What to cook in October?

My top recipes for October that the weather starts to get chilly and rainy (at least in my region :) not to mention spooky because of Haloween!

• Butternut squash soup
• Croziflette, savoy specialty!
• Greek ravani (moist cake with semolina)
• Coconut "Ravani"

Super yummy all of them! 

Let me know what you think in your comments.

 

Homemade Pretzels (twist it baby!)

This is THE best recipe to prepare the saltiest soft pretzels! Look no further, my hubby tested it and we are sharing it here. Enjoy!  

Hubby is bringing tasty trends at home thanks to his travelling, here's another one that we are crazy for: 

• Kurtos Kalacs or chimney cakes

Ham and swiss cheese bread/cake

Having friends coming over? Looking for a fast meal? Are on a diet and instead of baking a sweet cake you came to your senses and decide to bake a salty one? Then this recipe is for you. Here we have just loved it! What's the secret ? The swiss cheese (aged Gruyere) that makes all the difference :)

Bake this salty cake that you can either cut in cubes and serve it with toothpicks as an aperitif or serve it with a salad and have a full and tasty meal! 

Other ideas: 

• Tomato-mozzarella-oregano cake
• Feta & dried tomatoes cake
• Aperitif or cocktail hour flower

Coco-choco Banana Bread

You like banana breads? We do and I am full of inspirations those days, so after my vegan recipe, check my latest one: 

the Coco-Choco!

VEGAN Banana bread-ilicious!

 

You like banana breads? 

You are vegan or you are looking for a recipe without eggs? 

You are looking for an excuse to try a new recipe?

Check the recipe that my daughter brought me some days ago. She had a 24-hour gym challenge for a good cause and someone made a delicious vegan banana bread that not many dared to try, for which she is so thankfull as she got an extra dose! She described it to me as the best banana bread in the world, and if you add that a friend was telling me recently that this is her favorite cake, you can imagine the rest :)

Portokalopita (Greek Orange Phyllo Cake)

Portokalopita

[Updated 08/05/2025]

A moist, fragrant Greek dessert made with shredded phyllo, yogurt, and a rich orange syrup. Portokalopita is a beloved sweet often served in tavernas — and impossible to resist!

Click on Read me more link below for the recipe. 

Love to hear your feedback! (In comments below)

Waffles

French breakfast to it's best! Waffles 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 :)

Greek Ekmek Kadaifi (Custard & Whipped Cream Dessert)

[Updated 30/03/2925]

A crispy, syrup-soaked kadaifi base topped with creamy custard and fluffy whipped cream. This Greek version features walnuts and warm spices for a truly indulgent treat!

Kadaifi dough is a fine, thread-like pastry, typically found in Mediterranean, Greek, or Middle Eastern grocery stores, often in the frozen section. If frozen, defrost overnight in the fridge before use.

Happy Valentine's day 2020 !

Ok, I am not fan of St Valentine's day, but I have to admit that it's fun and I get inspired to make fancy cakes :) So, enjoy my first Pavlova for 2020, we ate two thirds of it in the first round !!! 

Try the recipe, it's one of my favorites...
Not to mention that you can choose any shape you like and adapt it to any theme.
Cheers!  

Haloween Fingers

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

Belgian Liege waffles (Gauffres de Liège)

Autumn Sundays for me need to start with a nice homemade breakfast to gather everyone around the table and enjoy the warmth of the family. One of the recipes that we like to prepare are ... Waffles!
And if Waffles are great, the Belgian ones, I would say even more :) Thanks to Nathalie, my Belgian ex-colleague that made me discover them!
The difference lies in the pearl sugar and the dough that looks like a brioche (airy and fluffy) thanks to the fresh yeast.
You need to dispose also a waffle iron as in my photos though.
If you share my philosophy and you are ready to try, here it goes...
Note: This recipe doesn't include sugar unless at the end, so if you like, like my daughter a salty version, feel free to add some bacon, cheese or anything else that your instinct tells you :) 

Greek Phyllo Dough for Pies

Making homemade phyllo dough takes some effort, but the results are definitely worth it! 

If you’ve ever tasted traditional Greek pies like spanakopita or spanakotyropita, you know that the secret to the crispy, flaky texture is in the dough. 

To achieve the thinnest sheets, you’ll need a special wooden rolling stick (or a similar tool) and a large surface to work on. 

It’s a bit of a workout, but trust me, it’s the authentic way, and it makes your pies absolutely delicious! This recipe is dedicated to my mum, the master of phyllo, who taught me everything I know.

Greek Stuffed Eggplants (Papoutsakia)

[Updated 23/03/2025 improved writing style]

[Updated 21/05/19 lighter version no frying]

 

A popular Greek summer dish, "papoutsakia" means "little shoes" due to their unique shape. Similar to Authentic, traditional recipe of Moussaka!!! but served individually, this dish combines tender eggplant, rich meat sauce, and a creamy béchamel topping—perfect for a flavorful dinner with friends.