Preserving a Hungarian History : One Recipe at a Time
When my husband's grandmother, Maria left her home in Budapest, she did not have many possessions with her. She, her husband Aladar and their two sons were more than she could have hoped for, as they all survived the horrors of the Holocaust. They started a new life in Montreal, Canada and lived in an immigrant community with many other Hungarians.
As a young woman, Maria loved to cook and bake and had a lot of exposure to delicious foods and baked goods through her father's cafe. Legend has it that Maria befriended many pastry chefs in area cafes and charmed them into sharing some of their famous recipes with her.
Found Recipes
Maria's grandsons fondly remember her cooking with some favorite dishes being her matzah ball soup , dinner plate-size schnitzel and some delicious cakes and tortes. But sadly, there were no tangible recipes left behind... or so we thought!
Several years ago, when Uncle Andrew, Maria's last living son passed away, a miraculous discovery was made! Tucked away in an unremarkable file were several dozen hand-typed recipes... in Hungarian!!
This thrilling and mysterious discovery felt like finding the most precious treasure. It gave us a window into Maria's culture, her childhood and made her memory come to life in a way that was vibrant and captivating beyond our wildest expectations.
Slowly but surely, I feel privileged to have the opportunity to translate, recipe test and bake my way through these precious family artifacts. From every day biscuits to elaborate tortes and cakes, I am thrilled to share this journey and some delicious rediscovered recipes with you!
Hungarian Recipe Collection
I look forward to adding many more rediscovered Hungarian family recipes here. Stay tuned! Sign up in the form below to receive new recipes delivered right to you!
Maria’s Hungarian Apricot Ruffled Tart
This delightful tart recipe feels like a true treasure, discovered tucked away in a file of old recipes that belonged to my husband’s grandmother from Budapest. Lovingly typed in Hungarian,…
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Maria’s Authentic Hungarian Cheese Spread
Ever since I said “I do,” this simple yet complex savory spread has been on the menu around the holidays. My husband’s grandmother, Maria, from Budapest, gave the recipe to…
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