis.  He is a very talented chef, but above all he is a very kind person and someone who is always ready…

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Beef Meatballs Agrodolce

BEEF MEATBALLS AGRODOLCE

Today’s recipe is a great addition to any potluck or buffet meals.  I love it also for picnics and barbecues and it works perfectly fine both in winter and summer… it is one of those versatile recipes that is good to have handy any time of the year.  Agrodolce means “sour and sweet” in Italian…

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Baked Empanadas

BAKED EMPANADAS

Today’s recipe is not Italian as you may have guessed.  Empanadas are a South American delicacy and are very popular in many countries.  I have actually learnt that there are many different kinds of empanadas, many different fillings and doughs and different ways of cooking them too!  I guess it is one of those dishes…

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Baked Apple Strudel covered with powdered sugar on a white serving plate.

Apple Strudel (Apfelstrudel / Strudel di Mele)

Fill your home with the scent of Christmas by baking Apple Strudel (Strudel di Mele), with golden pastry, warm apples, and raisins that make every slice taste like the holidays.

Buccellato

BUCCELLATO – CUCCIDDATU

Buccellato is a Sicilian cake traditionally eaten during the holiday season, especially on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve… so it had to be featured on the  Sicilian Street Food New Year’s Eve Party I organised for this month’s Foodbuzz 24×24 event!  It is a ring shaped shortbread cake filled with dried figs, raisins, candied fruits,…

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PASTA CON I BROCCOLI ARRIMINATI – PASTA CHI VRUOCCULI ARRIMINATI

As I have announced in my Vitello Tonnato post, I have decided to dedicate one post a week to Italian cooking, focussing each time on a different region.  There are so many fantastic traditional recipes in Italy that it can be a daunting job to choose from them, but I am having lots of fun…

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CHOCOLATE COVERED MARZIPAN RUM BALLS – MY GUEST POST OVER AT SANDRA’S EASY COOKING

A few days ago I got an email from Sandra of Sandra’s Easy Cooking asking me if I would write a guest post for her fantastic blog.  Would I??  Of course I would!  I felt so flattered and honored to be asked by one of my favorite foodies to be a guest over at her…

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Kashmiri Pulao

KASHMIRI PULAO

When we first moved to Sydney we did not know any good places to dine out in the city, so we asked around and received a few great suggestions.  One of these quickly became one of our favourite restaurants: Abhi’s Indian Restaurant.  The food is fantastic and some of their dishes are just plain delicious. …

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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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The Cool Side of Summer e-Book – Click to buy it now! On SALE for only $9.99!

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MsM’S EBOOK – CLICK TO BUY IT NOW!

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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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