A woman who fled Ukraine with her family has contributed a borscht recipe to a communal cookbook.
Anna Zhuzha, who is being hosted in Cockermouth, came to the UK in June 2022 with her two sons, their two cousins, and her sister-in-law following the commencement of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Ms Zhuzha said: "We thought we would be going home in six months.
"We thought the war would be over by then.
"Sometimes I can't quite believe that we are still here."
Her husband, Igor, was allowed to leave Ukraine because of their disabled son, and joined the group in January 2023.
Ms Zhuzha's mother and two brothers are still in Ukraine.
She said: "I worry about them all the time.
"I was on the phone to my mum the other day when suddenly there was this loud, booming noise.
"A rocket flew over her head, landing not far away.
"My family lives in a large industrial city where bombs are dropping every day.
"It feels like a million miles from Cumbria and our lives here."
Of the group's host family in Cockermouth, Tony and Lorraine, Ms Zhuzha said: "They welcomed us with open arms and we will never forget their kindness."
The families bonded over food, particularly borscht, which Ms Zhuzha used to make in Ukraine.
At an English language class in King's Church, Cockermouth, Ms Zhuzha met fellow Ukrainian Katerina, who suggested cooking borscht for their new friends.
More than 200 people turned up to the resultant pop-up café at the church.
Ms Zhuzha has now shared her borscht recipe as part of King's Church's contribution to The Kinder Cookbook, a free-to-download collection of recipes from The Cumberland Society in partnership with FareShare Lancashire and Cumbria.
FareShare redistributes surplus goods from the food retail supply chain to charitable groups.
Ms Zhuzha said: "In Ukraine, borscht has long been considered a symbol of a strong family.
"All the ingredients are prepared in a clay pot, transferring their flavours to each other and, as a result, they become one whole soup – rich, hearty, and thick.
"When I cook borscht I think of love – love for my family, love for my country, love for our culture and food."
The Kinder Cookbook can be downloaded at https://www.cumberland.co.uk/kinderkitchens/cookbook
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