An Unexpected Goodbye
I wish I could remember exactly when I started reading Elana's Pantry... but I can tell you it was before she posted one of my favorite low glycemic recipes for gluten free bread. This bread.
I didn't know Elana in person, but we had emailed back and forth several times when we were both active food bloggers. She was thoughtful, kind, and always engaging. I loved her style and how professionally she presented her work: her cooking, her writing, her photography. Elana never stopped blogging and her work only become more prominent over the years.
As with most blogs over the past 20+ years, you could see her work grow as she became more experienced and as she invested in her skills, her equipment, etc... she was a powerhouse when it came to writing, to baking, and to creating a welcoming and helpful community through her website. But her website was only one avenue in her life. Elana had been a part of (and began) several successful businesses throughout her life. She was a philanthropist and an entrepreneur. She was a loving mom, wife, daughter, and friend.
Elana found her truth as a "wellness warrior, food fanatic, and paleo pioneer," as she proudly shared on her website. However, like so many of us, she also struggled with her own mental health. Her last penned post on February 8, 2025 shared that struggle, along with the myriad of other health issues she had faced over the past 20 years. Elana's recalling of her psychiatrist calling her a hypochondriac, brought me to tears... as someone who has had very similar experiences in the chair at medical offices.
I'm still struggling to find the words to fully share how I feel about the inexplicably sad, tragic loss of Elana. Her story, like so many others, share about the issues of medical inequality in our country. How women aren't taken seriously by many health care practitioners. Especially women over forty and women of color. And I fear it will only become worse with our current deeply anti-science, anti-truth political culture in the United States. (Please find whatever ways you can to support and educate about real journalism and the importance of science if you can.)
If you ever find yourself in crisis or worried about self-harm, please keep this number & website handy:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
- Call or text: 988
- Chat: 988lifeline.org
- Call: 1-800-662-4257
- TTY: 1-800-487-4889
- Text your zip code to: 435748
- Visit: FindTreatment.gov to locate a treatment facility or provider
- Salmon Dill Burgers, p. 51
- Savory Vegetable Quiche, p. 61
- As a matter of fact I noted on this recipe "12-10-2010, Very very good!! Great crust! I used 4 eggs and Daiya cheese & roasted red peppers."
- Chocolate Chip Scones, p. 18
- When I brought these to work one day many years ago, my colleague Jeff asked if I could please bring them once a week!
- Sesame Crackers, p. 36 - this is a great pizza crust too!
- Elana's Chocolate Chip Cookies, p.98 -- I wrote in the cookbook "easier than mine... make when you want fast but good cookies!"
- Lemon Bars, p. 115
- Bread 2.0 -- when you want easy, yeast free, just good toastable bread, make this!
- Cinnamon Bun Muffins -- they really do taste just like cinnamon buns, i like them as minis!
- Gluten Free Orange Almond Cake -- just like Starbux used to make!
- Mustard Lime Chicken
- Fish Sticks -- I'm such a sucker for kid friendly finger foods. I love fish sticks and they are hard to find gluten-free. These are easy and delicious and perfect for an ADHD, austistic gal, who just wants a somewhat healthy and easy protein that I can dip in ketchup.
