WELCOME

The kitchen really is the castle itself.

This is where we spend our happiest moments 

and where we find the joy of being a family. 

-Mario Batalli-

Milwaukee Kukhnya started as a way to connect with friends and family after Andrew and I first moved to Milwaukee from our hometown of Minneapolis, MN for Andrew to start his PhD program at UW-Milwaukee. This was a big move. Neither of us left home for college or for our (first) graduate degrees, so the fact that we were now living five hours away from those we love most was a difficult transition. Now, more than six months have passed, and though it's never easy to be away from family, we're making the most of our new adventure and cooking up a storm while we're at it.

So what is a "kukhnya," anyway? 

"Kukhnya" means kitchen in Ukrainian. I have been brought up in this most incredible culture, filled with traditions and customs that have enriched my life immensely. Since the beginning, Andrew has embraced this part of me completely - and now speaks enough Ukrainian for us to have conversations together! It's something we plan on continuing well into the future...

...but back to the kitchen. So much of my life growing up was centered around our kitchen. It was the first room we'd enter as we came home, where we'd do our homework, try out new recipes, and celebrate all of life's moments, big and small. As Andrew and I have started our life together, we, too, find ourselves spending a lot of time in our kitchen. We're happiest when we're experimenting with new recipes, creating new menus to share with our family and friends (or for just the two of us on a quiet night), and sharing a glass of wine while dreaming of our future.

The kitchen is truly the heart of our home. That's why we named this blog our "kukhnya;" it's our virtual gathering place with friends and family back home and with those of you who might just be passing by. Here, you'll find posts about our favorite recipes, look through some photos, follow along on our wedding plans, and keep up to date on the projects we're working on. Please visit often!