“Swedish Fika with a Taste of Democracy: The Best Apple Pie Recipes from Political Prisoners”

This project of hope is developed by by Belarusian artists in exile. The event aims to create a meaningful space for dialogue about democracy and community while enjoying the comforting tradition of Swedish Fika. By framing the coffee break around apple pie, we invite attendees to reflect on the value of freedom, human rights, weaving personal stories into a shared tapestry of hope and support.

Event Details:

• Download the animated film here by the artist Liliya Busarava to screen during the event.
• Print out two curatorial texts in A4 format and display them next to the pie and coffee station. Text 1 Text 2
• Encourage attendees to share their experiences, recipes, and personal stories.

This kit is produced by Ludmila Christeseva.

Need an Apple Pie Recipe?

Apple Cheesecake Recipe from Tanya Yakhno (Ukraine).

Mix 600 g of classic Philadelphia cream cheese with 250 g of sugar. Gradually add 5 eggs, one at a time, blending on low speed. Then, incorporate 300 g of heavy cream (40% fat).

Prepare a springform pan with a 25 cm diameter. Crush 300-350 g of cookies, mix with 100 g of softened butter, and press the mixture firmly into the bottom and sides of the pan using a glass to compact it. Finely chop apples and layer them over the crust. Pour the cream cheese mixture over the apples.

Preheat the oven to 200°C. Once the pan is placed in the oven, reduce the temperature to 150°C. Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes. To maintain moisture, place a dish with water in the oven during the baking process.

After baking, slightly open the oven door and allow the cheesecake to cool inside. Once cooled, transfer it to the refrigerator to set.

Apple Cobbler Recipe from Konca Yumlu (Turkey).

1. Peel and slice 5 Granny Smith apples. Toss the apples with the juice of 1 lemon, 2 tablespoons of flour, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Spread this mixture evenly as the first layer in your baking dish.
2. For the topping, mix together:
   • 200 g of butter
   • 1/4 cup of sugar
   • 2 cups of flour
   • 3/4 cup of milk
   • 2 teaspoons of baking powder
3. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the apples.
4. Bake at 180°C (350°F) until the topping is golden brown and the apples are tender, about 40-45 minutes.

Apple Pie Recipe from Halleigh Blanding (USA).

Crust:

1. In a large bowl:
   • 3 cups sifted flour
   • 1 tsp salt
2. In a small bowl:
   • Transfer ½ cup of the flour from the large bowl.
   • Add ⅓ cup of cold water.
   • Stir the flour and water mixture into a paste.
3. Back to the large bowl:
   • Add 1 cup of cold unsalted butter (the original recipe calls for Crisco).
   • Mix until it forms a paste.
4. Combine:
   • Add the paste from the small bowl back into the large bowl and mix together.
   • Roll out half of the dough for the bottom crust and the other half for the top crust.

Filling:

• Wash and thinly slice 6-8 medium apples.
• In a bowl, combine the sliced apples with:
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
• Mix until well combined.

Assembling the Pie:

1. Place one half of the crust in the bottom of a glass pie plate.
2. Pour the apple mixture into the bottom of the pie plate.
3. Place 3 slices (or teaspoons) of butter over the apple mixture.
4. Cover with the other half of the dough to form the top crust. Pinch the edges to connect both crusts.
5. Make 4 slits in the center of the crust to allow steam to escape.
6. Sprinkle the top with sugar.

Baking Instructions:

• Bake in the oven at 425°F (220°C) for 15 minutes.
• Then reduce the temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for an additional 45 minutes or until the apples are properly cooked.