Lately in My Kitchen: November Baking, Mushrooms & Savoury Treats!

The beginning of November has been deliciously busy in my kitchen! I've been baking, experimenting, preparing little treats for the freezer and making the most of the beautiful autumn ingredients. Here are a few highlights from the past days, although believe me, there was plenty more cooking going on!

Basil Pesto Puff Pastry Sticks

Looking for an easy aperitif idea that looks impressive but takes just minutes to prepare? These pesto puff pastry sticks are crispy, cheesy and full of Mediterranean flavour! I’m using my homemade basil pesto, shared in an earlier post, to turn ready-made puff pastry into an irresistible snack. Perfect for an aperitif, a party or drinks with friends!

Note: Of course, you can use store-bought pesto, but nothing beats the freshness, flavour and quality of homemade pesto made with carefully selected ingredients!

Lots of aperitif inspirations in my older posts:

• my Greek inspired aperitif guide or the Greek-style apero
• aperitif (or cocktail hour) flower
• ham ans swiss cheese bread/cake
• spanish tortilla
• tomato-mozzarella-oregano cake
• and finally, the so up-to-date Haloween fingers  

Revisiting Old Favourites: Two Recipes, Two Delicious Twists!

Sometimes the best cooking ideas come from going back to recipes we already know and love, then giving them a little twist. That's exactly what happened in my kitchen today!

I revisited two old favourites from my blog: my Greek Youvarlakia soup and my homemade Tyropita. Same familiar recipes, but with a few changes that made them even more exciting. And both turned out delicious!

A Little Laundry Secret for Home Cooks: Powder or Liquid Detergent?

If you cook regularly, you know that the kitchen isn't the only place that gets messy! Between splashes of olive oil, tomato sauce, chocolate, fruit, flour and all those little cooking accidents, our aprons, tea towels and kitchen cloths go through quite a lot.

And recently, I made an interesting discovery: the type of laundry detergent you use can make a difference!

Powder or liquid? It turns out that each has its strengths.

Lately in My Kitchen: Pizza, Soups, Sweet Celebrations & a Little Kitchen Drama!

It's been a busy time in my kitchen lately! (as always btw ;) Lots of cooking, experimenting, delicious meals, happy celebrations… and, of course, an impressive amount of cleaning. (Just ask my back! 😂)

Here’s a little glimpse of what’s been happening.

Yogurt or Sweet Imposter? The Truth Behind Those Creamy Pots!

Walk down the dairy aisle and you’ll find endless little pots: natural yogurt, Greek yogurt, strawberry yogurt, chocolate cream and tempting desserts. They may look alike, but are you buying real yogurt or a sweet imposter in disguise? 

I, personally, had to move abroad to start appreciating the silky smooth amazing Greek yogurt.

The Simple Truth About Yogurt

Real plain yogurt needs just two essentials: milk + live yogurt cultures. These friendly bacteria ferment the milk, giving yogurt its characteristic tangy taste and creamy texture.

Fruit, sugar, flavourings and thickeners can be added to yogurt, while some creamy pots are actually dairy desserts. Nothing wrong with enjoying a sweet treat, just know what you’re choosing!

My tip: check the ingredients and nutrition label. Plain yogurt naturally contains lactose, the sugar in milk, so look at the ingredient list to see whether extra sugar has been added.

Roasted Chicken Thighs with Hasselback Potatoes

Today, I spent some time in the kitchen preparing a little something for my children, who are students, so they can start the week with homemade lunches ready to go. (If you have students far from home, check also my Students page or my Batch cooking post with lots of tips/ressources)

Chicken thighs, golden Hasselback potatoes and fragrant herbs. Simple ingredients, beautiful colours and so much flavour! I used Amandine potatoes, with fresh rosemary and thyme branches that filled the kitchen with the most wonderful aroma.

And honestly, look how beautiful they turned out! Sometimes, the simplest meals are the most satisfying, especially when they're prepared with a little extra love. To complete the lunchboxes, I also baked my Chocolate Booster, a delicious chocolate tray cake featured in my latest cookbook, Vivian Is Cooking BAKING!

Haloween Fingers

Originally Published on 11/7/19 2:58 PM

Ok, Halloween has passed, but here it is a funny idea for your next year's Halloween aperitif.
I tried it for the first time a week ago at a great Halloween party of some dear friends of ours (thank you btw!!!) and everyone was excited with it!
So easy, so scary, so tasty... can you do better? ;)
With terror from me to you... BoooOOOOO

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?

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. ❤️

Pancakes from Cyprus (Pites tis Satziis)

[Updated 30/03/2025]

A delicious, traditional Cypriot treat, these pancakes are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, filled with the sweet warmth of cinnamon and sugar. Perfect for sharing with loved ones!

Soup Season Is Here! Six Comforting Soups for Colder Days

The days are getting shorter, the air is turning chilly, and winter is slowly approaching here in Central Europe. For me, this can only mean one thing: it’s time to bring out the soup pot!

There’s something wonderfully comforting about a homemade soup simmering on the stove (although I use the pressure cooker often :) It warms us from the inside, fills the kitchen with delicious aromas and brings a little cosiness to even the coldest day. And with vegetables, meat or chicken, soup can also be a nourishing, satisfying meal for the whole family.

Today, I’m revisiting six soups from my blog, from traditional Greek favourites to a velvety autumn vegetable soup. Which one will you try first?

Birthday Cake Inspiration & Sweet Celebrations

Some occasions call for a cake, a few candles and something delicious made with love!

Whether you’re planning a birthday, surprising someone special or simply looking for an excuse to bake, here are a few favourites from my kitchen, from spectacular chocolate creations to elegant desserts and traditional Greek sweets. 

Actually, in my latest cookbook Vivian is Cooking BAKING I have dedicated the very first chapter to Celebration Cakes and Special Occasions. I've got so many other in this blog, that it's difficult to choose, so here's a different point of view...

Last 2 Weeks in My Kitchen: Mexican Burritos, Greek Classics & Autumn Comfort Food

What a beginning of October in my kitchen! From homemade Mexican burritos and Italian pasta to Greek family favourites, air fryer experiments and plenty of baking, there was something delicious happening almost every day. Not unusual though !❤️

Let’s look back at what I cooked and a few recipes you really shouldn’t miss!

Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Pasta Shells (Conchiglioni Ripieni)

I’d been dreaming of making these beautiful Italian stuffed pasta shells for ages, and today was finally the day! Giant pasta shells filled with spinach, ricotta, shallots, dill and Parmesan, nestled in tomato passata with basil and topped with melting mozzarella and Gruyère. A little effort to fill the shells, lots of flavour, and pure comfort food with an Italian twist!

And for the perfect Italian-inspired meal? I’d serve my homemade tiramisu for dessert (the classic or the kid-friendly version, one of my iconic recipes included in my latest cookbook, Vivian Is Cooking BAKING!) Given that it's the apple season, I made instead my Greek reversed apple pie that is always a smash (included too in my baking cookbook).

Next on my cooking wish list: cannoli siciliani. I can’t wait to try making these iconic Sicilian pastries! ❤️

Roasted Chestnuts in the Air Fryer

🌰Chestnuts are starting to appear at the markets, and I picked up a batch at the market this Sunday. Last night, I made my favourite roasted chestnuts using my Ninja Crispi air fryer — such an easy way to enjoy this autumn treat!

The quality of the chestnuts I bought wasn't the best, but the result was still amazing. 😍

My little tip: Be careful not to roast them for too long, or they can become dry. Start with a shorter cooking time and check them as you go. For me, 15 minutes seems to be the sweet spot!

Warm, fragrant and delicious — perfect for cosy autumn evenings. 🍁

Have you started enjoying chestnuts yet?

Homemade Pizza, Pinsa Style!

Yesterday, I revisited my authentic Italian pizza recipe and decided to shape the pizzas like pinsa. Just to be clear: I used my usual pizza dough, not traditional pinsa dough, which has a different recipe and preparation method. This was all about trying a different shape!

I let the dough rise twice before shaping the pizzas (profited from the sunny day that warmed the house), and the result was amazing: beautifully baked, delicious and full of flavour.

I’m so glad I made a bigger batch, too as we enjoyed our pizzas today and had leftovers for the next day! Homemade pizza is even better when you get to enjoy it twice. ❤️

Have you ever tried shaping your pizza this way?

Greek Triangle Tyropitakia with Filo

Recently, I made these little Greek cheese pies for an event I was invited to. Golden, crispy filo pastry wrapped around a delicious filling of feta, Gruyère and Emmental. The perfect little bites to share!

Known as tyropitakia with fyllo, these Greek cheese pastries are ideal for parties, aperitifs and buffets. Can be done in the oven or in the airfryer to make them wonderfully crispy with just a little olive oil. Check also my other version of tyropitakia (Kourou) that are also yummy! and can be done in the air fryer too. 

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: