Amy Minichiello
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...
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Welcome to
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.
Food
love
laughter
& memories
Recipe archive
Amy Minichiello
- Jul 21
- 3 min
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...
153 views0 comments
Amy Minichiello
- Jun 17
- 3 min
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...
148 views0 comments
Amy Minichiello
- Jun 2
- 7 min
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...
177 views0 comments
Amy Minichiello
- May 5
- 3 min
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...
129 views0 comments
Amy Minichiello
- Mar 17
- 2 min
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,...
139 views0 comments
Amy Minichiello
- Feb 17
- 3 min
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...
104 views0 comments
Amy Minichiello
- Jan 20
- 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,...
194 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...
50 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...
304 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...
170 views0 comments
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...
539 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...
211 views0 comments
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...
206 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...
126 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...
109 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...
543 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...
128 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...
146 views0 comments
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...
105 views0 comments
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...
257 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...
303 views0 comments
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...
193 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...
224 views0 comments
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...
219 views0 comments
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...
329 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...
56 views0 comments
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...
207 views0 comments
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...
130 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...
91 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...
233 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...
112 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...
271 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...
156 views0 comments
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...
363 views0 comments
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...
324 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...
117 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...
176 views0 comments
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...
37 views0 comments
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...
59 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...
70 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...
116 views1 comment
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...
296 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...
114 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...
1,454 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,...
182 views0 comments
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...
194 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...
125 views0 comments
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...
109 views0 comments
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...
183 views0 comments