Although I did not make a big fuss when it came out, I remain beyond thrilled with my third book, the New York Times bestseller, Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry. This labor of love is the culmination of almost a decade of cooking simple, healthy, and most important, tasty food for family, friends and the millions of people that read my blog.
While there have been a flood of Paleo cookbooks that hit the market in the last year, my readers have told me that a couple of things set the recipes in this book apart from others. First, simplicity. My recipes use as few ingredients as possible. No long lists of different flours! As a busy mother of two boys I don’t have time to waste, and I know you don’t either.
Second, the recipes are fail safe. All of the recipes in this book (as well my others) are professionally tested by a paid recipe tester, that is, after they are tested by me. After I perfect a recipe, it is tested by paid assistants who are not professional chefs (to make sure that beginner cooks can understand and make it) then off to the professional tester my recipes go! I’ve never discussed this before, but I thought you would like a bit of detail on the “making of” my books. The recipes work because I work them over, and then a couple of other people do too!
Additionally, my recipes are healthy. My third book Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry has more than 90 recipes –all are gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and nightshade-free! Of those recipes more than 60 are nut-free as well. After writing my first book, The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook, I wanted to write a book that would be more inclusive of people with different allergies, that is why more than two-thirds of the recipes in Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry are free of nuts. With everything from Paleo Pad Thai to Paleo Shepherd’s Pie, you’ll find fantastically tasty easy dinners as well as simple, easy desserts such as these adorable Upside-Down Apple Tartlets.
Upside-Down Apple Tartlets
Ingredients
Crust
- 2 cups blanched almond flour (not almond meal)
- ½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- ¼ cup coconut oil, at room temperature
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla stevia
Filling
- 6 large apples, peeled, cored, and sliced , and cut into ¼-inch slices
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and place eight 1-cup wide mouth mason jars on a large baking sheet
- To make the crust, pulse together almond flour and salt in a food processor
- Add coconut oil and stevia and pulse until the mixture forms a ball
- Transfer dough to a piece of parchment paper and place in freezer for 20 minutes
- To make filling, toss apples, apple juice, lemon juice, arrowroot powder, and cinnamon in a large bowl to combine
- Transfer apples to mason jars so that each one is overfilled
- Divide remaining juice from the bottom of the bowl between the jars
- Remove dough from freezer, place between 2 pieces of parchment paper generously dusted with almond flour
- Roll out the dough ¼-inch thick and remove top sheet of parchment
- Use top of a wide-mouth mason jar to cut out 8 circles of dough
- Place one round on top of each apple-filled mason jar
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the juices are bubbling and the crust is golden brown
- Serve the tartlets hot out of the oven with coconut whipped cream
Equipment
While I put my heart and soul into writing Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry, I did next to nothing to promote it. Why? First, I’m much better off staying home and sticking to my health routine than I am going on the road. Although I haven’t mentioned it here, I’m also really shy, and a much better writer than shmoozer. I don’t do well in big groups of people and get a bit overwhelmed. In fact, I’m pretty bad at networking and self-promotion. Finally, the summer the book came out I moved my family to our new house and threw a Bar Mitzvah for my younger son. This book, my third, got lost in the mix of all my family endeavors.
So, as we Jews say, this is my little spiel for this cookbook, which although a New York Times bestseller, received little of my attention (and promotion) after its creation. I hope you enjoy this recipe for Paleo Upside-Down Apple Tartlets, which gives you a little peak into Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry!
Free exclusive eBook, plus recipes and health tips, delivered to your inbox.
I’m often asked why we use a small format for my cookbooks. I intentionally ask my publisher, Random House, to make the books small so that they are inexpensive and easy for people to afford. Of course, this cuts down my profit margin, but it saves you money and this smaller format also saves trees. Thankfully, the book is very affordable –it’s usually sold on amazon for somewhere around $12.00 (sometimes a bit less, sometimes a bit more, amazon sets the price, and I have no control over that).
My goal is not to sell books. My goal is to help people. That’s why there are 800 free recipes on my website for all of you to enjoy! I advise you to try the free recipes first, rather than buying my book. If you love them and get through them all, the books are waiting for you!
Geri says
Elena, I love your book, recipes are easy, and the food tastes great!! Thank You!!!
Elana says
Thanks Geri!
Nicole says
Beautiful post Elana. So often we read recipes without making a connection to the creator. Just wanted to say thank you for leading the way and showing so many families all over the world that they have options and alternatives. I got your paleo book right in the middle of my daughter’s gut/brain illness and felt comforted just turning it’s pages. While her diet was restricted then, I hoped one day I’d be cooking from your book. These days she is in fantastic health and I am reminded of these gorgeous little tarts. I’ve called my man to ask him to bring home some apples on the way home. Can’t wait. Thanks again Elana. Keep doing what you are doing. You will never know how many people it touches. Best wishes, nicole. Country victoria, Australia. X
Elana says
Nicole, thanks for your incredibly touching comment, I truly appreciate it :-)
Season says
Is it possible to use a ramekin instead of 1 cup mason jars? I don’t have any of those but have stone rammies.
Elana says
Hi there, I haven’t tried that so not sure if it will change anything, if you do experiment with this please let us know how it goes!
Carrie says
Can I make my own almond flour from almonds and my vitamixer? I don’t know exactly what blanched almond flour is…
Thanks!
Elana says
Hi Carrie, thanks for your question. Unfortunately, homemade almond flour doesn’t work in my recipes. Here’s more information on almond flour and paleo baking in general for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/paleo-baking-almond-flour-vs-coconut-flour/
Enjoy!
Elana
BJ says
How many carbs do you think these have per serving?
Elana says
Hi BJ, for more information on that please see this page:
https://elanaspantry.com/nutrition-information/
Elana
Amber says
I really want to try these but I can’t have stevia right now. Is there anything I can sub it with like honey?
Elana says
Hi Amber, I haven’t tried that, but I think it could work. If you do experiment please let us know how it goes!
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
I am loving these apple tartlets and the presentation of them especially. I have to try the recipe!
Elana says
Thanks Thalia!
Maribeth says
Love your recipes!
Elana says
Thanks so much Maribeth! That is great to hear :-)
Nitasia Timms says
I’m thankful for my darling daughters, who just had their 4th and 9th birthdays, and thankful for being surrounded by my beautiful family this Thanksgiving and all year round, because my in-laws moved closer to us, and we’re all together this year. YAY! Thankful for the little and big things in everyday life that bring peace, understanding, safety and love into our lives and into others’ lives. xo
QueenJellyBean says
Such lovely personal comments Elana. Thank you for speaking about your shyness, and for bravely putting family first.