Makievska recalls the achievements of her team at Easter with some buoyancy in her voice. It’s an important date in the baking calendar. While at the time, two months after the invasion, they had no expectations of turning out their usual range, they managed to bake 1,600 traditional Easter cakes for the military. Make a liquid levain approximately 7-8 hours before mixing the dough: mix together 155g bread flour, 155g water, and 35g liquid ripe sourdough starter and leave for 7-8 hours. Cover the dough and place in the refrigerator overnight to ferment in a container three times larger than the dough. Stir the dry ingredients together in a large bowl, then add the eggs and egg whites and mix really well until smooth. Pour in the warm melted butter and stir carefully until fully combined. Transfer to the prepared tin and allow sitting for 10 minutes to rest the batter a little, then bake for about 30–35 minutes until the cake is set. We already lost two officers, and our driver who lived in Bucha. They were beautiful, healthy young men.”

I try to use the time to assess and value my own safety and freedom, while on the other side of Europe pregnant women are hunted down by “suicide” drones and murdered in their beds with their husbands and cats. “They were only 34,” says Makievska. “I am sure hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are already dead, but we don’t have the official statistics. Gourmand World Cookbook Award Winner'Baking connects good people and lets them understand each other no matter what language they speak.' - ANNA MAKIEVSKAInspired by the resilient spirit of Anna Makievska and The Bakehouse, Kyiv, who have continued to bake day and night throughout the conflict, Knead Peace is a unique collection of beautiful bakes in support of Ukraine.Coffee and walnut is a classic British combo, and one of our favourite cakes –the kind you have in the caféat the Tate gallery or a National Trust property. Coffee with cardamom is a Middle Eastern staple. It made sense to me that the three flavours would work well together, and they do. Even though the spice adds a tiny exotic note, this cake could take pride in place in any cafeteria across the land. Next, add all the dry ingredients to the mixer and mix for 5 minutes at a slow speed, then add the cooled tangzhong, milk, eggs and yeast. After Russian troops withdrew from Kyiv in the spring and life in the city began to regain a semblance of normality, Bakehouse gradually returned to serving customers with artisan bread, cakes and patisserie. If there’s anything left over at the end of a day, staff will find someone who needs it.

It’s bittersweet, but Makievska is not asking for anyone’s sympathy. In fact, she is reluctant to talk about personal hardships given that so many of her colleagues are currently serving in the Ukrainian armed forces. “Yes, it’s hard to be without my husband, but my children are safe,” she says. “More than 30 Bakehouse and Wine Bureau’s employees are serving in the army. Place dough in a container and let it relax for 30 minutes. Do 3 sets of Stretch & Fold at 30 minutes intervals and after the final one end with a 30-minute rest. After 40 minutes, shape the dough into either a boule or batard (round or oval) shape and put them in thoroughly floured proving baskets, seam-side up.

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them all in the kitchen sink for a few hours, it will really help them last for a good couple of weeks. When the leaven is bubbly, smells like yoghurt and has grown in volume two-and-half to three times, it’s good to go in the dough. Divide the dough into 600g pieces; the batch should be just enough for four loaves. Shape the dough into a round, place on a tray and cover for 40 minutes. Mix the flour and water until well incorporated. Then cover and let it sit at room temperature for one hour. After the hour add the sourdough and salt. Mix by hand until well incorporated.

and are easily pushed in with their big, woody stems, but if they get wet they will soon fall apart. Before the invasion, Bakehouse was selling 30 types of bread to retail customers and high-end restaurants, but now its bakers produce a more traditional loaf, called baton, to give away to people. People needed bread, she says, but keeping the shop open also served a deeper purpose. “If you wake up in a country that has been invaded and you go to the bakery or grocery shop, and it is open, people smile at you and things seem as usual, you’ll be optimistic about life and able to go about your business, too. People must live and work, otherwise we will not win this war.” If adding the Seeds for Solidarity Porridge it should be added at the end of Step 2, after the final Stretch & Fold.

Layla’s Cacoa Hot Cross Buns recipe

A late hanging is essential for a keeping a wreath looking really fabulous, so make one as close to when it is needed as time allows. Most people arrive at festivities sober Hannam said: "When Andrew approached Kyle Books about a global baking initiative in support of Ukraine, I knew it was something very special. The recipes in Knead Peace are modern-day baking must-haves from some of the world’s best bakers and I’m delighted Kyle is able to be part of this timely, inspiring and important book." Here’s a special extract of Knead Peace: Bake For Ukraine featuring a hot cross buns recipe. A collection of amazing bakes from across the world in support of Ukraine.