On this day, 8 of October, 123 years ago one of the greatest poetess in Russian literature – Marina Tsvetaeva drew the first breath.
She was born in the intelligent family: her father Ivan was a famous philologist, art critic and a professor of Fine Art in Moscow University and mother Maria was a pianist. Marina Tsvetaeva begun to wrote here first poetry being a 6 years old child, her poetry was written not only in Russian, but also in French and German languages. Her mother was terminally ill with tuberculosis and that time was believed that a change in climate could help to cure the disease, so young Marina spend quite a long time in Italy, Switzerland and Germany; lately she studied French literature in famous Sorbonne University.
Tsvetaeva published the very first poetry collection in 1910 on her own money..
Russian Civil war (1917-1922) was severe time for the poetess and here own family. She rejected Russian Revolution and wrote the cycle of poems about the war, glorifying those who fought against the communists. While here husband joined the White Army (anti-communist), she had no support and lived in starvation with her daughters.
In 1922 Marina Tsvetaeva left the Soviet Union and moved to Berlin, lately her family lived in Prague and finally settled in Paris. Unfortunately, living abroad didn’t made here life easier, they lived in poverty and were homesick for Russia. Tsvetaeva did whatever she could: began to write more prose because it made more money than poetry. Meanwhile, her husband and daughter were involved in NKVD (predecessor of KGB), and when French police interrogated Marina Tsvetaeva, she was shocked about news that her husband was a spy. Furthermore, police implicated here son in the murder of former Soviet defector.
Finally, in 1939 she returned to Russia..
Returning to the apple pie recipe and its name. It’s being said that such apple pie was served in the house of Marina Tsvetaeva and her sister Anastasia. Young Marina spent a lot of time with famous poets and writers on the literary evenings, and it’s been known that she served an apple pie to her visitors. I really want to believe that she really had an opportunity to participate and enjoy such evenings, where this tender and delicious apple pie was served. At least there was something striking and good in her life.
Tsvetaeva Apple Pie
You can make the dough one day ahead and keep it in the fridge.
Ingredients
Dough
150g butter, at room temperature
250g plain flour
4 tbsp sour cream, 30%
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp apple vinegar or lemon juice
Filling
3 sour medium apples
1/2 lemon, juice
250g sour cream, 30%
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract, optional
100g white sugar
2 tbsp plain flour
Method
- For the dough, in a large bowl, add butter, sift the flour and mix until mixture resembles crumbs. Add sour cream. Dissolve soda in vinegar or lemon juice and pour in the dough mixture. Mix to combine. Knead a dough a bit, shape into a disk, cover in plastic wrap and put in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Take the baking tin, grease it and line with baking paper. Roll the dough into the circle to fit the baking tin. Put the tin into the fridge.
- Preheat the oven to 200C.
- Peel (optional), core and thinly slice apples, sprinkle with lemon juice.
- In a bowl, with electric or hand whisker beat sour cream with egg and sugar. Add vanilla, if using. Sift the flour. Whisk to combine.
- Take the baking tin with dough from the fridge. Arrange apple slices. Pour over the sour cream mixture.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Then reduce the heat to 180C and bake for 25 minutes more. If the top begins browning too much, cover it with a foil.
- Allow the pie to cool completely in the baking tin. Then carefully transfer the pie onto the serving plate. Slice and serve with cup of hot tea.
The remaining pie cover with a foil and keep in the fridge up to 2 days. The pie will be even better on the next day, as the cream becomes thicker.
milkandbun 
Wonderful story and pie, very interesting life of Marina!
You’re very kind, as usual, Suzanne! 🙂
I’ve read some of her translated poems and even though translation of poetry is almost impossible, I could still see what a great poet she was. A shame her life was so hard…
The pie looks so delicate and tasty!
Thanks for sharing both the story and the lovely recipe. 🙂
Yea, I know, when I searched some extra info about her life I stumbled upon even harder moments of here life , which I didn’t mentioned…
I think another great poet or poetess probably could translate poetry.. 🙂
Poor woman, really.. 😦
I agree that the best translator can be another poet, but even with that, so many fine things are lost in translation, especially with poetry. But it’s still better than nothing. 🙂
Agree))
Yummy😊 awesome photograph☺☺
Thanks so much, Lina! Hope you will try this pie/cake, it is very easy to prepare 🙂
What a great story. I’ve never heard of Marina but now I want to know more about her.
Apple pie is my all-time favorite dessert and I’ve made a zillion of them but never with sour cream. I am so eager to try it.
Hello, Maureen! Happy to see new faces at my blog! 🙂 The filling reminds me custard, so if you like that- definitely make it! 🙂
I LOVE this post Mila – please do more like this, with the interesting Russian history, your writing is beautiful, and although I do not like apple pie, this one looks wonderful and I am going to make it when the apples come into season. I am also going to find some of Marina’s poems in French and find out more about her life in Paris.
Thank you for posting, I am a little ill and off work and this has been wonderful to read this morning x
Lindy
Thank you very much for your lovely and kind words, Linda! I’m really touched by your comment! I don’t know is there any her poetry in French, but hope you will find; at least Tsvetaeva wrote it French, do hope it was not only prose. And I’m sure should be translated works. 🙂
Take care! Hugs!
I have found poetry books in English and French on Amazon, but I would like to read a biography, as her life sounds so interesting. Thank you for bringing her to me x
This story is fascinating, Mila. I’m totally intrigued by your culture and customs maybe because your writers wrote literary masterpieces.
I love the idea of your apple pie and this is a cake that my family would truly enjoy.
When I studied at school, we had to read many prose/poetry/novels and etc, and it seemed like almost all Russian writers wrote huge and long novels (it were pretty thick books) and we-students hated that… but now I love reading and reread many books from school program. 🙂
Filling has a soft consistency, and it reminds me custard. I do really hope that you will make it for your family. 🙂
Thanks a lot for your nice comment, Francesca!
And almost forgot to ask- have you read anything written by Russian writers/poets? And how it was/did you like it or not? 🙂
I have read Nobokov, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and – more recently – all the books of Irene Nemirovsky. I love each page!
interesting story and delicious cake
Thanks so much! 🙂
Beautiful post and gorgeous pie 🙂
Thank you Sarah! It’s a well-known pie in my home-country; do give it a chance on your table too! 🙂
Lovely post Mila. A joy to read. And I really like your apply pie. Very unique with the sour cream in both the pastry and the filling.
I love reading too! What was the most recent book you read?
Speaking about pie: you can’t feel sour cream in the crust (or may be I don not feel it in it), and in the filling: it turns into custard or similar to it 🙂
Well, I’m in the middle of Lindy Mechefske’s book Sir Johns’ Table. Do you know Lindy? Here’s her site: http://lindymechefske.com
Fabulous story! Go visit Lindy!
Yes, I know, but not the book. 🙂 What’s the story telling? is it a novel?
What a great post, the more I read it seems the less I know. Very interesting. Love the pie!!!
So, you discovered something new when was reading my post and that’s great! May be you will find and read Tsvetaeva poetry.. 🙂
Love this post and the Apple Pie is magnificent! 🙂
Thanks a lot dear blogofriend! 🙂
I have been meaning to make apple pie for a while. This looks perfect!
It differs from a regular apple pie, the filing is a very tender and delicious! Do not hesitate, just give it a go! 🙂
I don’t know that much about Russian history. This is a lovely story. And the apple pie looks amazing. I bet it’s delicious too. 🙂
Thanks for your warm comment, Anna! I hope you will make this pie? 🙂 You may find many other Russian recipes and its stories (you need to click Recipe Index on the top of the page).
My fav are below
I’m a foodie, so trying out new recipes would be a great adventure. Thanks so much for the suggestions. Have a fabulous day! 🙂
I do understand you! Especially if it’s totally unfamiliar recipes! Good luck! 🙂
Thanks, Mila! 🙂
I totally love this recipe. And the photos are great!
Hope you will try it! You need only few ingredients for this pie!😊
what a cool story! I absolutely love your presentation and I’m sure the taste of this pie was equally impressive. 🙂
Thank you, girl! I wish I could send you a slice to taste.. 😉
What an informative post & a delicious looking apple pie. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hello Sarah! I know, this recipe is completely different from regular apple pies, but you need to believe me – it’s very delicious 🙂 and I hope you will make it! 😉
Such a hauntingly beautiful story!! It’s sad to know that there were people out there who have had to live through such hardships… I would love to read some of her poems!
But I know I definitely will enjoy this apple pie! it looks absolutely beautiful!
Yea, her life was complicated, but thank God we have her poetry and could enjoy it! 🙂 Thanks for the comment, Dini!
Love this pie! It’s like having custard and pie together. Might have to try it as I’ve never come across anything like it.
May be because it’s Russian recipe, and usually known only among Russians.. but it’s my pleasure to share recipes with other foodies! 🙂
Can’t wait to hear your opinion when you make and taste it! 😉
I waited to comment on this, what a beautiful and enlightening post, I actually baked this today. I looked around on your blog for a recipe with apples, and thought this will be a nice unique recipe to try. I added a little cottage cheese to the filling, I am not sure why but the picture looks like it has some cottage cheese…we will see how it comes out smells quite aromatic 🙂
Hehe nooo I made it without cottage cheese))) I think with cottage cheese it will more like cheesecake, and here it was like custard)). Hope you will love this cake anyway☺️Can’t wait to read your opinion after eating!
It came out perfect, I took a bite while still warm, it changed texture a little bit, but still a great versatile recipe 🙂 Thank you my dear!
You can’t imagine how I am glad to hear that! 😀 It’s awesome that you liked and tried my recipe! Thanks a lot for sharing your experience 🙂
Have a nice weekend! Hugs
What a beautiful pie and such a touching story. You made my heart go out to her! 🙂
Yes, I was also so sad to read all mournful facts about her life.. But she left amazing poetry for the mankind! 🙂