Sicily - Manu’s Menu

Meatball Marsala

A few weeks ago, I shared with you the recipe for Veal Marsala. Today instead I am back with a modern twist to the classic recipe. In fact, I will show you how to make Meatball Marsala. The sauce is not exactly the same as the one used for Veal Marsala, so make sure you…

Pasta with Baby Eggplants

Finally I am back with another pasta recipe! This Pasta with Baby Eggplants is a dish my grandmother used to make in Sicily. I have always loved it… it’s very easy to make and whenever I find baby eggplants at the grocer, I always buy them to make this pasta. What sets this sauce aside…

Pignoccata

Tomorrow is Mardi Gras or, as we Italians call it, Carnevale! Carnevale is a big thing in Italy and all kids dress up for almost a week and go on parades with all kinds of floats. It’s a little bit like “our Halloween”, when kids tell jokes, make pranks and throw coriandoli (coloured paper confetti)…

Sicilian Sweet and Sour Mackerel

My parents are here for the holidays and, like every year, I get to eat food from my childhood cooked by my mother. We used to eat a lot of fish when living in Italy and today I will share my mother’s recipe for one of my favourite dishes: Sicilian Sweet and Sour Mackerel –…

Swordfish Caponata

Today’s recipe is a variation of one of the most popular Sicilian dishes: Caponata (click here for the recipe I shared a while ago). This Swordfish Caponata has all the ingredients of the original dish – including eggplant, olives and capers, plus swordfish. Caponata could be described as a cooked salad made up of fried…

Baked Nutella Iris

Today I will take you all to Sicily, once again! Sicilian street food is among the best food in the whole world. Besides, you can find everything: desserts, snacks, savoury treats and even pasta in street food form! I am not joking, it is that awesome. I would actually go as far as to say…

Marzipan Lambs

Today’s recipe is a classic Sicilian sweet that is made and eaten to celebrate Easter. In Italian these delicious treats are called Pecorelle di Pasqua or Agnelli Pasquali which literally mean Easter Lambs. As they are made out of marzipan, I thought that Marzipan Lambs would be a better translation… at the end of the…

Pasticceria Peralta – San Vito Lo Capo

I am very excited about today’s post as I will be taking you all back to the beautiful little town of San Vito Lo Capo, in Sicily. Today I will be reviewing one of my all-time favourite pastry shops: Pasticceria Peralta. Their sweets, pastries and cakes are the best in town! Pin It

Panificio La Sala – San Vito Lo Capo

I am very happy about today’s post as I will be taking you all back to the beautiful seaside town of San Vito Lo Capo, in Sicily. Today I will be reviewing one of my all-time favourite bakeries: Panificio La Sala. Everyone knows it in town… their bread, cookies and other yummy treats are THAT…

Azzurra – Macari

I am very happy about today’s post as I will be reviewing one of my all-time favourite restaurants: Azzurra. It’s not a famous or hatted restaurant, but it serves delicious and hearty food. Besides, it has an added bonus… you can eat on their terrace while enjoying a spectacular view. Pin It

San Vito Lo Capo Guide – Italy

After a few weeks’ break, I am back with my guides about Italy. Today I will take you all back to Sicily, to explore another area with my San Vito Lo Capo Guide. San Vito Lo Capo – San Vito for short – is a beautiful little seaside village near Trapani. It is a place…

Trapani, Erice and Segesta Guide – Italy

After last week’s break, I am back with my guides about Italy. Today I will take you all back to Sicily, to explore another area with my Trapani, Erice and Segesta Guide. Trapani is my mother’s home town and it is a place I know very well, as I used to spend about 2 months…

Palermo Guide – Italy

I am very excited about the next few posts on Italy, as I will be taking you with me to Sicily. You see, I was born in Milan (in the north of Italy), but my family comes from the beautiful island of Sicily and being away from Italy made me realise how much I owe…

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:…

Swordfish and Pistachio Pasta

Pasta, finally. You know that, even though I am Italian, I don’t share pasta recipes as much as I’d like. The main reason is that I don’t like to take pictures of pasta. There, I said it. When I take the shots for my blog, I don’t like to be rushed and I prefer to…

Cubbaita

Tomorrow is a very special day for all Italian children, as we celebrate the day of the Epiphany and the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the baby Jesus. The night between January 5th and 6th is the night of Befana, who, in Italian folklore, is “an old woman who fills children’s stockings with candy…

Sarde Allinguate

I know I have said this before, but sardines are my favourite fish ever. They are cheap and so good for you and I highly recommend you try them. I just wish I could find them more often here in Sydney! Today I will share with you a traditonal Sicilian recipe, very common in the…

ARANCINE WITH SPINACH

If you have read my latest post, you will know that I am hosting this month’s challenge at the Daring Cooks! I chose to challenge my fellow daring cooks to make Arancine from scratch, including risotto! I also shared 3 different recipes with them: Arancine al Ragu’, Arancine al Burro and Arancine agli Spinaci. The…

THE DARING COOKS’ JANUARY 2014 CHALLENGE: ARANCINE

This month’s challenge is very special for a few reasons. For starters, our hostess, Manu, graciously stepped in with very little notice and created an entire amazing challenge in pretty much no time at all. Secondly, Manu managed to do all of this while publishing her very first e-cookbook. Seriously, you simply must check it…

POLPETTE DI SARDE ALLA SICILIANA – SICILIAN SARDINE PATTIES

I know I have said this already, but sardines are my favourite fish. Unfortunately it is not easy to come across fresh sardines in Sydney. I find it weird as they are so common in Italy, but that’s just the way it is. So whenever I see some, I buy them! Today I will share…

GELATINA DI CAFFÈ – COFFEE JELLO

I have been blogging for almost 3 years now and when I look back at all the the things I learnt, I almost can’t believe it. I am talking about cooking techniques and also about computer skills and photography! But what I am the most grateful for are the friendships I made along the way. …

PESCHE DOLCI ALLA SICILIANA

I am very excited about today’s recipe. I am taking you all back to Sicily for this Regional Italian dish… a very special one. These are among my favourite Sicilian pastries. They are not as famous as cannoli, but they are just as delicious. The filling is in fact the same sweet ricotta filling of…