In the Middle Ages drinking unboiled water was risky. The Alternative to water was .... beer. This tipple contains alcohol and hops, which protects it against going off and stops people from getting ill. Beer isn't only a popular refreshing tipple, but is a great ingredient of many dishes.

I know people who think that beer in a dish is a waste, but we won't listen to them, because we know that a pork knuckle or crepes with beer gives us a really inimitable taste. Today, I would like to share with you the recipe for a beef stew with beer. I use Guinness, but you may use your favourite one.

Ingredients:
0.5kg of beef for the stew
200ml of Guinness
1 onion
2 cloves of garlic
400g of small mushrooms
2 tomatoes
half a chili pepper
3 tablespoons of oil
2 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons of flour

I love that moment when I don't know what to buy at the fruit and veg market and I don't know what to use first when preparing dishes. Everything is fresh, juicy, fragrant and fantastically colourful. Of course, first I choose the things I like the most: strawberries, raspberries and peaches.

Today, I used the best part of my raspberry shopping for my summer second breakfast. I recommend it for those who only drink coffee in the morning. The rolled oats and chia seeds ensure that it satisfies our hunger very well, and the empty bowl means that you are sorry the dish was so small.

The inspiration for this dish comes from "Smaki życia" ("Flavour of Life") by Agnieszka Maciąg.

Ingredients:
100g of raspberries
3 teaspoons of honey
3 tablespoons of rolled oats
2 teaspoons of chia seeds
decoration
3 teaspoons of natural yoghurt
raspberries, blueberries, banana slices, cashews, sesame seeds

Dental and medical appointments are rarely nice, especially for children. I also know adults who keep away from white aprons for as long as they can. I also know that for he-men even the sight of needles or syringes is difficult and causes anxiety. A visit to the clinic is sometimes tougher than a knight's duel, and a sticking plaster signifies more than the scar that's left behind.

A reward is necessary after such an ordeal. Today, after an especially brave meeting with a nurse, I prepared some cheesecake muffins for my son. I used silicon pastry cases. The muffins look beautiful and the fresh strawberries and peppermint leaves make them even more special, so every gourmand will be delighted with them. I will tell you in secret that it is difficult to eat only one cheesecake.

Ingredients (6 muffins)
1 lemon jelly
10 big strawberries
200g of vanilla fromage frais
grated skin from half a lemon

All year long I wait impatiently for two summer treasures. The first are strawberries and the second are broad beans. I know that I can buy both of them frozen, but the flavour of fresh products is incomparable.

We like cooked broad beans. Regardless of how many we cook, we are able to eat them all. My daughter also loves broad beans, but she used to eat a good deal more. Many times I have used broad beans in salads. Today I would like to share with you a recipe for shortbread mini tarts with broad beans and slices of sausages. The dish smells of rosemary and thyme and it is excellent as a not so substantial dinner or a slightly richer supper.

Ingredients (for 3 people)
dough
150g of flour
1 egg
75g of butter
1 tablespoon of minced rosemary
1 tablespoon of minced thyme
a pinch of salt
stuffing
100g of sausage
3 fistfuls of broad beans
10cm piece of leek
1 tablespoon of minced rosemary

The crazy and fragrant summer strawberry season is in full bloom. This year I like strawberry cocktails the most. I add other fruit, and the strawberries are so sweet that I don't need to add any sugar. My favourite is a combination of strawberries with melon, or pear and apple juice with peppermint leaves.

As usual during the weekend I prepared a cake. This time it was a strawberry shortbread cake with blancmange and crumble topping. Everything fit together nicely. I think that this cake could be excellent with more sour fruit. Cherries, redcurrants or plums come to mind. I have to realize this idea.

The idea for this cake comes from www.moniamieszaigotuje.blogspot.com.

Ingredients:
dough
0.5 kg of flour
1 teaspoon of baking powder
200g of sugar
200g of butter
1 egg
1 egg yolk
3 tablespoons of cream