Air Fryer Chocolate Lava Cakes

🌟 Difficulty	⏱️ Time	🍽️ Serves	🔪 Skill level
★★ Easy	15 min	4	Beginner

Few desserts are as irresistible as a warm chocolate lava cake. These air fryer lava cakes are quick, rich, and perfectly gooey inside, with a melting chocolate center that feels like a restaurant treat — ready in minutes at home. No air fryer? Bake at 200°C (fan oven) for 9–10 minutes in small ramekins instead.

“This delicious Air Fryer Chocolate Lava Cake will also be featured in my new baking book, coming soon — I can’t wait to share all my favorite recipes with you!”

Made It Again Today: My Favorite Pear & Almond Tart

Today I made my husband’s favorite dessert again – the classic French tart with almond cream, tarte aux poires et frangipane. I didn’t have enough pears, so I added some apples, and it turned out beautifully!

The combination of soft pears and slightly tart apples worked surprisingly well with the rich frangipane. The buttery pâte sablée holds the almond cream perfectly, and a light glaze of honey made the fruit shine.

Even with a little improvisation, this tart brought the same joy and excitement to the table. A sweet reminder that sometimes the best desserts are the ones you adapt on the spot!

Note to self: definitely make this again soon – with more pears next time! ❤️

Air Fryer Salmon Bites with Vegetables (Healthy & Easy 20-Minute Meal)

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 12–15 minutes
Total time: 22–25 minutes
Servings: 2-3
Method: Air fryer (or oven/pan alternative)
Difficulty: Easy

Air fryer salmon is one of the easiest and healthiest dinners you can make at home. These honey mustard salmon bites with garlic and paprika cook quickly in the air fryer and develop a delicious caramelized flavor. For this recipe, I used salmon loin (baron de saumon), a thick and tender cut that works beautifully in the air fryer and stays especially juicy. Paired with crispy air-fried vegetables, this meal is simple, nutritious, and perfect for busy weeknights.

If you don’t have an air fryer, you can easily make this recipe in the oven or in a pan (read instructions at the end of the post).

If you try this recipe, let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear how it turned out.

My Lahanodolmades Recipe Just Got Even Better!

I’m excited to share a small but game-changing update to my lahanodolmades recipe!

Instead of boiling the cabbage to soften it, I tried freezing the raw leaves first - and it worked perfectly. This skips a tedious step and makes preparing stuffed cabbage rolls much faster, without sacrificing flavor.

One more tip: stick to the classic light green cabbage. I tried darker, curly frisée-type leaves, and the taste wasn’t as good.

If you haven’t tried my recipe yet, check it out here and see the updated tips at the end. Your meal prep will thank you!

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Bites

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 12–15 minutes
Total time: 25 minutes
Servings: 3–4
Method: Air fryer
Difficulty: Easy

These crispy chicken bites are quick, juicy, and full of flavor. Chicken breast pieces are seasoned with olive oil, paprika, and Parmesan, then coated with breadcrumbs for a delicious crispy crust. Cooked in the air fryer, they become golden on the outside while staying tender inside. Perfect for a quick dinner and delicious served with roasted vegetables.

👉 Find more air fryer recipes! Type “air fryer” in the search bar.

15 Ninja Crispi Hacks for Crispy, Delicious Meals

After two months of using my Ninja Crispi with the pyrex-style fush pan and top pod, I’ve discovered tips that make every meal crispy, golden, and full of flavor. Here’s the ultimate cheat sheet:

1. Preheat the Top Pod – 3–5 min ensures even crisping.
2. Use the Fush Pan – Perfect for juicy meats or saucy dishes.
3. Avoid Overcrowding – Single-layer cooking = even results.
4. Try the Pod Rack – Circulates air under fries, nuggets, veggies.
5. Flip or Rotate Foods – Prevents soggy bottoms.
6. Light Oil Spritz – Just a little for extra golden crunch.
7. Lower Temp for Frozen Foods – Avoid over-browning outside.
8. Clean the Fush Pan – Keeps airflow and prevents smoke.
9. Don’t Lift the Lid Too Often – Retains heat and crispiness.
10. Reheat Without Sogginess – Pizza, fries, pastries stay perfect.
11. Layer Smartly – Thick foods below, small ones on the rack.
12. Watch Cooking Times – Top heat cooks fast; check early.
13. Dry Ingredients – Less moisture = crispier finish.
14. Season Before & After – Boosts flavor and presentation.
15. Get Creative – Roast, bake, broil—even try mini casseroles.

💡 Pro Tip: Small tweaks—like flipping, using the rack, and adjusting temps—make the biggest difference. The Ninja Crispi isn’t just an air fryer; it’s a kitchen game-changer.

👉 Find air fryer recipes! Type “air fryer” in the search bar.

Halvas Farsalon (Greek Caramel Cornstarch Halva)

Halvas Farsalon is a traditional sweet from Farsala, a small town in the Thessaly region of Central Greece, famous throughout the country for this distinctive caramel halva. It is often sold at local panigyria (village festivals), displayed in large trays and cut into generous pieces.

Naturally dairy-free when made with oil, it is also a beloved dessert during nistia (Greek fasting periods), which makes it both simple and meaningful. For me, this recipe is personal — Farsala is my mother’s birthplace, and this halva carries the taste of family roots and local tradition. Made with cornstarch (νισεστές) instead of semolina (see Greek Semolina Pudding -Halvas), it has a glossy, slightly elastic texture and a thin caramelized crust.

Vivian Is Cooking GREEK – Available Worldwide

My cookbook is now available in English and French, in 3 formats: Kindle, Paperback, and beautiful Hardcover and can be ordered worldwide.

If you buy my book, leaving a review in Amazon would mean the world to me!

🇬🇧 English

• Amazon France: English edition
• Amazon.com: English edition

🇫🇷 Français

• Amazon France: Français edition
• Amazon.com: Français edition

Available everywhere on Amazon — just search “Vivian Is Cooking GREEK” in your local store!

French Lemon Meringue Tart (Tarte au Citron Meringuée)

🌟 Difficulty	⏱️ Time	🍽️ Serves	🔪 Skill level
★★ Intermediate	1 hr 30 min + chilling	8	Intermediate

I tested this tart/pie over the weekend, and it is officially my favorite version so far.

The crust is buttery and crisp thanks to the extra egg yolks, the lemon filling is silky and perfectly tangy without being too sharp, and the classic French meringue adds just the right softness to balance everything.

Elegant, fresh, and absolutely worth repeating.

Serves: 8 Prep time: 30 minutes Chill time: 1 hour Bake time: 30–35 minutes Level: Intermediate Category: Dessert

Recovery Food & Drinks: What to Eat When You’re Sick

When you’re ill, your body needs hydration, warmth, and simple nourishment — not heavy meals. Keep food gentle, easy to digest, and comforting.

To all my friends whose children — or they themselves (or even worse, both!) — are ill right now.

My Greek Cookbook — English, French, new Formats & Shop Updates!

I’m excited to share that my Greek cooking book is now available on Amazon in English and in French, in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle editions! 📖✨

You can choose the format you love most — from a practical kitchen copy to a beautiful hardcover to offer or a digital version for cooking anywhere.

My Etsy shop is also growing, with more digital products inspired by my recipes and Mediterranean cooking:

• Printable Greek recipe cards and bundles
• Digital recipe downloads
• Cooking-inspired Mediterranean art prints

These are designed to make cooking simple, beautiful, and authentic, whether for everyday meals or special occasions.

If you’d like to support my work, you can share the news, try a recipe, or leave a review on Amazon or Etsy — it truly helps!

And a little preview… I’m already working on my next book:
“Vivian is Cooking Baking Stunning Cakes!” 🎂

Thank you for being part of this journey — from blog to Etsy to Amazon.

Kali orexi!
Vivian (Paraskevi)

Save Time in the Kitchen: Smart Cooking Tips

Some days, cooking feels like it takes more time than we actually have. Over the years, I’ve learned that a few simple habits and tools can make everyday cooking much faster and easier — without sacrificing healthy, homemade meals. Here are some of my favorite time-saving kitchen tips.

Healthy Kitchen Essentials: Cook Safe!

Cooking healthy isn’t just about ingredients — it’s also about what you cook with! Scratched non-stick pans, old plastic containers, and worn utensils can release chemicals into your food.

Quick essentials for a safe kitchen:

• Cookware: Stainless steel, cast iron, glass, ceramic

• Utensils: Wood, bamboo, stainless steel, food-grade silicone

• Storage: Glass, stainless steel, silicone bags

To make it easy and practical, I designed the Healthy Kitchen Essentials Printable Poster. This A4 guide has clear checklists for cookware, utensils, and storage, plus tips on when to replace worn items. Print it, frame it, and enjoy a safer, more organized kitchen every day!

✨ Instant download on Etsy

Cook safe. Cook simple. Cook happy!

💡 Want more tips like this? Check my Tips page of the blog — small ideas that make everyday cooking easier and faster.