BBQ Feta Saganaki

Here’s a little souvenir worth bringing home from your next Greek holiday: a traditional handmade clay baking dish (pilino). You’ll find beautiful ones in many places around Greece, often handmade by local potters - like the one I use today - and once you have one, you’ll wonder how you ever cooked without it. Here's a bigger one oven dish beautifully decorated with Olive branches.

One of my favourite things to make in it is this ridiculously easy BBQ feta saganaki...

No-Bake Greek Yogurt & Sour Cherry Cake

When summer temperatures are soaring and turning on the oven is the last thing you want to do, this is exactly the kind of dessert to have up your sleeve!

This no-bake Greek yogurt cake is incredibly easy to make and has become a popular summer dessert in Greece lately. It needs just a handful of ingredients, takes only a few minutes to prepare, and the fridge does all the hard work...

My New Cookbook Is Here: Vivian Is Cooking BAKING

I'm delighted to announce the release of my third cookbook in the Vivian Is Cooking series!

Vivian Is Cooking BAKING: 50+ Reliable Recipes for Every Occasion is now available worldwide on Amazon in both paperback and hardcover editions. 

If you're outside the United States, simply search for "Vivian Is Cooking BAKING" on your local Amazon website (Amazon UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Canada, Australia, and many others) to order in your local currency.

Whether you're an experienced baker or just beginning your baking journey, this cookbook was created to help you bake with confidence. Every recipe has been carefully tested and written with clear, easy-to-follow instructions. Featuring Tiramisu, Pavlova, Cheesecake, Bougatsa, Brioche, Cinnamon Rolls, Waffles, Cookies, Muffins, and festive holiday desserts.

Greek Rice pudding (Risogalo)

🌟 Difficulty	⏱️ Time	🍽️ Serves	🔪 Skill level
★ Easy	35 min	4–5	Beginner

A classic Greek dessert loved by all ages—especially children! Creamy, lightly sweet, and delicious with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top.

Waffle Mania: When One Waffle Iron Sparks Endless Ideas!

Ever since I got my waffle iron back (after lending it to a family student), I've been on a bit of a waffle-making spree. What started with a craving for the classics quickly turned into a series of fun kitchen experiments—and I'm not complaining!

First came the classic French waffles (gaufres), followed by the rich and caramelized Belgian Liège waffles, and then my latest savory creation: Savory Feta Waffles, inspired by the traditional Greek tyropitakia kourou. Each recipe reminded me just how versatile a waffle iron can be.

But I wasn't done experimenting.

One day, I wondered: What if I cooked my kolokythopatatokeftedes (zucchini and potato fritters) in the waffle iron instead of frying them? The result exceeded all my expectations!

Savory Feta Waffles

These savory waffles were the result of a delicious kitchen experiment. Instead of shaping the classic tyropitakia kourou into small cheese pies, I simply turned the dough into waffles—and I couldn't be happier with the outcome! They are wonderfully crispy and golden on the outside, while remaining soft, fluffy, and packed with cheesy goodness inside. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or even a quick snack served with a fresh salad.

If you're hosting brunch, these make a fantastic savory option alongside my French Waffles or Belgian Waffles. Serve the savory ones first, then finish with a sweet waffle for dessert (or simply go for a second round!). It's the perfect combination to please everyone around the table.

French Waffles (Gaufres)

Difficulty	Time	Serves
★ Easy	25 min	10–12 waffles

French breakfast to it's best! W
affles are called "gaufres" in french and if you have never tried them before or were looking for a basic recipe that it's easy and works very well, then try this one :)

Requires a waffle iron (electric waffle maker).

Greek Home Burgers (Biftekia)

These juicy Greek-style burgers, or biftekia, are packed with Mediterranean flavors. Perfect for a homemade meal, they can be grilled, pan-fried, or baked for an easy and delicious dish. 

If you make also small home round breads too, then you have the full experience of a homeburger!

My Latest Favourite Baking Tools (and Why I Love Them)

Every now and then, you come across kitchen tools that quietly change the way you cook. No big hype, no complicated gadgets: just simple, clever designs that make everyday baking and prep smoother. Here are four of my recent favourites that have quickly become essential in my kitchen...

Taste Greece in Rhodes

Featured Greek Destination: Pylea Beach Hotel

If you enjoy the authentic Greek recipes on this blog, you'll love experiencing them in Rhodes.

Beachfront hotel • Traditional Greek cuisine • Family hospitality

When the Heatwave Hits, Keep Dessert Simple

When temperatures climb like they have across Europe this week, turning on the oven is probably the last thing anyone wants to do. That's exactly when the simplest desserts are often the most satisfying.

A bowl of fresh seasonal fruit is hard to beat. Juicy peaches, sweet strawberries, ripe melon, cherries, blueberries—whatever looks best at the market. Cut everything into bite-sized pieces, chill well, and serve straight from the fridge. If you like, add a squeeze of lemon or lime, a few fresh mint leaves, or a sprinkle of toasted nuts for a little extra texture.

No baking, no fuss, just refreshing, colourful fruit at its best. Sometimes the perfect summer dessert is also the easiest one.

What's your favourite fruit combination for a hot summer day?

Berry Almond Yogurt Cake

This soft yogurt loaf cake was born from a very generous summer harvest. My garden has been especially prolific this year, giving me an abundance of fresh raspberries and blueberries. Naturally, I wanted to turn them into something simple, comforting, and homemade.

This cake combines those garden berries with Greek yogurt and ground almonds for a moist, tender crumb and a subtle nutty flavor. Lightly scented with lemon, it’s an easy everyday bake—perfect for breakfast, afternoon coffee, or a not-too-sweet dessert that lets the fruit shine.

Easy Homemade Hummus (Houmous) Dip

I won’t pretend I nailed hummus on my first attempt… or even my second. I honestly don’t know why, because it turns out it’s one of the simplest and most satisfying dips to make at home.

A big thank you to Katia (my former Zumba teacher, who makes the most delicious hummus ever) for sharing her recipe, and to Aneta for introducing me to Zumba in the first place—and indirectly to this obsession with hummus!

So what is hummus? It’s a creamy Lebanese-style dip made from chickpeas, and once you start making it at home, it’s hard to go back to store-bought versions.