How to survive a pandemic? Just sweeten life!

In the summer some of us started to believe that quarantine was history. Unfortunately, with the arrival of the autumn, the coronavirus attacked us with double the force. The appeal "Don't leave the house" came back and the question, how not to go crazy, spending almost the whole day in the four walls. Especially since the autumn temperatures and shorter days are not conducive to outdoor activities....

A positive attitude is, in my opinion, the key to surviving this difficult period. Have you heard that with positive thinking our immune system is better at dealing with viruses and our psyche at dealing with obstacles?

Catching up - a pleasant necessity

What to do to overcome the monotony, not to enter the war path with the household members, and above all to have a sense of well spent time? First of all, let's treat the period of pandemic and quarantine as a chance to make up for the backlog and settle things, including enjoyable things, which have long been pushed to the background for lack of time. Have you put aside something for the future? It has just arrived!

Once you've done things that were postponed, watched the season's movie hits and even the photos from last year's vacation, you'll be happy to get down to the long-established paperwork, closet or cellar...

For the enjoyment and for the spirit

Satisfaction with the not too much liked but finished work will allow you to devote time without any remorse to relaxation or aromatic candlelight bath.

Your are surely familiar with this explosion of endorphins, after the gym training is over? Therefore, although it can be difficult to mobilize for exercises, let the incentive be their effect - a better mood. It doesn't have to be a murderous workout, how about slow jogging after the apartment, yoga or qigong?

Or maybe a new hobby that will be useful also at work. Learning a foreign language online, lectures on ancient history or basic programming?

But don't forget about social life - a video meeting may not replace 100 percent coffee with friends or beer with buddies, but it will allow you to renew old friendships, which have been neglected for lack of time... Grandma and Grandpa will surely enjoy the phonecall and chitchat.

Helping, it's a wonderful feeling!

Epidemic time is also a good time to start helping others. It's worth looking around - wouldn't an older neighbor be happy to having done his shopping, go out with his dog, have dinner or a delicious dessert?

If you have the time and opportunity to get involved on a larger scale, it is worth remembering that the fight against coronavirus does not only take place in hospitals. As a result of the epidemic, groups at risk of exclusion suffer - sick, lonely and homeless people. Often overnight they have lost the help they could count on until now. It is sometimes difficult to find such people by oneself, but we can reach them e.g. through non-governmental organizations helping the weakest. This is where we can get information about who is expecting help and what kind of help. Nothing affects the mood as well as the feeling of satisfaction that one has helped someone in need.

And as for dessert....

And finally, my reliable way to improve the mood of myself and others.

A simple, quick and delicious dessert. Chocolate cake, with "lava" inside.

Recipe for beginners.

Only 5 ingredients (6 portions)):

-Dark chocolate or other favourite (100 g).

-Butter (90 g)

-3 eggs

-Flour (40 g)

-Sugar (120 g)

All ingredients should be at room temperature.

-Prepare 6 baking tins in advance and spread them thoroughly with butter.

-Break the chocolate and melt it together with the butter in a fireproof metal bowl over a saucepan with boiling water. Stir to a smooth mass.

-In the meantime, beat the eggs with half the sugar (60g) until the foa

m forms. Afterwards add gradually and mix in the rest of the sugar.

-Then add the melted chocolate with butter and slowly mix everything.

-Add the flour carefully (preferably sifting through a sieve!).

-Pour the finished chocolate mixture into small baking forms.

-Bake at 180ºC for about 10 minutes (setting the oven to heat).

Attention! The key of success is combining the products and the baking time, even one minute difference changes the degree of fluidity of the cake.

How to serve:

I recommend serving it together with vanilla ice cream. Delicious! A great contrast to a hot cookie.

And don't forget to sprinkle with powdered sugar.😋

Good luck!

PS

Small experiments like this are yet another way to discover your culinary talent and improve the mood - including that of your loved ones - during quarantine and restrictions on the use of professional catering services. I highly recommend it!

Maybe you can even compose a dish that will go down in family history?