My parents emigrated to Canada from Hungary in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution; the citizens revolted against the Russian takeover. After about 12 days of Revolution, the Russian army mounted and squashed Hungary once and for all. At 20 years old, my Mom left just prior to the Russian’s ending the revolution to escort her sister to Vienna but ended up continuing her journey on to Canada; she celebrated her 21st birthday alone in Halifax. My Dad was relatively active against the Russians and decided to leave to protect himself (my uncle and aunt were expecting their first child so they were not able to leave). My Dad’s family lost everything to the Russians (the Puppet theatre(Báb Szinház) in the Liget, their family home…E V E R Y T H I N G). My Mom’s family had already lost everything to the Germans during the WWII (they had a small store that sold coffee, flour etc.). The Russian hostility toward Hungary surprised the world and both my parents were able to immigrate to Canada as Refugees of War.
My parents did not know one another in Hungary so they made their way to the New World on their own. My Mom (13 years younger than Dad) talked about her journey but Dad sadly did not. I only know that Dad came through Gibraltar and an Ocean Liner. Mom also arrived by boat but I can’t remember how or where from. You know the movies that show people trying to escape oppression, desperately crawling on their bellies across vast lands under the cloak of darkness? That was my Mom’s story. She and her sister came across the farmlands of Hungary, all the way to the Austrian border near Vienna. The Austrians were very sympathetic to the plight of the Hungarians and they helped make their way to a better life.
I’m not sure either of the parents had a “plan” as such but I know my Mom already had some relatives in Canada (an Aunt and her husband, children and their spouses). My Mom’s sister’s husband had already arrived in Toronto and was instrumental in making arrangements for my Aunt to meet him there, sadly Mom was not in that equation due to the economic circumstances of my Aunt and Uncle so she had to find her own way to Toronto. Did you ever read Angela’s Ashes? I remember reading the bit about Angela only having enough money for one egg and it resonated with me…there were many times my dear Mom only had enough money for one egg during the first months in Canada. It’s difficult to understand that this happened only 59 years ago. Mom landed in Halifax and stayed for a few months. All Canadian immigrants were given $5 (around $45 today) upon arrival and were told to have a good life. Mom found a sympathetic Swiss woman who owned a beauty shop and she worked various odd jobs at her shop and rented a room in the woman’s home. Neither of my parents spoke a word of English, so they learned from listening to the radio.
My Dad found his way to Toronto and worked in restaurants to make a living, at first waiting tables and then later as a Maî·tre d’hô·tel (Maître-D) at a very prestigious hotel near the airport. Mom’s sister introduced Mom and Dad in 1957; they dated on and off and then lived together in 1958 (yes, that was very risqué back then!). My Mom was the hold-out, she didn’t want to marry a ‘pretty boy’ as she called him. It’s true, Dad was quite the looker and the ladies loved him. Dad taught Mom puppetry and they travelled together working on the Chrysler Canada Tour in the late 50’s. He finally wore her down and they married in 1960. They eventually settled in Toronto and began having a family.
I remember my dear Mom making most of our pantry items, just like her mother did and my Dad’s mother. Jam was always a treat and as I mentioned before, Mom’s strawberry jam was one of my favourites. I bought some peaches for a photoshoot and it turned out we didn’t need them so I decided to make peach butter out of it. Mom would bottle several mason jars of jam, but since it’s only JT and I, I only made a small amount. Now that we’ve already gone through the first jar, I wish I had made more.
Peach Butter
A KitchenInspirations Original Recipe
Makes 400 mL
Ingredients:
- 650 g peaches, I had about 6 peaches (measure with peel and stone)
- 100 mL water
- 160 g white sugar
- 30 mL lemon juice
Directions:
- Peel peaches and remove stone (see notes for tip on peeling). Cut into eighths and set into a heavy bottom pan. Add water and set over medium heat and cook until peaches are softened.
- Add sugar and lemon juice and purée with an immersion blender or run through your food mill.
- Return peach purée to pan and cook for 30-40 minutes until thickened, testing often with the freezer method.
- Once the butter has thickened, pour into mason jars and follow canning best practice instructions.
Notes:
- An easy way to peel peaches is to score the skin into quarters, pour boiling hot water over them to cover and allow to sit for a minute. Take a sharp knife and begin by sliding the knife between the skin and flesh and peel away. Repeat for all of the peaches.
- If you have a food mill, you need not peel the peaches (I have one but felt like peeling them anyway), the mill will capture all of the skin.
MMMMMMMMMMMM!!!
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Thank you so much, Eva, for sharing your family story. I am always amazed at how different moments in our lives are linked with food products. My mum pickles and preserves every year (now less that her children live elsewhere), so I can understand how special your mother’s jams must have been… Your peach butter looks fabulous.
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Thank you Sissi, indeed our family life was always focussed around food! In fact, my parents always took pictures of our celebration dinners even before it was trendy!
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Your peach butter sounds like a great way to capture the essence of summer.
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Thank you kindly Karen, it has been rather delicious on buttered toast.
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What an amazing story! Isn’t it amazing how so many decisions and details determine the course of our lives. Truly loved this Eva! And I know we would love your peach butter. 🙂 It will be a 4 spooner here for sure. I can’t get over that this only happened 59 years ago. I’m very much looking forward to learning more Hungarian history. Thank you for sharing with us all Eva. 🙂
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Thank you Kristy, my Mom’s story really intrigued me so I’m sure she told recounted it many times. The Russian oppression did a lot of damage but the Hungarians are working through it (making huge mistakes) but that’s the way we as humans learn.
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Beautiful post and reflections Eva — I have no doubt that your niece and nephew will appreciate your careful recounting of the family history for years to come. It’s funny how we are often closest to this information when we are young (our parents are still with us, etc) but we grow more appreciative and interested in our stories as we age. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family ~ I hope it’s a beautiful weekend for all. I sure miss home this time of year… xx
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The colours are almost magnificent, I believe they will peak next weekend which will be beautiful for a Thanksgiving. Thank you for your kind words. I regret not being more interested in the stories, they become so important as we get older.
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I can’t help but think about the Syrian refugees of today. You story gives me hope that these people will find their place and build lives for themselves as your parents did. Thank you for the uplifting story. GREG
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I agree Greg, I hope a happy ending comes from the Syrian stories, their struggle is so much worse than my parents’ story.
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I loved reading about your family Eva! And I chuckled at marrying a “pretty boy”! 😛
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Thank you Lorraine, my
Mom was one of those ladies who had several marriage proposals in her life! I’m glad she chose my Dad!
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What an interesting story. The escape from Hungary, living on one egg, the puppet show and loving your mother’s jam. It all gives me goosebumps. I loved this post. More! I’ve never had peach butter but just thinking about it makes me eager to try it.
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Thank you for your kind words Maureen.
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I always love the posts when you talk about your family’s history. I cannot imagine all they went through before they met each other. Wow. And your peach butter looks phenomenal!
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Thank you so much Liz, I felt I needed to document the story for my niece and nephew. Thank you for your very kind words.
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What a story, Eva. I’m so glad you have those memories of your parents. And they were puppeteers, how wonderful! I spent some time with our Center for Puppetry Arts experimental theater when I first moved here, including a performance as part of a two story tall puppet in our arts festival. I have great respect and admiration for the skill and creativity involved…especially with larger puppets. I adore peach butter and did not get any made when we had the peaches. Yours looks delicious!
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How wonderful Betsy, I didn’t know there was a Centre for Puppetry in Atlanta, I would have definitely visited it when I was there so many moons ago. When my Dad put on a puppet, it’s like it became alive! Our Ontario Puppetry Association fell on hard times when government funding was discontinued and it shut down. Such a shame.
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Hello Eva. This is a loaded post I don’t even know what to comment on first. Yes homemade everything is better. I was out of strawberry jam and bought a small jar, my husband said don’t get these things anymore they taste awful. A tad spoilt that he is. 🙂
Your parents story is a moving one, as every refugee’s story is. When you arrive you have nothing at first. It’s lonely. And the kindness of strangers makes all the difference.
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Thank you Zsuzsa, my Mom made everything from scratch so I’m so glad to get back to that simple principle.
Indeed, it is the kindness of strangers that makes or breaks your impression.
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I loved reading your mother’s history. The peach butter looks wonderful.
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Thank you for your comment Ruth.
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Always interesting to read the stories from other migrant families. Thank you for sharing, Eva xx
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Thank you Liz, I know your family also shared in these difficulties.
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Great post, Eva; I’ve really enjoyed reading all about your parent’s migration from Hungry to Canada. They were really lucky to get out as I know those who stayed faced a bleak communist future. I wish you’d posted a photo of the ‘pretty boy’ xx
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Thank you Charlie, the years were very difficult to those left behind. After the pardon of the ‘dissidents’ we travelled back a couple of times, but that’s another story.
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I guess everytime you eat Jam Eva, it must conjure up memories of your childhood. It’s so pleasing that it all turned out well in the end. I worry a lot for the present day Syrians fleeing their country. No body wants them.
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Thanks David, it is really awful for the Syrians. So unfortunate that such hatred exists in our world.
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Thank you for sharing your parents’ story with your readers. I wish I had been more interested in my parents’ earlier lives and asked more questions. Both my parents were very private people and didn’t want to burden my brother and I with what I know were very hard lives from the few stories we heard. We were blessed to have it much easier due to their sacrifices.
The peach butter is lovely and sounds pretty simple to make though I’m not a canner. 🙂
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Hi Maria, I really wanted to document it for my niece and nephew as I doubt my brother remembers the stories.
I have to admit, I haven’t been much of a canner in the past but I’m finding my tolerance for the store bought stuff is getting less and less.
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Peach butter looks so tempting. Haven’t made any butters but am inspired now.
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Thank you Ruth, I hope you like it.
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Have made apple butter but not peach, should give this a try.
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Will have to give apple butter a try too. This one has a fabulous peach flavour.
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Lovely! I like fruity butter on the homemade bread for the breakfast. Thanks for sharing, Eva.
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Thank you Angie, it certainly was a treat.
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