Apples and Paradise :: Saint Euphrosynus the Cook {gluten-free apple tart} |

The Life of the Venerable Euphrosynus the Cook

Euphrosynus was a simple man, but a man of God. He served as the cook in a monastery in the 9th century. One night, the spiritual father of this monastery saw himself in Paradise and saw Euphrosynus there as well. Euphrosynus picked and gave him three apples from Paradise. When the spiritual father awoke, he saw three unusually beautiful and fragrant apples by his pillow. He quickly found Euphrosynus and asked him “Where were you last night, brother?” ” I was where you were, father,” the blessed God-pleaser replied. The spiritual father then revealed the entire incident to the monks and all recognized the sanctity and godliness of Euphrosynus. But Euphrosynus, fearing the praise of men, immediately fled the monastery and hid in the wilderness, where he spend the remainder of his life.
The Prologue of Ohrid : September 11/24

Almost everyone I know has an icon of Saint Euphrosynus in their kitchen… It’s become a tradition in some Orthodox circles – and most especially for anyone with kids, to pick apples, or make an apple treat on this day. Usually we bake a pie, but this year, I wanted to share this delicious apple tart with you – because we are almost totally gluten free now. The amazing thing to me is that the crust is actually simpler than making pie crust and it’s gluten free. It’s the favorite pie crust of my family these days.

Saint Euphrosynus is the Patron Saint of Cooks… and its a blessing to remember when we read about the lives of such humble Saints, that the food which sustains our very being is the Bread of Life. There is a quote by Father Schmemman that I love, and always made me feel good about being in the kitchen so much…

“Food is still treated with reverence. A meal is still a rite—the last “natural sacrament” of family and friendship, of life that is more than “eating” and “drinking.” To eat is still something more than to maintain bodily functions. People may not understand what that “something more” is, but they nonetheless desire to celebrate it.
They are still hungry and thirsty for sacramental life.”
Father Alexander Schmemman

No matter how overflowing our plate or filled is our belly, the instatiable hunger of the soul is far greater than the hunger of the body. Fall is a great season for apples and apple pie is a major comfort food. As we eat with the Saints, we can remember that our ultimate comfort food is heavenly nourishment – the Eucharist – the Bread of Life – Living Water – the Sacraments – from which we will never hunger.

And when we make any food honoring the remembrance of a Saint, the true expression of that commemoration is when we gather with our family and talk about the Lord, about the Saint, about our Faith – or even to distribute it to the poor in your area, because where two or three are gathered, He is with us.

This is a tart that I really love. It is naturally sweetened, which by now most everyone knows that I try to reduce the sugar as much as possible in my recipes. If you would like a sweeter tart, feel free to sprinkle brown sugar on top, or you can make the caramel sauce to drizzle atop the tart before you eat.

Gluten Free Apple Tart

Ingredients

2 Cups Almond Flour

½ teaspoon celtic sea salt

2 tablespoons melted coconut oil

1 large egg

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 apples peeled and sliced thin

Caramel Sauce

Preparation of Gluten Free Apple Tart

Place almond flour and salt in food processor and pulse briefly to incoporate
Add coconut oil and egg and pulse. The dough will form into a ball.
Press dough into a 9 inch tart pan. I use a pan with a removable bottom.

Peel and slice apple thinly.
Arrange apples and fan them out onto pie crust.
Sprinkle with brown sugar (optional).
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. If you are using the brown sugar it will caramelize.

Notes: I can not take credit for recipes that are not my own. The crust is inspired by Elena’s Pantry and the caramel sauce is a Pioneer Woman favorite of mine, plus it is insanely easy and beyond delicious!!!!