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)!

My Etsy Shop is Live! 🎉

I’m excited to announce my first My Etsy Shop! 

✨ Vivian is Cooking GREEK – my ebook with 44 authentic Greek recipes you can try at home, from starters to desserts. Get it here →

🍰 Kid-Friendly Italian Tiramisu – a coffee- & alcohol-free printable recipe card, perfect for family fun in the kitchen. Grab it here →

❤️ Heart-Shaped Pavlova (Valentine’s Special) – a romantic, light, and elegant dessert topped with cream and red fruits. A printable recipe card perfect for Valentine’s Day.
👉 Get it here →

All recipes are tested, easy to follow, and ready to download. Bring a taste of Greece (and Italy!) to your home today!

👉[Visit My Etsy Shop]

My First eBook Is Here 🎉

After years of sharing recipes on this blog, I’m excited to introduce my first eBook:

Vivian Is Cooking GREEK – 44 Authentic Recipes to Try at Home

📘 Digital PDF – instant download ✨ Special offer for early buyers!

👉 Discover the eBook here 

From starters and meze to classic mains and desserts like moussaka, spanakotyropita, and portokalopita — all recipes are simple, flavorful, and easy to follow.
Includes a Greek pantry essentials list.

Thank you for supporting my cooking journey.

Kali orexi!
— Vivian

Growing Your Own Herbs All Year Round: Indoor & Outdoor Herb Gardens

Growing herbs all year round is easy and well suited to urban living. Windowsills, balconies, and rooftops — like those used by many restaurants — offer ideal conditions when herbs are grown in pots with good light and drainage.

Hardy herbs such as rosemary, thyme, sage, bay leaf, and chives can stay outdoors year-round, while tender herbs like basil, parsley, cilantro, mint, and dill prefer bright indoor spots in winter. Mixing both ensures a steady supply in every season.

Herbs are also highly decorative. Indoors, group basil, parsley, and chives in matching pots on a kitchen windowsill or on a tray. Outdoors, combine rosemary, thyme, and oregano in long planters for a Mediterranean look, or pair mint and chives in separate pots to control growth while adding freshness to balconies and terraces. On rooftops, use heavier containers and mix bay leaf, sage, and rosemary for structure and fragrance.

Practical Tips

• Use pots with good drainage and light soil

• Place herbs in bright natural light

• Water moderately, avoiding excess moisture

• Protect outdoor pots from frost and wind

• Harvest regularly to encourage growth

💡 Want more tips like this? Check my Tips page of the blog — small ideas that make everyday cooking easier and faster.

Cooking in Winter: Seasonal Vegetables & Cozy Dishes

Winter is the heart of the season (at least in central Europe where I live 😉), and it’s the perfect time to focus on nourishing, comforting meals using fresh seasonal produce. In France, winter vegetables are abundant, flavorful, and full of nutrients — ideal for warming soups, stews, roasts, and cozy home cooking.

Dolmadakia me Kima (Stuffed Vine Leaves with Meat)

Dolmadakia me kima are a classic Greek comfort dish: tender vine leaves filled with meat, rice, and fresh herbs, gently cooked until soft and fragrant. I usually prepare them with a veal & pork mince and cook them in a pressure cooker, which makes the process easy and very reliable — but other options work just as well.

👉 For the meatless version, see my dolmadakia without kima 

Greek Stuffed Vine Leaves (Dolmadakia)

recipe on the blog. The rolling technique is exactly the same (check photos there).

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)!

Baking Flours & Doughs Explained

✨ A simple reference to help you choose the right flour and dough every time.

Understanding flour types and classic doughs helps you bake better cakes, breads, tarts, and pastries with confidence. This concise guide explains the most common flours, their characteristics and uses, followed by a clear overview of essential French and Greek doughs and pastry bases.

Vivian's pudding (Greek Walnut cake) in 2025

My Vivian’s Pudding (Walnut Cake from Tyrnavos), was once again a smash in family. Check the 2025 style :)

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)!

Kourambiedes in 2025

2025 was a very good year of Kourambiedes (Greek Christmas Almond Cookies). 

Check in the photos how well they turned out !

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)!
 

Healthy & Eco-Friendly 2026: A More Conscious Kitchen

As we step into 2026, my wish for you is health, calm, and balance — starting with your kitchen.
Home cooking is more than preparing food: it helps you eat well, reduce stress, and care for both yourself and the planet. Cooking mindfully is a simple way to combine health, eco-responsibility, and everyday well-being.

Simple habits for health and eco-friendly living

• Freeze bread in slices 
  Use only what you need and reduce food waste.

• Use fresh herbs wisely 
  Freeze chopped herbs with a little olive oil, or use stems in soups and sauces.

• Freeze leftovers in small portions 
  Soups, grains, or sauces become easy, healthy meals and prevent waste.

• Plan gently to reduce stress 
  Repeat simple recipes, cook extra when possible, and lower daily mental load.

• Keep meals simple and nourishing 
  Soup and bread, eggs with vegetables, yogurt with fruit — small, mindful meals that support both health and sustainability.

• Compost food scraps 
  Vegetable peelings, coffee grounds, and other compostable waste can be returned to the soil, closing the loop and reducing your environmental footprint.

My 2026 wish for you ✨

A kitchen that nourishes your body, mind, and the planet.
Meals that support health, reduce stress, minimize waste, and give back to the Earth.
Home cooking is one of the best ways to care for yourself, your loved ones, and the environment.

Happy New Year 2026! 
I’d love to know: what habits help you eat healthier, waste less, and cook with less stress? Share your tips in the comments!

Mascarpone–Nutella Christmas Log (Bûche de Noël)

This Christmas, I decided to combine two of my older favorite recipes Xmas Swiss roll (buche de Noel) with mascarpone, and Chocolate cake with mascarpone & nutella filling

into one festive dessert: a soft chocolate sponge cake and a creamy mascarpone–Nutella frosting. The result is a rich but light Christmas log, rolled and shaped like a real branch, perfect for holiday tables and family gatherings.

This recipe is easier than it looks and can be prepared in advance, making it ideal for stress-free entertaining.

Christmas 2025 sweet wishes

Christmas is a time for sweetness — not only on the table, but in the little moments we share. This year, I’m celebrating with desserts that feel most like Christmas: simple, nostalgic, and full of warmth.

From Greek classics to a few European favorites, these sweet wishes are meant to be shared, enjoyed slowly, and remembered. 

Wishing you a Christmas full of warmth, sweetness, and simple joys.

Greek or oriental Classics

• Melomakarona – honey-soaked cookies with walnuts
• Kourambiedes – buttery almond shortbreads
• Ravani – moist semolina cake with syrup
• Galatopita – creamy custard phyllo pie
• Vivian’s Pudding (Walnut Cake) – fragrant and tender
• Ekmek Kadaifi – shredded phyllo dessert with creamy toping

European Favorites

• Bûche de Noël – xmas swiss roll - classic rolled yule log
• Rice Pudding (Riz au lait) – comforting and creamy
• Cinnamon Rolls – soft, spiced, and sweet
• Kürtőskalács – Hungarian chimney cake, crispy and caramelized

Festive Treats & Extras

• Roasted Chestnuts – perfectly clean and tender in the Ninja Crispi

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)