Egg Muffins

Tomorrow I start school again. I have already looked at the syllabus for each class, and have mentally prepared for the workload to come. When you're at school, it can be really hard to prioritize breakfast. By making your breakfasts for the week on Sunday, it allows you to get the nutrition you need to kick-start your day! Today's recipe is for egg muffins, a delicious option that you can customize to your taste.

Ingredients
6 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup diced onion
1/2 cup mushroom
1/2 cup tomato
3/4 cup shredded cheddar
A handful of diced parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Beat the eggs in a mixing bowl.
3. Stir in the milk.
4. Add your toppings.
5. Spray a cupcake form with non-stick cooking spray.
6. Add in your egg mixture and set it in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

Eat it at that moment or put some in the refrigerator to heat throughout the week!

Enjoy!
-Sema

Blackberry Ice Cream

Summer is almost over, and school is already starting in 2 weeks for me! The summer honestly flew by, and while I'm sad that it's coming to an end, I am ready to get back into the school routine. Plus, I miss my friends at college, and am very excited to be reunited with them as they begin to move in again. Today's recipe is a 3 ingredient ice cream! It's so easy to make, and the tartness of the blackberries combine perfectly with the cream and condensed milk.

Ingredients
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup blackberry jam

Procedure
1. Whip the heavy whipping cream and sweetened condensed milk together until it gets a heavier texture.
2. Mix in the blackberry jam.
3. Add it to a container that comes with a lid and freeze it overnight.

Voila--it's that easy! Enjoy with a gluten-free cone or on its own, with a good book outside or with Netflix inside. Eat it however you'd like, it's so delicious it doesn't matter how you eat it!
Enjoy!
-Sema

French Onion Dip

I was craving chips and dip yesterday, but didn't feel like going to the grocery store to pick up a dip so I decided to make it myself! It didn't take too long, and allowed me to control what I wanted going into the dip. Sometimes it's easier to make the food yourself instead of going out to buy it! This dip was the perfect accompaniment to potato chips and a good Netflix marathon. 

Ingredients

1 cup sour cream

1 cup mayonnaise 

1 cup chopped onions

1/2 tablespoon garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure

1. Caramelize the onions in olive oil and set them aside to cool.

2. Mix together the sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, and cooled onions.

3. Add in your salt and pepper.

That's it! Now you have a delicious dip for your potato chips that didn't take too long from your Netflix marathon (staying inside is the best way to beat this 100+ F heat).

Enjoy!

-Sema

Summer Blackberry Refresher

An excessive heat wave is about to hit my neck of the woods, which means another week of grueling summer heat! What's the best way to cope? A delicious summer drink of course! This easy drink will help you stay hydrated while adding a touch of blackberry goodness!

Enjoy!
-Sema

4th of July Pavlova Cake

Happy 4th of July! While it is pretty cloudy in my neck of the woods, nothing can put a damper on today's festivities. If you are in a pinch and wondering what to make last minute, I highly recommend this pavlova cake! Nothing screams the 4th of July like a cake that includes the necessary colors of red, white, and blue.

Cake Ingredients
6 room temperature eggs
1 cup of sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Dash of white wine vinegar

Procedure
1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.  
2. Separate the egg whites from the egg yolks, we will only need the egg whites for this recipe.
3. Place the egg whites in a food mixer. That way you don't have to beat it by hand, because trust me, that would take a while.
4. Set the mixer on high, and start mixing until it turns into a creamy white substance.
5. SLOWLY add in the sugar in a thin stream, as to not clump anything up.
6. Add the vanilla, cornstarch, and vinegar.
7. Let it mix until it because so thick that it doesn't run out when you tilt it over.
8. Place parchment paper over a round oven pan. (I used a pizza pan and cut out a sheet of parchment paper to fit it.)
9. Evenly distribute the batter over the pan.
10. Set it into the oven for 1 hour. 


Topping Ingredients
1 pint of whipping cream
3 tablespoons of sugar (or however much you want to sweeten the cream)
Fruit of choice (I used blueberries and strawberries)

Procedure
1. Whip the cream, adding in the sugar. You want to whip it until it becomes spreadable.
2. Wash, cut, and dry the fruit. I cut strawberries into little bits, and added blueberries.

Once your cake has cooled down, add the whipped cream, and top it with the fruit. The cake will be crispy on the outside, but creamy on the inside, and once paired with the fruit and whipped cream, it creates a delicious treat.

Voila! You have a 4th of July dessert!

Enjoy!
-Sema

2 Ingredient Pancakes

We have all heard that breakfast is important, but how often do we act on that advice? Sometimes I'll be running late or I'll just grab a quick snack to sustain myself for a bit, but it's not enough! That's why I'm going to make it a goal to eat breakfast more often in my dorm. The best way to motivate yourself to eat breakfast is to make foods you'll actually want to eat/have time to eat. I am currently on Spring Break, so I finally have access to a stove again! While I miss the convenience of the dining halls, nothing quite beats a home cooked meal. Today's recipe is so simple that there's no excuse for you to skip breakfast again!

Ingredients
1 banana
1 egg

Procedure
1. Mash the banana.
2. Beat your egg and add it to the banana.
3. Mix it well (you don't want a lumpy pancake)!
4. Cook the pancake like you would any other pancake, and make sure to flip your pancake when it becomes a golden brown color.

Voila! Add some toppings and you're good to go!
Enjoy!
-Sema

DIY Snack: Crackers and Cucumbers

While the majority of my midterms are over, college life never really seems to slow down. Each week brings a new challenge that I must learn to overcome (the majority of these challenges come in the form of papers and problem sets). While I could resort to eating junk food (which I am not going to lie, I definitely did on occasion), the aftermath of eating chips and chocolate isn't quite as much fun as the actual eating part. That's why today's DIY college snack edition features a simple combination of cucumbers, crackers, cream cheese, and pepper.

For the crackers, I used the Gratify Sesame Thins, as they are not only my favorite snack but pair very well with the cream cheese. I got a pepper packet from the dining hall, and added a cucumber that I bought from the little market we have on campus. I recommend keeping a cutting board and sharp knife in your dorm room, as it allows you to eat fresh produce instead of consuming everything out of a plastic box.

While this seems like a very simple idea, it is a ~classier~ alternative to chips. It also doesn't take too much thought to make them, but you still get to enjoy a delicious snack that is much healthier than just grabbing a bag of chips!

Enjoy!
-Sema

DIY Study Snack: Candied Walnuts

It's that time of the semester when every assignment is due on the same day! Last week I was slowly preparing for my Friday which was full of assignment submissions! But that's what college is all about, and what better way to cope with all of the homework than with study snacks? This is one of my favorite study snacks to make, because it is simple to make but at the same time is a step up from raw walnuts.

Ingredients
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup walnuts
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 teaspoon-1 tablespoon of cinnamon (depending on how much of a cinnamon-y taste you want)

Procedure
1. Melt the butter in a small pot.
2. Add the sugar, walnuts, and cinnamon.
3. Stir everything together (keep stirring so nothing burns) until the sugar has caramelized and coated the walnuts.
4. Immediately transfer the walnuts to a plate, separating them. If you just leave it in the pot, you'll have a huge clump of walnuts!

Voila! You have a delicious study snack to consume as you finish all of the work you have to get done.

Enjoy!
-Sema

Gluten-free Chex Mix

The last time I had Chex Mix was well before I was diagnosed, which was over 10 years ago! Today I decided to create the iconic snack to enjoy while I completed my plethora of homework. In college sometimes it's easy to eat comfort food, so during the month of February I'm going to share with you all several study snacks that will get you motivated to study!

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups Rice Chex

4 1/2 cups Corn Chex

1 1/2 cups Gluten-free bagel chips (I used Glutino)

1 1/2 cups Gluten-free pretzels (I used Snyder's)

2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce

1 teaspoon garlic powder

6 tablespoons melted butter

Optional for Cheddar Chex Mix:

Nacho cheese popcorn seasoning

Gluten-free cheddar crackers( I used Van's)

Procedure

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

2. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

3. Combine the melted butter, garlic powder, and Worcestershire Sauce.

4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cereal, bagel chips, and pretzels.

5. Slowly mix in the melted butter mix into the large mixing bowl.

6. Spread everything out onto the baking tray.

7. Bake the Chex Mix in the oven for about 30 minutes, stirring it every 10 minutes.

8. Let it cool down.

For the Cheddar Chex Mix, sprinkle the nacho cheese popcorn seasoning and add gluten-free cheddar crackers. 

I loved these snacks, as they weren't too greasy as I was working on all my homework, yet they satisfied my snack cravings.

Stay tuned for more study snacks!

Enjoy!

-Sema

Gluten-free Jam Thumbprint Cookies

With a new year comes new recipes! Today my day started with a blanket of snow that created such a cozy view outside my window. It's one of those days when baking just makes sense. This recipe is a twist on the usual sugar cookie that looks like it took much more effort than it did (shhhh, you don't have to tell anyone). It's the perfect indoor activity to do with your family or friends, just put on a little music and bake away!

Ingredients
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 3/4 cup of gluten-free flour (I used Outrageous Baking flour.)
2 softened sticks unsweetened butter
Jam (I used homemade blackberry jam.)

Procedure
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Mix the butter and sugar together. Add in the vanilla and egg.
3. Mix in the flower and baking powder until you reach a cookie dough consistency.
4. Depending the size you want the cookies to be, section off the cookie dough and roll it into little balls.
5. With your thump, create an indentation deep enough to fit the jam. Carefully fill the indentation with the jam.
6. Bake them in the oven for 7-10 minutes, or until the bottom of the cookie becomes golden brown. I found that over-baking them made them a little crumbly, so create a test batch in the beginning!

Voila! You have a fancier version of the sugar cookie!
Enjoy!
-Sema

The Importance of Contacting the Caterer

With the year coming to an end, it's crazy to think how much has changed this year. I just got done with my first round of finals in college, and while it was a stressful period, I feel like I've picked up on some good study habits that I'll definitely utilize next time around.

This year I finished high school and started college which is quite a transition in addition to gaining an internship over the summer. I met so many wonderful people throughout my endeavors and created a strong support system in college. While I did catch the worst cold I've gotten in a while and partially tore my achilles jumping for joy (yes, you heard that right, I literally jumped when happy), I'd say that I've had a wonderful semester and am looking forward to the next one!

Towards the end of the semester, the business fraternity I am in held a banquet. I didn't think there would be a problem with the food, but when I was informed that nothing would be gluten-free I immediately took action, contacting the caterer. To my relief, Chef Mike from Mateker's Meat and Catering immediately responded, letting me know which options were gluten-free. The menu was as follows:
-Vegetable medley (naturally gluten-free)
-Salad (they prepared a separate one for me without croutons)
-Pasta and rolls (obviously not gluten-free)
-Tri-tip and Au Jus (naturally gluten-free)

I could eat almost everything, which was a wonderful feeling!

Taking that extra step to contact the caterer, while it might be intimidating to do so, will ensure that you won't go hungry at an event. Nothing is worse than watching other people eat and you don't want to bring a lunchbox because it won't go with your outfit! I had a wonderful evening dancing the night away and taking fun photobooth pictures with my dear friends knowing that I wouldn't get sick!

All in all, I want to thank everyone for such a wonderful year, cheers to another year of blogging!
-Sema

Cantaloupe Popsicles

 The perfect way to beat the heat is with an ice cold popsicle. But why buy them when you can make them? With cantaloupe season upon us, it's not hard to find them in the grocery stores. But instead of just cutting them up to eat them, you can spice things up and turn them into a healthy popsicle! This recipe only requires four ingredients, and can be eaten in popsicle or sorbet form.

Ingredients
1/2 a cantaloupe
2 tablespoons honey
2 1/2 tablespoons water
Juice from 1/4 of a lemon

Procedure
1. Cut the cantaloupe into small pieces and lay them on wax paper. Freeze it for a few hours or until frozen.
2. Add the cantaloupe, honey, water, and lemon into the blender. I didn't add all the cantaloupe at once, since adding it gradually helped the blender work better.
3. Add the mixture into popsicle molds with a popsicle stick and freeze until completely hardened.

Voila! You have a refreshing snack to enjoy out in the sun!

Enjoy!
-Sema

Smoothie Bowl Recipe

Hello everyone! With the hot and humid weather upon us, sometimes we need a refreshing snack. Today's recipe is an easy smoothie bowl--a cool and delicious treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth!

Ingredients
2  cups frozen berries
1/2 cup chia seeds
1 banana, frozen and chopped
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
A dash of coconut water
Your choice of toppings

Procedure
1. Blend the frozen berries, chia seeds, banana, Greek yogurt, and coconut water together.
2. Add your choice of toppings!

Voila! It was as easy as that!

Enjoy!
-Sema

Gluten-free Cinnamon Swirl Cookies

Hello everyone! I have a delicious cinnamon swirl cookie recipe for you all today! With this little trick you can put a delicious twist on ordinary sugar cookies!

Here's the recipe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pxg1jksM3M

Enjoy!
-Sema

Potato Pizza

 

Hello everyone! The weather here in St. Louis has gotten almost unbearably hot in the last week. I feel like it was just yesterday when I was pulling my sweater closer around my shoulders, shielding myself from the icy wind. Well you know what this means--now I can stay inside and cook. One recipe caught my eye in particular on Tastemade, so I decided to try it and found that I love it! Today's recipe is a potato pizza, and it's perfect for those days when you want to make a pizza but don't want to fire up the oven in the excruciating heat!

Ingredients
Half a Potato
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
Basil
Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
Tomato Sauce

Procedure
1. Slice the potato into very thin slices.
2. Drizzle the olive oil on a skillet and line the potato slices in a circle as pictured below.

3. Cook it on medium high heat for about 5 minutes.
4. Add the tomato sauce, cheese, and choice of toppings and cook on medium for about 5 more minutes or until the cheese is melted.
5. Transfer your potato pizza to a plate, add some basil, and voila! you have a delicious pizza that didn't require too much effort to make!

Enjoy!
-Sema

GFAFEvent Recap

Thank you so much to everyone who came out yesterday to the GFAFEvent to meet with me and hear me speak :)! I got to meet so many awesome people, and had a great time talking to all of you.

If you couldn't make it to the event, here are a few links you can check out:

I got to see my friend CJ from Tumbling Gluten-free, you should definitely check out her blog at www.tumblingglutenfree.com!

If you haven't stopped by the Schnucks next to West County Mall in Des Peres, I urge you to do so. They have the largest gluten-free section I've ever seen, and you'll get to talk to these lovely ladies. Stop by to talk to Katie Mueller, the registered dietitian, who can help you select some delicious gluten-free snacks!

This is the first time I've tried anything from Outrageous Baking, and I can tell you, I was not disappointed. Their cakes were SO moist and delicious, and my absolute favorite was their pumpkin bread. They are located out in Boulder Colorado, but they ship their products out! Visit them at outrageousbaking.com!

If you live in St. Louis, you have probably heard about Andrea's products. They are spectacular! Check out her website at andreasglutenfree.com!

These are possibly my favorite chips ever. I usually find them at Schnucks, and they are absolutely delicious!! Check out their website at www.billygoatstl.com!

I got to chat with Dr. TJ Williams and Mark Ludwig from The Institute of Natural Health here in St. Louis! Check out their website at www.theinstituteofnaturalhealth.com!

So thank you for everyone who came out to speak with me, I really enjoyed all of the conversations!

-Sema

High School is Over!

Hello everyone! I can't believe that my years of high school have come to an end. Last night, as I threw my cap into the air, it finally dawned on me how much change is about to come. While we've been getting ready to graduate for a while, and senioritis kicked in, I never really realized that this chapter in my life is closing. That being said, I am VERY excited for everything to come, and can't wait to share my college experiences with you all next year.

I think this is a good time to bring up my gluten-free school lunch program. While nothing beats a home-cooked meal, it's always nice to be able to have the option to eat at school. After a late night of studying, I'm not always on top of things in the morning, so it's nice to be able to grab a bite at school instead of preparing something while I'm rushing out of the house.

You have three options for school lunch:

1. Bring from home

2. Starve

3. Eat lunch prepared by the school.

I bet you are looking at option three and raising an eyebrow in confusion. Federal law requires public school to substitute meals for students with life-threatening food allergies and celiac disease.

Many of the meal options at your school might already be naturally gluten-free. Sometimes all that's needed to be done is use GF breads and exchange the cookie with a fruit cocktail. Food handling procedures, however, will have to be in place in order to ensure there are no cross-contamination issues.

Some examples of possible gluten-free lunches offerings can be:  

1. Beefy GF Tacos, Mexican Rice, Buttered Corn and Fruit Cocktail + choice of milk

2. Stuffed baked Potato, Mexican Salad, Carrot & Celery Sticks and Pudding + choice of milk.

3. Hamburger with GF bun/without , Potato Smiles, Corn and Chilled Pineapple choice of milk

4. Hamburger, Mashed Potatoes, Peas and Applesauce/Apple/Orange + choice of milk

5. GF pizza, Garden Salad w/light ranch, orange wedges, chocolate pudding + choice of milk.

6. GF pasta, salad, corn, pears + choice of milk.

7. GF blueberry muffins, corn, warm sliced apples choice of + choice of milk.

6. Salad, Mexican Rice, Carrot and Celery, Fruit Cocktail + choice of milk.

You can enjoy all these meals at school thanks to food labels and food handling procedures! So stop starving; this might be the right option for you!

NFCA provides great information on how to request a gluten free school lunch in your school district. check out the information: 

http://www.beyondceliac.org/kids/parents/guides/Kids-Youth/Navigating-The-School-System/209/

Training and education of foods service personal is extremely important! 

Here is a link to a great training option that your school district might want to consider pursuing:

http://www.greatgfkitchens.org/

So, what are you waiting for?  There are so many options out there for you!!

Gluten-free Baked Mac and Cheese

Hello everyone! The weather is kind of warming up which means I can eat lunch outside! It's so nice to spend lunch outside when the rest of my day is spent inside a classroom. Today I was running a little late, so it was nice to just throw some baked mac and cheese into my lunch bag before I headed out the door. As soon as I took it out of my lunch bag, everyone commented on how good it looked--some even wanted a taste! So today I have an easy lunch/dinner recipe for you all, something that doesn't require too much effort!

Ingredients
2 cups milk
4 cups gluten-free macaroni
3 cups shredded cheddar
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 egg

Procedure
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Bring water to boil in the pot and cook the macaroni for about 5 minutes, or until partially cooked.
3. Drain the macaroni and add it to a baking dish that you greased with butter.
4. Mix the milk, cheddar, and egg together in a separate bowl, and add it to the macaroni.
5. Evenly distribute the mixture, add salt and pepper, and set it in the oven for about 20-30 minutes.
6. Set the oven on broil for another 5 minutes (I added some cheese slices on top to make it even more cheesy.)

Voila! You have some easy baked mac and cheese!
Enjoy!
-Sema

Gluten-free French Onion Soup

Hello everyone! I am on my last day of spring break, and it's ironically the coldest day this week. I wore shorts on Tuesday and complained of the heat, and now it's so cold that I need my winter jacket to go outside! That's what prompted me to make a soup today, because nothing beats the cold like soup. Today's soup is a single serving french onion soup, for those days when you need to make a quick dinner for yourself. If you have guests and want to make more, just multiply the number of guests by the ingredient--that's what's so fantastic about this recipe!

Ingredients
1 medium sized yellow onion
1 cup beef broth
1 cup water
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon thyme
1 tablespoon butter
1 clove garlic
Your choice of cheese

Procedure
1. Slice the onion into very thin slices, and mince the garlic.
2. In a medium frying pan, heat the butter and add the garlic.
3. Once the garlic produces a fragrance, add the onion.
4. Caramelize the onion, stirring occasionally.
5. Add the broth, water, and caramelized onion to a pot.
6. Stirring occasionally, cook it on medium heat for about 25 minutes, or until done.
7. Add the parsley, thyme, salt, and pepper, and let it simmer for a few minutes.
8. Add it to an oven safe bowl and toast some gluten-free bread (I used the Trader Joe's gluten-free hamburger bread).
9. Float the bread on top and add your choice of cheese on top.
10. Broil it in the oven until the cheese melts.

Voila! You have a delicious french onion soup recipe to battle the cold!
Enjoy!
-Sema

Pi Day Recipes

Happy Pi Day everyone! In order to celebrate, I have compiled a list of five round desserts that you can make today. You don't have to be able to eat gluten in order to enjoy the delicious round foods in life!

 1. Simple Gluten-free Cheesecake

2. Gluten-free Lemon Sugar Cookies

3. Easy Pavlova Cake

4. Gluten-free Norwegian Almond Cake (Suksesskake)

5. Chocolate Nemesis Cake

If your Pi Day isn't full of math, then it should be full of circular desserts, right :)?

Enjoy!

-Sema