As this cookbook will show you, the climate and geography of Ukraine are a great help in producing many types of foods. They have ready access to grains, dairy and meat products, vegetables and fruits, nuts, eggs and oils. They also harvest fish from the Azov and Black Seas.

Most Ukrainian people today still eat fairly inexpensive meals of bland flavored staples and traditional dishes from the country. They also have choices in fast food, and some of the younger people eat that a lot. However, the parents and grandparents still make traditional foods like sausages, noodles, porridge, buckwheat, rice, oatmeal and breads.

Some of the more frequently served Ukrainian meals include cabbage borscht, potato dumplings (varenyky), deep-fried potatoes (Kartoplia Solimkoi), stuffed cabbage rolls (holubtsi), corn bread stuffing (nachynka) and the country's namesake, named after its capital city, Chicken Kiev (now spelled Kyiv and pronounced "Keev").

From the bread and grain oriented main dishes to their sweet desserts, the people in Eastern European countries have developed many skills that allow them to create some tasty and unique dishes. When you faithfully recreate Ukrainian dishes at home, you'll marvel at their use of various ingredients. Your family will enjoy learning about Ukraine from their food. Read on!