Why Buy a Cookbook Nowadays?

We have recipes everywhere today. Google. Pinterest. Instagram. YouTube. AI.

So why would you still buy a cookbook? Because a cookbook gives you something the internet doesn't.

📖 It is curated.

You don't have to scroll through hundreds of recipes wondering which one is worth trying. Someone has selected, developed and organised the recipes for you.

👩‍🍳 It inspires you to cook.

A cookbook invites you to open a page and start cooking. No notifications, no endless scrolling, no distractions.

❤️ It creates memories.

A cookbook becomes part of your kitchen. Favourite pages get marked, recipes get repeated, and memories are created around the table.

🏡 It stays with you.

Websites change. Links disappear. Algorithms change.

A cookbook sits on your shelf and remains yours.

And that's why I still believe in cookbooks — and why I created my three:

🇬🇷 Vivian Is Cooking GREEK — my collection of Greek recipes and Mediterranean flavours.

🧁 Vivian Is Cooking BAKING — for homemade cakes, breads, pastries and all things delicious.

🇫🇷 Vivian Is Cooking – Cuisine Grecque — my Greek cooking collection for French-speaking readers.

There are recipes everywhere today, and that's wonderful.

But you don't buy a cookbook because you can't find recipes. You buy one because you want a collection of recipes that you love, trust and want to keep.

And maybe, one day, pass on. ❤️

A Recipe for Remembering

October is a month of remembrance. In France, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ traditions make this a time to think of those we have loved and lost. Greece has its own long traditions of honouring and remembering the departed.

It felt like the right moment to bring back one of my older recipes: Nefeli’s Breads.

In Greece, these soft little breads are traditionally made to commemorate someone dear who has passed away and shared with others, often at church.

I originally published this recipe in 2014, inspired by my grandmother’s recipe, and named it after my first daughter, Nefeli. On 6 October 2026, she would have been 23.

Some recipes are worth bringing back simply because they carry memories.

You can find the original recipe for Nefeli’s Breads here. ❤️

October Is Apple Season

October is apple season — and what better excuse to bring home a big basket of them?

Apples are wonderful in both sweet and savoury cooking: pies, cakes, crumbles, compotes, salads, sauces, and even with meat and cheese.

🍎 Which Apple for What?

A quick guide:

Olive Oil: How to Choose a Good One

There are hundreds of bottles on the shelf. Which one should you take home?

Forget the fancy labels. Five things matter most...

Hello October! 🍂 Autumn Recipes & Ideas from My Kitchen

Hello October! 🍁

The days are getting shorter, the evenings cooler, and suddenly we start craving warm soups, comforting dishes, cinnamon, apples and cosy baking.

October is such a lovely month in the kitchen. In France, it is the season for pumpkins and squash, leeks, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, beetroot, celery, turnips and parsnips, while apples, pears, grapes, quinces and chestnuts bring plenty of inspiration for something sweet.

So, what could we cook this month?

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.

Milopitakia (Greek Mini Apple Pies)

🌟 Difficulty	⏱️ Time	🍽️ Serves	🔪 Skill level
★★ Easy	~1 hr	~30 pieces	Beginner–Intermediate

October, the month of apples!

That's why I decided to present you today a recipe that was missing from my blog and that I like a lot: milopitakia!

Milopitakia, in greek, means mini apple pies but they are actually more kind of apple-filled cookies to be more precise.

Whatever you call them, I am sure that you will like them once you taste them, so here it goes in order to have them for real at your place :)

They look gorgeous too, no?

Swiss Malakoffs — Crispy Gruyère Cheese Fritters

Golden, crisp on the outside and irresistibly molten inside, Malakoffs are a delicious Swiss specialty from the canton of Vaud. Made with plenty of Gruyère, a splash of dry white wine and a hint of nutmeg, they are traditionally served hot with bread and a fresh salad. 

I tried them twice at restaurants and hubby had the nice idea to try to make them at home, and I couldn't agree more. Enjoy! 

This recipe makes 8 Malakoffs, perfect for a generous appetizer or a light Swiss-style meal.

Greek Koulouria Thessalonikis — The Sesame Breads That Tastes Like Home

Some foods taste like a place. For me, koulouria Thessalonikis will always remind me of Thessaloniki, Greece.

When I was studying there, koulouri was part of everyday life: a warm, sesame-covered ring grabbed on the way to university, work, shopping, between classes, or with a coffee. It has been a beloved staple of Thessaloniki for generations. No wonder why, it was in my bucket list of ToDo recipes and finally came the moment.

This homemade version brings a little of that memory back to the kitchen.

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 collection !

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 Kadaifi (Traditional Syrup Dessert)

🌟 Difficulty	⏱️ Time	🍽️ Serves	🔪 Skill level
★★ Medium	1 hr 30 min + resting	~14 pieces	Intermediate

Kadaifi is a classic Greek syrup dessert made with shredded phyllo, a fragrant nut filling, and warm citrus syrup. Crispy outside, juicy inside, and delicately spiced, it’s a timeless sweet that pairs beautifully with coffee.

(If you want an easier version, check my old recipe Kadaif, oriental pastry)

Love this recipe? Get a printable version in my Etsy shop, explore other Greek recipes, or enjoy the full recipe book on Amazon (Kindle, paperback, or hardcover)!

Lemon rabbit

Like lemon? Then you will get addicted with this lemon rabbit (like Rogger Rabbit :) stew seasoned with oregano.

Greek Tyropitakia with Fyllo in the Ninja Crispi Air Fryer

Tyropitakia with Fyllo are a classic Greek cheese meze, and they adapt beautifully to the air fryer. Shaping them as small rectangles instead of triangles allows you to fit more pieces at once — even in a compact air fryer like the Ninja Crispi.

Using one sheet of fyllo per roll keeps them light, crisp, and perfectly suited to air frying.

👉Check also this variation using an Air fryer:

• Easy Kourou Tyropitakia (Feta Balls) in the Ninja Crispi Air Fryer

Love this recipe? Get a printable version in my Etsy shop, explore other Greek recipes, or enjoy the full recipe book on Amazon (Kindle, paperback, or hardcover)!