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...

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...

Tree of Life

I had so much fun making this korovai for my friend! She basically gave me carte blanche with a few preferences: "Here are some pictures that make me happy. I like the idea of a дерево життя (tree of life). I don't want the korovai to be fully covered with decorations. I like the doves to...

Featuring Kalyna

Now that I think of it, I thought I'd be getting way more requests for korovayi incorporating the red berries of kalyna. Kalyna, the Ukrainian name for the shrub Viburnum opulus (common name guelder-rose), is an integral part of Ukrainian folklore and culture. It is mentioned and depicted in songs, poetry, art and embroidery -...

Small Wonder

Today, I dropped off another korovai order at the FedEx ship center located at the airport. Usually, I ask my dad to watch the twins while I take the baby with me. But today, I felt pretty confident having them all tag along... and it turned out to be a successful venture. The highlight of...