Chicken Paprikas

This Historic Recipe, Chicken Paprikas by Anne (Koncovy) Podolinsky, comes to us from “Canadian Slovak Recipes from the Alvinston Slovak Cultural Hall”.

Anne Koncovy was the fourth child of Jakub “Jack” and Margita (nee Blasko) Koncovy. Her older siblings, Simon (1925–1926) and Agnes (1927–1928) who were born and died in Czechoslovakia.

In 1926, after seeing an advertisement by the Canadian Pacific Railway looking for people to work, Jack came to Canada. When he was satisfied that he could make a living in Canada he returned home tell some of his friends about the "New Country" and to asked them if they would move to Canada.

Jack and his friends arrived in Canada and and worked in the mines in Manitoba. Jack did not care for this work, so he went on to work various jobs throughout Canada, often “riding the rails" through the depression.

Jack worked and saved the money so he could bring his wife to Canada.

In the early 1930’s, Jack began a homestead in Hunta, Ontario and he built a log house in preparation for Margita’s arrival in 1934.

In Hunta, Jack and Margita welcomed a son, and soon after Anne was born.

While living in Hunta, Jack’s cousin Jozef “Joe” and his wife Maria (Pavlech) Koncovy, lived nearby.

Anne writes in Mary Janes book “From Slovakia to Hunta” that her mother did not like Hunta and felt she left better living conditions in Slovakia.

They received word from friends that Southern Ontario was a warmer climate and they should consider the move.

Both Jack and his cousin Joe and their families arrived in Brooke Twp., Lambton County in 1940. They shared a small home with another family for a couple of months. It was tight quarters for three families, but they made it through.

In August of 1940, the brothers found a house to rent large enough for their two families and went to work for farmers in the area. In 1941, Jack and Joe bought their first farm and lived to together until Joe purchased a farm for his family and Jack bought out Joe’s interest in the farm they shared.

Joe and Margita lived on this farm the rest of their lives.

Anne was about three years old when she moved with her parents, brother and cousins to Brooke Twp. in 1940.

In 1955, when Anne was 18 years old, she married Ludvik Podolinsky. Ludvik was the son of John and Ilon (Belak) Podolinsky. The wedding took place at St. Matthew’s Church in Alvinston.

Ludvik and Anne had four children; three sons and one daughter.

In 1964, the young couple worked side by side in their own farm implement business. After about seven years, Podolinsky Equipment Ltd. outgrew its space and moved across the road to its current address at the corner of Petrolia Line and Forest Road.

Ludvik passed away in 1999 and Anne worked in the business for many years after his passing. Anne was dedicated to her family, her work and her heritage.

Anne passed away on May 2, 2025 and she was laid to rest beside Ludvik in St. Matthews Cemetery, Alvinston.

Instructions

Take butter and the onion and set on medium flame to brown a little, add the sweet paprika and dash of cayenne pepper, then add cut up chicken in small portions and stew slowly till well done.
Then take one pint sour cream, mix in 1 tbsp. flour and stir into chicken when done, do not boil, just stir lightly and simmer slowly until it thickens slightly.