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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laughter

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Recipe archive

A Twist & A Lick

They were always much more decadent and sophisticated than their cousins, although there was always a time and a place for the simple...

Amy Minichiello

Nov 14, 20243 min read

The value of a Moment.

The joy of valuing moments and creating edible gifts.

Amy Minichiello

Aug 30, 20242 min read

Rugged Coastlines & Cosy Cottages

My coat, gloves, and scarf hang by the door. The Aga and the multiple cups of tea that followed kept my hands warm. Trees bare their...

Amy Minichiello

May 24, 20246 min read

Sticky Pecan, Carrot & Caramel Scrolls

I'm sitting in the passenger seat of Mum's 1985 Ford laser hatchback, my back sticky with sweat under my blue and white summer school...

Amy Minichiello

Mar 26, 20245 min read

Fruit & Spice Easter Biscuits

I am finding it difficult to wrap my head around the fact that we are in Autumn 2024. Time is moving at a rapid pace and all I want to do...

Amy Minichiello

Mar 19, 20244 min read

Cherry Red Fingertips & A Culinary Christmas Tradition

Fingertips stained a purple-bluish hue, mouths too. There is no mistaking the tell-tale signs of two cheeky cherry-eating children and...

Amy Minichiello

Dec 12, 20234 min read

Comfort Zones, Connections & the Power of Manifestation

When we take a step out of the zone where we feel our most comfortable, wonderful opportunities present themselves, often in abundance....

Amy Minichiello

Nov 29, 20232 min read

The Gift of Time & Chocolate Walnut Slice

It was all a bit chaotic beforehand. "Do you need to take some sheets?" "Have you got their sandals?" "Sammy, no, not Vivvy's bunny!" By...

Amy Minichiello

Nov 2, 20233 min read

A Spring Lunch & Floral Workshop Event Announcement

The change of seasons always excites me, especially at this time of the year, when the garden surprises and delights with her Spring...

Amy Minichiello

Oct 22, 20232 min read

Apple, Cinnamon & Almond Cake

I've just stepped back inside, washed the dirt from my hands, heated a splash of almond milk, matcha, and a dash of maple in my little...

Amy Minichiello

Oct 17, 20233 min read

Burnished Brussels, Broccoli & Zucchini with Anchovy Butter

I could happily stand by the stove, picking golden roasted vegetables from the tray until they all but disappear..Better yet, I could...

Amy Minichiello

Sep 12, 20232 min read

Solitary Bakers Unite

Baking is often a solitary activity. When I don't have two certain little kitchen helpers by my side, I stand at my kitchen bench -...

Amy Minichiello

Aug 29, 20233 min read

A Floral Workshop & Lunch

I thought I would pop in here to let you know that I have an upcoming event at the beautiful Villa Floretti which is located in Boneo on...

Amy Minichiello

Aug 10, 20233 min read

The Bare Necessities

The fridge is in a sad and sorry state after I removed three spindly parsnips, their long tapered ends reminiscent of witches' noses....

Amy Minichiello

Jul 17, 20233 min read

An Afternoon tea & chat in Sydney

I am thrilled to announce that on Sunday the 20th of August, 2023 I will be in Sydney to celebrate my book, Recipes in the Mail. I'd love...

Amy Minichiello

Jul 9, 20232 min read

Stuffed Monkeys & Scalded Hairpins

It was the first recipe I saw when the message came through on my phone. My mum and dad were at a dinner party and the hostess had pulled...

Amy Minichiello

Jul 3, 20234 min read

Pumpkin, Maple & Date Cake with Maple cream cheese frosting and Caramelized maple pecans

The skeletal frames stand tall in a river of white. They have survived yet another freezing Quebec winter. The first signs of spring call...

Amy Minichiello

Jun 28, 20233 min read

Moments of Nothingness & a Weekend Away

The dimpled skin of the chicken in the oven is turning the palest shade of gold. Meanwhile, my skin, immersed in a basting liquid of Dew...

Amy Minichiello

Jun 19, 20232 min read

A Winter Lunch at my Home

To celebrate my first cookbook, Recipes in the Mail, I would like to invite you into the warmth of my humble white weatherboard home,...

Amy Minichiello

Jun 11, 20231 min read

Quince, almond and orange cake

The last few weeks have felt a little like being on a rollercoaster, at high velocity. Time simply blurs between day and night, with my...

Amy Minichiello

May 29, 20233 min read

Apple & Chestnut frangipane tart

The cross-section of the hard, shiny brown outer shell reveals a soft, delicately sweet flesh that once removed can be the source of many...

Amy Minichiello

May 22, 20234 min read

Recipes in the Mail - Preorders are open!

I am OVERJOYED and swimming in a pool of surrealism to introduce to you my very first book, Recipes in the Mail. THIS GORGEOUS BOOK...

Amy Minichiello

Apr 21, 20232 min read

Roast Chicken & the flavour of Home

When I have been away from home for an extended period of time the one thing I crave upon returning is a golden roast chook with an...

Amy Minichiello

Mar 30, 20235 min read

Zucchini, ham & cheese Muffins

That first of week of school felt a little like being stuck in a fog. My bearings were all out of kilter. A new routine to adapt to and...

Amy Minichiello

Feb 7, 20233 min read

Whole Orange & Ginger Cake

I attempted to put a rather large bounty of limes to good use after my sister-in-law had forwarded a video to me on...

Amy Minichiello

Oct 6, 20223 min read

A bowl of Rice Pudding & other small Delights

It arrived wrapped in a textured, hand-painted piece of wallpaper - an offcut from a farmyard scene that lines the walls of their...

Amy Minichiello

Aug 12, 20223 min read

Naked corn & a Chicken, corn and noodle soup

Rummaging around the depths of the freezer can uncover forgotten treasures. A bag brimming with de-kernel-ed corn cobs was the gold I...

Amy Minichiello

Jul 21, 20223 min read

Overnight Quinces

The aromatic, bright yellow fruits caught my eye. There they were bulging against the brown paper bag in which they were housed, as if in...

Amy Minichiello

Jun 17, 20223 min read

Limoncello Syrup Cake

When I first began dipping my toes, or should I say hands, into the world of layer cakes, I was met with terms such as swiss meringue...

Amy Minichiello

Jun 2, 20227 min read

A Cosy Cauliflower Mac & Cheese

As the leaves crunch underfoot, and the fading light gives way to the bitter chill that hangs upon the air, the promise of a steaming...

Amy Minichiello

May 5, 20223 min read

Granny's Pikelets

As the butter softly crackles on the warm surface and the first spoonful of batter hits the pan I can smell it - the smell of comfort,...

Amy Minichiello

Mar 17, 20222 min read

On Leftovers & Birthday Cake

Quite often our fridge will be full of leftover cake innards - dribs and drabs of lemon curd, spoonfuls of berry coulis and the most...

Amy Minichiello

Feb 17, 20223 min read

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,...

Amy Minichiello

Jan 20, 20223 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Jan 13, 20223 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Dec 9, 20213 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Nov 19, 20218 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Oct 7, 20213 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Sep 3, 20213 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Aug 6, 20213 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Jul 15, 20213 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Jun 26, 20214 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

May 10, 20213 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Apr 17, 20213 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Jan 7, 20214 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Jan 2, 20217 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Nov 28, 20207 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Nov 21, 20205 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Oct 24, 20206 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Sep 29, 20202 min read

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...

Amy Minichiello

Sep 21, 20204 min read