The tart is a universal dish which is suitable regardless of the circumstances. You can serve it at a smart dinner, a meeting with friends or a quick meal. The selection of ingredients is also endless. Add shrimps or fish to make a more exquisite version, or treat the tart as a way to use up meat which you have after dinner. Fruits and whipped cream allow you to prepare an interesting supper or dessert.

Today I have added my favourite ingredients: leek, chickpeas and chorizo. As I assumed, it was excellent, and it was difficult to say no to a second helping. Try it and evaluate it for yourself.

Ingredients:
1 pack of chilled French pastry
250g of chorizo
1 small leek
1 tin of chickpeas
half a chili pepper
1 tablespoon of butter
150ml of 18% sweet cream
2 eggs
100g of grated cheese
1 teaspoon of sweet pepper powder
salt and pepper

For most of us music is the backdrop of our home life. I know people who watch the news channel all day and they are in the swim with regard to all events in our country and the world. Proverbial housewives usually watch TV series. I often turn on cooking shows, which murmur quietly in the background, encouraging me to cook and try new recipes.

In this way I watched an episode of the "Okrasa łamie przepisy" series entitled "Summer memories". One of the goodies served by Karol Okrasa was stewed rabbit in mushroom sauce. The dish seemed to be easy and the sauce so fragrant that I could almost smell the aroma from the telly. Inspired and encouraged I decided to prepare my own version of this meal. When all the meat had disappeared in the contentedly murmuring maws of my family, we still had some mushroom sauce, which was excellent with buckwheat groats.

Ingredients:
1 portioned rabbit (about 5-6 pieces)
200g of edible boletes (can be frozen)
100g of smoked bacon
2 shallots
2 cloves of garlic
2 carrots
1 parsley root
3 sprigs of rosemary

Sad and dull autumn-winter weather always depresses me. I like the spring warmth, waking greenery and long days. In autumn and winter I don't like the foul weather, snow and early gathering darkness. Only Christmas brings me a bit of comfort. In January, when second by second the days grow longer, a small hope awakens within me. Day by day we get nearer to spring.

To lift my mood I prepared an extremely summery cake. Crusty coconut tart with a cherry orange filling. I sweetened the cake and cherry preserve with xylitol. Due to this the cake is less caloric than it is when baked with white sugar.

Ingredients:
dough
250g of flour
4 tablespoons of xylitol
a hint of salt
2 eggs
120g of butter
40g of desiccated coconut
fruit:
500g of cherries without stones
juice and peel grated from half of orange
4 tablespoons of xylitol
half of teaspoon of cinnamon

I try not to challenge any doctors' decisions regarding prescribed medicines during times of illness. I'm not a doctor, but I try to rely on my intuition and common sense. Before I go to the pharmacy I use old natural medicines and homemade syrups tried and tested by my mum and grandma. I avoid doctors who give out antibiotics too freely.

I don't dispute the necessity of taking medicine during illness. Even if we believe in natural medicine, sometimes we have to take drugs, as it is the only way to get better. Sometimes we also need dietary supplements, because, at our latitude, especially at the end of winter and beginning of spring, it is difficult for the body, as it has to pull on its reserves and we don't have a chances to get fresh vitamins and microelements. Although supplements aren't an alternative to good nutrition, they do have positive effects.

It is a frightening fact that the drug industry convinces us that "pills are good for everything". Adverts tout pills for joints, liver, muscles, memory... Self-care, diet, exercise and fresh air are put on the back burner. People are inherently lazy, so instead of making an effort they choose the soft option and take a drug. Neither our bodies nor our wallets can stand so many drugs.

My brother-in-law makes the best homemade yeasty pizza. Because for New Year's Eve dinner my sister and I made a lot of dishes, we needed a hot meal which would be slightly lighter than traditional Italian pizza. After brainstorming we chose pizza on a French pastry base. It was really tasty. If I made it for myself the pizza would have vegetarian ingredients. The male part of our family would choose the meat version with spicy seasonings.

The main recipients of this pizza were my children, so it was prepared with ham and pineapple, which is called Hawaiian pizza in Poland. If you don't like this, choose your favourite ingredients. Remember to choose less juicy ingredients, so as not to soak the pizza base. You only need to add your favourite sauce (tomato or garlic) and supper is ready.

Indredients:
1 pack of chilled French pastry
1 tin of tomatoes (cubed)
half an onion
2 cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon of dried oregano
1 tablespoon of butter
1 tin of pineapple
150g of ham
100g of maize
100g of cheese
salt and pepper