Next up for the April edition of Cook the Books: Bread & War by Felicity Spector.

I discovered Felicity here on Substack and was instantly awestruck by her story and the stories she’s telling from Ukraine.

The books tells stories of hope and resilience through food, through bread and through the incredible people keeping communities going in the most impossible circumstances.

At the back of the book there’s a selection of recipes, curated from the meals Felicity shared and encountered during her time in Ukraine, which I’ll be baking from this coming month. I’ll be trying syrniki, gombovtsi, banosh, a poppyseed cake with plums and a special type of energy bar - amongst many others!

AND, April is also the launch of Cook the World! Food is without a doubt one of the best ways to explore places, cultures and even memories. Each month, I’ll be exploring somewhere new through recipes, stories and conversations with the people who know these flavours and dishes best. I’ll explain more next week - but for now, just know that I’m tying the two together for the first edition.

One country. One month. Two series… and a whole lot of learning (and baking) ahead!