Twice is Nice

I have never been busier making korovayi. I have been fully booked for at least a month and a half out - surprisingly, mostly with local orders! While it keeps me on my toes, it saddens me to have to turn people away. Thankfully, there is a korovai community on Facebook to turn to when...

Banff Wedding

I've been slow to post, but am excited to finally share this korovai with you. It travelled from Ottawa to Calgary, and then to Banff for a beautiful wedding in the Rockies. I was most happy to hear that the korovai made its way without a glitch and absolutely nothing broke in transit. Sometimes little...

Korovai for Hope

It is with a heavy heart that I write this first post of the season. Since February 24 this year, I've had trouble focusing on things that bring me joy. As I contemplate the upcoming wedding season and joy it brings to newlyweds, their families and friends, I remind myself that the very reason I...

Doves & Beads

Since I started baking korovayi eight years ago, I noticed different trends. A few years back, it was all about silk flower adornments. Then "patychky" resembling fir branches became popular korovai toppers. Over the last couple of years, I noticed a surge in elaborate baked-on decorations that elegantly drape over the bread. This year saw...

All Jazzed Up

I really enjoy making korovayi during summer holidays at the cottage. The pace here is slower, the kids are outside all day (which means I am not interrupted as much), and I have a moment to myself to savour the bread-making day. I mix and knead the dough in the morning, it rests and rises...

Voloshky

I finally got around to growing voloshky (волошки) in my garden this year. In English, this native European wildflower is called cornflower because it often grows as a weed in cornfields, including fields of wheat, barley, rye and oats. Just like kalyna (guelder rose), barvinok (periwinkle), poppies and sunflowers, voloshky are an integral part of...

Small Korovai with Roses

Here's a straightforward request: a traditional korovai with doves, with a few roses scattered around the middle. Another simple request: the korovai will be eaten. Easy, right? Except this combination gives me a bit of anxiety. The rose leaves must mold to the bread. The korovai must be extra fresh. How do I drape the...

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to all my readers celebrating Easter this weekend! Our family celebrates Easter according to the Julian calendar - so we still have the entire month to go this year - but I decided to bake my first batch of paska today. Paska - паска in Ukrainian - is a traditional round Easter bread,...

Dove Nests

In honour of Valentine's Day, let me share with you these tiny love birds sitting in braided nests. The groom-to-be recently discovered he is half Ukrainian, and the bride thoughtfully wished to reflect his Ukrainian heritage in their wedding favours. These small 2"-3" favours were made well in advance of a summer wedding. While this...