Ukrainian chef Alexandra "Sasha" Ivanova has been sharing traditional dishes of her homeland from her Australian apartment.
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She launched her Newcastle-based business, Ukrainian Dumplings, just over a year ago and also makes Ukrainian honey cakes and crepes to order.
Sasha was born and raised in the city of Kremenchuk.
"Several generations of my family have lived there, and I have many warm and fond memories of the city," she said.
"It's located right in the heart of the country and is the second-largest city in our region, roughly the size of Newcastle.
"Kremenchuk is over 500 years old and is known for being very green, with numerous parks. It sits on the banks of the Dnipro, the largest river in Ukraine."
Sasha's father still lives in Kremenchuck. It's where she met husband, Denys.
"Dad and I are very close and stay in touch often. We do our best to support him and my grandmother whenever we can," she says. "Sadly, I lost my mum just a few months before the war."
Sasha studied at a culinary college and, after three years of training, earned a "chef's diploma". She then enrolled in a medical college and became a pharmacist.
"I combined working at a pharmacy with part-time studies. That's how I ended up with two completely different degrees in my life," she explains.
"Since childhood, I've loved watching cooking shows and writing down recipes. I also learned from my mother-in-law, who loves experimenting with new dishes."
Traditional Ukrainian recipes tend to be passed down from generation to generation. It's certainly the case in Sasha's family.
"All Ukrainians love to eat well. It seems to be in our blood," Sasha says.
"It's a tradition in our culture to set a table with an abundance of food and to warmly welcome guests. My cousin's grandmother used to cook so many dishes for guests that, to make sure she didn't forget to serve them, she would write a list and hang it on the fridge. One time, her list included 30 dishes."
Dumplings, or "varenyky", are a Ukrainian staple. The most popular fillings are potato, cottage cheese and cabbage.
"A true delicacy is varenyky with cherries. Traditionally, varenyky are eaten with sour cream," Sasha says.
"Originally, they came from Turkish cuisine, where boiled pastries with fillings were made from unleavened dough. Ukrainians slightly modified the recipe, and over time, varenyky became a part of our culture."
She started making and selling honey cakes a month ago.
"This dessert is very popular in Ukraine. It consists of many thin layers of cake soaked in cream," Sasha says.
"Soon, I plan to make different variations of this cake with various fillings to add some variety to the classic recipe."
In addition to honey cakes and dumplings, Sasha makes and sells crepes. Customers can choose from chicken and mushroom, and cottage cheese and raisins.
There are approximately 16 to 18 potato-filled dumplings in a 500-gram pack, and 50 to 55 pieces in a meat-filled dumpling pack. Sasha recommends storing potato-filled dumplings in the freezer for up to one month. Meat-filled dumplings, or pelmeni, "are also best stored in the freezer, remaining tasty and safe for consumption for up to three or four months".
"For me, this is a part-time job. I cook three or four days a week. The rest of the time, I dedicate to volunteer work and helping people receive biblical education," she says.
"I'm very pleased that so many Australians enjoy the taste of Ukrainian food. It makes me happy to introduce you to my culture and cuisine."
Sasha and Denys travelled widely before deciding to settle in Australia in 2023.
"Honestly, I never imagined I would live in Australia because it seemed so far away and almost too magical to be real. But my husband and I decided to give it a try, and now we have absolutely no regrets about our decision," she says.
"Australia has inspired me, and that's why I decided to start my own small, home-based business making Ukrainian food."
It has been difficult, though, for Sasha and Denys to watch the conflict in Ukraine from afar.
"War is terrible. As my grandmother, who lived through World War II, used to say: 'War is the worst thing that can happen to you'," she says.
"I never thought it would affect me and my family. I see how unfairly innocent people are dying, how most people spend sleepless nights due to the constant sirens, and how the nervous system of all Ukrainians is naturally suffering.
"This cannot leave anyone indifferent, especially when my family and friends live there."
You can order online at Ukrainian_dumplings (Instagram) and Ukrainian dumplings (Facebook).
