Usually I cook for the whole family. Sometimes I prepare something that my children really like, because we adults adjust more easily and "like" everything. This time I did something different and prepared a dessert for adults. I served a light mousse with nuts with perfect winter gingerbread liqueur and dark chocolate. It is very easy to make a child-friendly version of this dessert. Just replace the gingerbread liqueur with fruit or chocolate icing. You should prepare the liqueur a few days earlier. It is excellent on a languorous winter evening, or it goes well with dessert and ice cream for adults.

Ingredients
peanut mousse
150ml of aquafaba
a pinch of salt
2-3 tablespoons of peanut butter
1 teaspoon of caster sugar
gingerbread liqueur
400ml of sweet condensed milk
50g of dark chocolate
1 tablespoon of gingerbread spices
175ml of whisky
200ml of vodka

My dears, this year my wishes are really mundane. Everybody can see the current situation. Most of all, I wish health for you and your families, strength for those who are fighting, and hope for those who have empty spaces at the Christmas table.

I wish you a quick return to normal life with restaurants, meetings and trips. I wish you a calm, optimistic Christmas with a Christmas tree, with delicious dishes and lots of gifts from Santa Claus.

Merry Christmas!

Even though I don't like creamy cookies, I absolutely love puffs. I always thought that preparing them at home is really hard work, and the result? It isn't always satisfying. But...faint heart never won a fair lady, so here we are! Today I offer you my homemade puffs with whipped cream and raspberries. Delicious, crunchy outside and... empty inside  and that's the way it should be. Eclairs are next.

Ingredients:
100g of butter
150g of water
2 teaspoons of caster sugar
a pinch of salt
3-4 eggs
cream
200ml of 30% sweet cream
2-3 teaspoons of caster sugar
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
150g of mascarpone
raspberries

In my family house on Christmas Eve we have always eaten a modest breakfast and later the adults didn't eat anything till dinner. For the children we prepared fish soup with carp, batter dumplings and carrots. My children are already big enough that they don't need an extra meal anymore. They wait more or less patiently until dinner, which starts (except of course for wishes) with mushroom soup or borscht. For people that don't like any of these soups, I have an offer of mild dill fish soup. You can add to it any fish. I add zander and cod, but it will be awesome with carp and salmon too.

Ingredients:
750g of fish without skin and bones
2 carrots
1 parsley root
1 stick of celery
a piece of leek
1 clove of garlic
1 shallot
150ml of 30% sweet cream
1 teaspoon of butter
1l of vegetable or fish bouillon
1 bunch of dill
salt and pepper

For a few years being a vegetarian has become more popular. For many it isn't only a way of eating but a lifestyle and a way of choosing products, clothes and cosmetics. In my family becoming a vegetarian would be really difficult, but even we have been eating less meat lately. We have replaced it with legumes and soya products. Fortunately, eating a lot of fruit and vegetables isn't a problem, because we have always eaten loads. Today I offer a typical veggie lunch – a lot of vegetables, kasha, falafel and garlic yogurt sauce – colourful, delicious, light and healthy.

Ingredients (for 3 people)
falafel
300g of dried chickpeas
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
4 tablespoons of chopped parsley
half a teaspoon of cumin
half a teaspoon of sweet paprika
half a teaspoon of curry powder
salt and pepper
oil for frying