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?

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?

Fasolakia: A Taste of Greek Summer

Summer is the perfect season to enjoy Fasolakia, one of Greece's most beloved traditional dishes. Made with fresh green beans, tomatoes, onions, and olive oil, this simple recipe is a wonderful example of Mediterranean home cooking at its best.

Fasolakia is one of those timeless recipes that proves you don't need complicated ingredients to create a delicious and satisfying meal. Serve it with feta cheese and crusty bread for a true taste of a Greek summer table.

This recipe is featured in my cookbook Vivian Is Cooking: Greek, where you'll find many authentic Greek family favorites, from meze and main dishes to traditional desserts.

I'm also excited to share that my second cookbook, Vivian Is Baking, is coming soon! It will include a collection of my favorite cakes and desserts, from Greek classics to popular international treats.

If you've never tried Fasolakia before, now is the perfect time while green beans are in season. I hope you enjoy this simple, healthy, and flavorful Greek classic.

Happy cooking!

Vivian

Hero Ingredients for Healthy Cooking (Mediterranean-Inspired)

Today I’m opening my kitchen cupboards… and honestly, this is where healthy cooking really begins. Not with complicated recipes, but with a few well-chosen, everyday ingredients—my hero ingredients.

These are simple, everyday staples that bring both flavor and nutrition, that I use all the time, and they are at the heart of Mediterranean cooking. You’ll find them in many recipes on my blog and throughout my book Vivian is Cooking GREEK, available worldwide on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover.

Here are my heroes:

Roasted Chestnuts in the Ninja Crispi (Easy & Foolproof)

For this Ninja Crispi recipe, I went for a seasonal classic: roasted chestnuts. I usually enjoy them during Christmas vacations, bought hot from open markets, their warm paper cones and that unmistakable winter smell in the air. I don’t normally make chestnuts at home, but I was curious to try them in the Ninja Crispi.

And it felt a little magical. The chestnuts come out tender and perfectly roasted — no ashes, no smoke, just clean, comforting warmth. A small winter pleasure you can now enjoy anytime, not only during the holidays.

If you try this recipe, let me know how it turned out for you! (click on Read more for the details)