Food

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A Mini Kitchen, a place where the simple, slow and joyful memories that surround food are shared together with recipes to bake, cook and create for the ones you love.

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Recipe archive

The Sound of Summer and an Economical Cinnamon Tea Cake

Amy Minichiello

2 days ago
3 min

The Sound of Summer and an Economical Cinnamon Tea Cake

Bridge ruffies, Bumble bees, Devilled kidneys and mutton broth. Pint, pound and ounces, and an introduction that reads - "Dear Homemaker,...

51 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Jan 13
3 min

Gutter apricots & a mid-summer Jam

There is a little red raspberry patch on the upper left side cheek of the apricot I hold in my hand. A few freckle-like blemishes here...

39 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Dec 9, 2021
3 min

Rhubarb, Orange, and Almond Tea Cake

I find it difficult to call rhubarb a vegetable, just as I find it difficult to call tomatoes a fruit. The perfectly slender pink...

161 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Nov 19, 2021
8 min

A Weekend away & Anniversary Chicken

“It is a wet and miserable morning in this little part of the world, so I’ve left you both a stash of firewood and some simple slippers...

122 views0 comments

One-pan Roast Chicken Drumsticks with Parmesan, Cream & White Wine

Amy Minichiello

Oct 7, 2021
3 min

One-pan Roast Chicken Drumsticks with Parmesan, Cream & White Wine

We have two very cheeky Common Mynas that stealthily squeeze themselves through the wire of our "Girls'" (aka Chooks) yard. I watch them...

314 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Sep 3, 2021
3 min

A Comforting Pear & Chocolate Cake

On the far left corner of the stovetop sits one of my silver saucepans. It is a spot I find myself coming back to time and time again - a...

167 views0 comments

One-pan roast chicken, chickpea and eggplant kasundi

Amy Minichiello

Aug 6, 2021
3 min

One-pan roast chicken, chickpea and eggplant kasundi

There is always at least half a dozen or so tinned varieties of pulses sitting on the shelf of our pantry. They are my go-to for adding...

155 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Jul 15, 2021
3 min

Dark chocolate brownie with red wine

A package arrived the other day, the accompanying note read - Dear Amy, with the colder weather settling, we are now firmly in Gluhwein...

112 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Jun 26, 2021
4 min

Quince crumble tart

Lately, my mind has been abuzz with all things encased in that flaky, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth combination that makes up one of the...

89 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

May 10, 2021
3 min

Lamb Shank Curry

As soon as there is the slightest hint of a chill in the air I instantly crave meals that require long, slow cooking. It is comforting...

461 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Apr 17, 2021
3 min

Spring onion cheese Tart

Beau and I had to grit our teeth as we pulled the rather robust spring onions from the earth in which they were grasped tightly into. So...

106 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Jan 7, 2021
4 min

Two Summer Jam's - Apricot & Plum

It has been a relatively cool start to the summer season down here in this part of the world. The earth has been soaking up the heavy...

137 views0 comments

Pork Chops with Crispy Crackling, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Crispy potatoes. Apple & Rhubarb Pie.

Amy Minichiello

Jan 2, 2021
7 min

Pork Chops with Crispy Crackling, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Crispy potatoes. Apple & Rhubarb Pie.

It was a little after 11 am, I had just set the table. I took a step back as I counted the chairs - 6 in total. A smile spread across my...

91 views0 comments

A Rather Good Lasagne, Crisp Green Salad & Tingly Lemon Gelato.

Amy Minichiello

Nov 28, 2020
7 min

A Rather Good Lasagne, Crisp Green Salad & Tingly Lemon Gelato.

The latch of our front gate can quite often be heard from inside our little weatherboard home heralding the arrival of guests. Beau more...

221 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Nov 21, 2020
5 min

Spiced Fig & Walnut Bread

Every Sunday night once the house has been blanketed in silence and both Beau and Viviana have drifted off to the land of dreams I slice...

252 views0 comments

Curried Lamb Forequarter Chops, Potatoes, Rice Pilaf with Silverbeet. And Apple & Banana Shortcake.

Amy Minichiello

Oct 24, 2020
6 min

Curried Lamb Forequarter Chops, Potatoes, Rice Pilaf with Silverbeet. And Apple & Banana Shortcake.

The opening sentence in the hefty cookbook that is "The Australian cookbook" reads...The revolution in Australian cooking over the last...

174 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Sep 29, 2020
2 min

Rhubarb & Rose Jam

"Pop." That satisfying sound as the tight seal is broken, inside in all of its sweetened glory is the most wonderfully irrediscent jammy...

198 views0 comments

Pumpkin & Hazelnut Cake with Ricotta Cream

Amy Minichiello

Sep 21, 2020
4 min

Pumpkin & Hazelnut Cake with Ricotta Cream

"It reminds me of something similar mum used to make..." If there is a sentence to conjure up feelings of joy, then this is it. As a...

212 views0 comments

Rhubarb & Lemon Scones with a Jasmine Scented Drizzle

Amy Minichiello

Sep 8, 2020
4 min

Rhubarb & Lemon Scones with a Jasmine Scented Drizzle

A tussie mussie of foraged spring beauties sits on the windowsill above our kitchen sink - the light mauve, deep burnt orange and faded...

314 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Sep 1, 2020
3 min

Spiced Pumpkin Sourdough Pancakes

It was close to midday by the time I had wiped down the kitchen sink. Two loaves of freshly baked sourdough sat proudly on the bench as...

53 views0 comments

Sticky Date Cake with Poached Pears & A Sourdough Crumb

Amy Minichiello

Aug 20, 2020
5 min

Sticky Date Cake with Poached Pears & A Sourdough Crumb

I am finding the scribbled notes on the lined piece of paper in my notebook hard for me to even decipher...Arrows pointing here another...

186 views0 comments

A Warming Winter Soup of Pumpkin, Ginger & Lemongrass

Amy Minichiello

Aug 11, 2020
2 min

A Warming Winter Soup of Pumpkin, Ginger & Lemongrass

The calmness of the bay and the wild unpredictable waters of the ocean can both be reached within minutes from our humble little...

115 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Jul 29, 2020
3 min

Fennel, Chorizo & Marinara Risoni

My heavy-based casserole pot sits on top of the stove even when it's not in use. It's covered in cooking stains, burnished marks that...

84 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Jul 1, 2020
3 min

Rhubarb and Coconut Meringue Slice

They are the final addition to my basket, their long, slender rosy-red stems balance on top of a beautiful snow-white cauliflower, a...

214 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Jun 24, 2020
3 min

Lime, Nasturtium & Poppyseed Syrup Cake

There are numerous boxes stacked high on top of one another in my mum and dad's garage. A treasure trove of forgotten objects and...

100 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Jun 4, 2020
5 min

Hot smoked Salmon & Potato Pie

Margins of time are so very precious - these in-between stolen moments can be found right throughout the day, after putting a load of...

254 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

May 27, 2020
2 min

Sausages with Tomatoes & Capsicums

As the days become increasingly shorter and that late afternoon nip in the air has us retreating back into the warmth and comfort of our...

153 views0 comments

Silverbeet, Spinach, Ricotta and Herb Hand Pies

Amy Minichiello

May 14, 2020
4 min

Silverbeet, Spinach, Ricotta and Herb Hand Pies

It was one of those days where the air was crisp but the sun shone a soft glowing light, it fell over the trees and the fine blades of...

343 views0 comments

Quince & Dark Chocolate Ricotta Crumb Cake

Amy Minichiello

Apr 28, 2020
4 min

Quince & Dark Chocolate Ricotta Crumb Cake

Luscious, creamy ricotta would have to be one of my favourite ingredients of late. Being so versatile it's always so handy to have...

275 views1 comment

Amy Minichiello

Apr 28, 2020
5 min

Fig and Walnut Frangipane Tart

It had been raining all day, the type of rain that soaks into the earth saturating everything in sight. A very pungent onion caused my...

100 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Apr 28, 2020
4 min

Honey-roasted Tomato & Goat Cheese Tart

The smell of tomato plants always reminds me of my Nanna. As I brush my hand over their leaves and bring them to my nose I am a little...

162 views0 comments

Green Spaghetti with Carrot top & Silverbeet Pesto

Amy Minichiello

Apr 28, 2020
2 min

Green Spaghetti with Carrot top & Silverbeet Pesto

Where does the inspiration for a meal come from for you? Every morning, I open the fridge door to jars full of jams, chutneys and...

33 views0 comments

Rosemary, Lemon Verbena & Almond Shortbread (gluten free)

Amy Minichiello

Apr 28, 2020
2 min

Rosemary, Lemon Verbena & Almond Shortbread (gluten free)

In the pantry on the third shelf sits a container that is more often than not filled with some sort of home baked goodies. It just feels...

47 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Apr 28, 2020
3 min

Apricot Crostata

My eyes were drawn to an open cardboard carton that sat on the workbench beside our front door. I had just arrived home and my first...

69 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Dec 21, 2019
4 min

Spiced Cherry Jam

As we drove off down the uneven dirt road, destined for our return home, his little sing-song voice exclaimed, "Mummy, I like that...

89 views1 comment

Dark Chocolate, Roasted Almond & Cumquat Marmalade Cake

Amy Minichiello

Oct 1, 2019
4 min

Dark Chocolate, Roasted Almond & Cumquat Marmalade Cake

At times it begins with a thought; an idea starts to form in my mind. It may have been something I had read, smelt or tasted and in some...

244 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Jun 22, 2019
4 min

Hot smoked salmon, Brie & Quince tart

A slice of oozy creamy brie sat on top of a piece of Smyrna sun-dried quince and I was in heaven. As I stood there savouring every last...

103 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Jun 9, 2019
5 min

Nanna Joy's Sausage Rolls

My feet quickly scurried over the icy-cold pavers towards the carport; our second fridge lives out there and I grasped whatever it was...

1,422 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

May 31, 2019
6 min

Quince Frangipane Burnt Butter Tart

Butter; What is it that makes it so special? What is the very first thing that pops into your mind at the mention of it? Is it a golden,...

159 views0 comments

Quince & Apple Tart with Hazelnut Crumble

Amy Minichiello

May 10, 2019
5 min

Quince & Apple Tart with Hazelnut Crumble

I really never used to look forward to the colder months; the change in seasons and the rain were more of a hinderance than anything...

182 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Apr 16, 2019
5 min

Chocolate & Quince Easter biscuits

My thick woollen turtle neck jumper slips on over my head and I pull a double layer of socks over my feet. Our little home, with its...

115 views0 comments

A Pot-luck Picnic and a Burnt Butter & Beetroot cake

Amy Minichiello

Apr 7, 2019
7 min

A Pot-luck Picnic and a Burnt Butter & Beetroot cake

The sun had not yet peeped over the horizon as I peeled myself from our cosy bed. I had set my alarm early that Sunday morning to allow...

100 views0 comments

Lemon Scented Baby Cakes with Honey-Roasted Figs & Goats Cheese Curd. And a recipe for Fig &

Amy Minichiello

Apr 2, 2019
7 min

Lemon Scented Baby Cakes with Honey-Roasted Figs & Goats Cheese Curd. And a recipe for Fig &

Early morning rain had dampened the earth and the sun was playing peek-a-boo with the clouds. Mum, Beau and I quickly threw our legs over...

170 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Feb 24, 2019
6 min

Shakshuka & A Cheesy, Herby Cornbread

One of the many reasons I love cooking so much is that it can take us to faraway places. Places that we may have been to before or dream...

179 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Jan 29, 2019
5 min

Ricotta Gnocchi with Ragu

A chunk of crusty, stale bread sat on the kitchen bench, homemade might I add. I have come to take a great amount of joy in watching my...

350 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Jan 12, 2019
4 min

Blushing Apricot Chutney

My eyes lit up with excitement as Ben came in the door carrying a bulging brown paper bag in his arms. He had just been chatting to our...

124 views0 comments

Fennel, Olive & Tomato Baked Chicken with Fennel & Garlic butter

Amy Minichiello

Dec 11, 2018
4 min

Fennel, Olive & Tomato Baked Chicken with Fennel & Garlic butter

I can't quite recall what we had done earlier in the day, but my mind, like most days, wandered off to thoughts about dinner. Two fennel...

578 views0 comments

Mushroom, Ricotta & Blue Cheese Crostata

Amy Minichiello

Nov 15, 2018
4 min

Mushroom, Ricotta & Blue Cheese Crostata

I had been dreaming of creating a lovely spelt and rosemary pastry that would delicately fold over a filling of creamy ricotta and...

135 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Oct 9, 2018
4 min

Mandarin, Poppy seed & Pine nut Friands

The container of melted butter was carefully placed onto the kitchen bench. The creaky timber swing door opened and a whispered voice...

125 views0 comments

Amy Minichiello

Sep 16, 2018
3 min

Cauliflower Parmigiana

Hiding behind those big green leaves that gently cup the snow white florets hides a humble vegetable that can be prepared in so many...

161 views0 comments