Quality Hotel and Resort Kristiansand

This summer has been going by so quickly, and I can't believe it's almost time for me to come home! I worked as a children's activity leader at the Quality Hotel and Resort in Kristiansand-one of the best experiences in my life. My co-workers ended up becoming my family, so it was so hard to say goodbye to them yesterday. If you are ever in Kristiansand, I urge you to stay there, since they are very good with gluten-free food in the restaurant (all of their sauces are gluten-free!), and it's in a wonderful location-close to Norway's largest shopping center and the Kristiansand Zoo. Over the summer it becomes a children's hotel-so our job was to make every child feel special with awesome activities like treasure hunts, face painting, talent shows, and kids' discos every night! I have become quite good at painting tigers, cats, pirates-you name it, I can paint it. All in all, I have had the best summer ever, and will cherish the friendships I have made forever :).
Check out a commercial I'm in here.

Heights and Hamburgers

Yesterday I hiked up to Preikestolen with a good family friend-in the pouring rain and fog. It felt like a great achievement, especially since we were soaked to the bone and extremely tired in the end. Thank goodness we had snacks like nuts and chocolate with us to keep our energy levels up, and at the end of the trip we ate a delicious lamb stew at a nearby hotel :). I ended up sleeping on the car ride home (something I'm usually not capable of doing) as well as through the night!

 

 

Other than adding alliteration to my blog post title, the next part of my blog post has absolutely nothing to do with hiking :). I'm sure most people over the world can recognize the symbol of the fast food chain I am about to review-McDonalds! What I love about McDonalds in Norway is that it has gluten-free buns! Although everyone around me thought I was insane for being extremely happy when I got my meal (although my mood was a bit dampened by the fact that it cost me like $10), I didn't care because I got to eat a hamburger at McDonalds just like everyone else. I ordered the McFeast with a drink and a side salad, and proceeded to eat my hamburger in one of the colorful booths, giddy with excitement (yes, I get excited about food). Although I was a bit disappointed at the fact that my hamburger didn't look exactly like the picture did, it was still fun to order a normal hamburger at such a generic fast food chain. I think that McDonalds in the U.S. needs to start serving gluten-free hamburgers!

:)
-Sema

Two Year Anniversary as a Gluten-free Blogger!

Wow, can you believe I have been blogging for two years now? I've gotten so many heart-warming messages and emails in regards to my blog, and it's really kept me writing each week :). I started my blog to create a positive outlook on the gluten-free lifestyle, because I truly believe that gluten-free does not have to mean taste-free. I want you all to know that I am your gluten-free friend, and you can count on me for recipes and tips to help you navigate through the gluten-free lifestyle!

Today I got to go out with some of my new friends here in Norway-a sort of celebration luncheon. We ate at the Egon restaurant (you can literally find this restaurant in every city), because it has so many options-including gluten-free ones. They have a super detailed allergy menu that covers not only gluten, but many other allergens. If you are currently in Norway, I urge you to check the restaurant out.

Thank you to all my supporters and readers-you keep me writing. :)
-Sema

Chai Latte Anyone?

Today I wandered around Kristiansand, checking out the stores and enjoying the ocean view. I had absolutely no agenda (except that I had to buy common necessities like toothpaste and floss), so I took the time to "see the sights." I have always enjoyed a good chai latte, so when I came across the Taj Chai and Coffee house, I decided to explore their gluten-free options. It was a typical quaint European cafe, furnished with eclectic furniture and decor-something straight out of a TV show or book. The best part was that they had gluten-free apple muffins, among several pastries (suksesskake included), so I immediately ordered a muffin and a chai latte. I sat outside with my drink and pastry, reading from my e-reader, and kind of felt like a hipster.

 

What I love about Norway is that most cafes and bakeries carry gluten-free options, so I can enjoy the experience of picking out freshly baked pastries instead of getting them from the freezer section :).

After I finished my chai latte, I headed down by the water and spent a good two hours reading and basking in the sun. Notice my practical tennis shoes-I've been doing so much walking here, so comfort trumps fashion ;).

:)
-Sema

An Update on Living Gluten-free in Norway

Good afternoon from Norway! There has been gorgeous weather in Kristiansand in contrast to the ongoing rain in St. Louis. I was taking the bus home (I'm getting pretty good at public transportation) and I looked out the window and saw this gorgeous view:

 

#nofilter :)
I have been talking to chefs and exploring stores and restaurants, and I haven't had a hard time trying to find food to eat! The gluten-free sections in the grocery stores consist of the European brands like Schar, and they are all clearly marked gluten-free.

 Whenever I speak to chefs, they always know what the gluten-free options are-even when there is no gluten-free menu. I haven't come across many gluten-free menus, but the servers usually point out what can be made gluten-free on the regular menu. Recently, I went to Clarion Hotel Ernst in Kristiansant for dessert, and found out that the chocolate nemesis cake was gluten-free (I had to tell them I was gluten-free, because normally they sprinkle cake crumbs on top). Almost everyone at my table ordered it, and they all loved it. I'm not going to lie-when I saw the cake, my jaw dropped, because the piece was so small. I was expecting this huge slice of chocolate cake, since it was priced at 125 kr (about 16 dollars). In the end, I was glad it was smaller, because I wouldn't have been able to finish it-it was so rich in taste! The best part was that I ate the same thing as everyone else! :)

Stay tuned for more updates!
-Sema

How to Peel a Fresh Shrimp

I got the opportunity to peel fresh shrimp-something I'm not exactly used to, since I'm used to the ready-peeled shrimps that you get at a store or restaurant. Living in the mid-west deprives me of fresh shrimp, so it was quite a treat to be able to peel the shrimp myself. It was hard to peel the first shrimp I picked up, but after three shrimps, I managed to get the hang of it. Before I knew it, I had piled my plate with shrimps, and I was ready to make a "traditional" Norwegian shrimp sandwich, complete with mayonnaise, avocado, cilantro, salt, and pepper.

How to Peel a Shrimp
1. Take a shrimp.
2. Break off it's head.
3. Gently peel off the shell of its tail.
4.  Peel apart the shell in the middle of the shrimp. (Pull the two sides of the shell apart in the middle. like you were opening a hotdog bun.)
5. Take off any access parts of the shell, as that is not part of the meal.

Voila! You have freshly peeled shrimp (naturally gluten-free, and absolutely delicious).
Enjoy!
-Sema

Always Be Prepared!

Wow, what a trip! On Sunday I departed for Norway, and I had quite an experience at the airport. I got to my gate on time, stopping to buy an iced chai tea latte and a bottle of water before I settled in for a long wait until boarding time. Half an hour later, there was an announcement that the plane wouldn’t be arriving on time, and it would be delayed 20 minutes. 20 minutes turned into 40 minutes which turned into an hour, and before I knew it, I realized I wouldn’t make it to my connecting flight! I immediately went up to the counter, and they managed to book me onto another flight with another airline. I walked swiftly to the other terminal, which happened to be a 15 minute walk not including the terminal train, and re-checked my luggage. I inquired about a gluten-free meal, but learned that it was too late to actually order one on the flight, so I was thankful that I had eaten a gluten-free pizza at the Hilton connected to the Chicago O'Hare airport earlier. Everyone was so nice and understanding at the airport, that it really made traveling alone so much easier!
The restaurant at the Hilton connected to Chicago O'Hare had so many gluten-free options-including pasta and pizza!

My number one motto of bringing extra emergency snacks really helped in this situation, since I didn't have the option of a gluten-free meal on my new flight. You should always be prepared to deal with any situation whilst traveling, so you won't be stressed out about food :)-that you can take the time to enjoy yourself instead. They gave me a plate of fruit for breakfast to make sure that I didn't go hungry on the long flight.

I got a box of chips on the plane. It was so fancy that I had to take a picture of it :).

Stay tuned for more updates on my experience with living in Norway (for the summer) on the gluten-free diet!

-Sema

Food Allergy Bullying

I recently collaborated with two other teen bloggers to explain the effects and solutions to food allergy bullying. I got to team up with Taylor Miller and Rebecca Pytell, two very inspiring gluten-free advocates. I urge you guys to check them out!

Click here to read "How We Can Put an End to Food Allergy Bullying One Person at a Time (From Teenagers' Point of View)"

-Sema

Easy Pavlova Cake!

School's out, which means more time to sleep and of course experiment with recipes! I'm also getting ready for my trip to Norway in two weeks, but more on that later. Today's recipe is so easy to make, yet it really brings a festive vibe to all summer parties. So, when someone asks you to bring a dessert, you can bring this naturally gluten-free cake that will have everyone asking for the recipe!

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 dessert for every occasion! So the next time someone asks you to bring a gluten-free dessert, you won't break a sweat.
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:
Think Eat Live. I love their mixes, and think that it's so unique that they make them from sunflowers! I did a blog post on them a while back, so click here if you want to check that out.

Gluten-free Hungry Gal. Go check her out!

Gluten-free in St. Louis. She is such a sweet person, and I had an awesome time chatting with her at the event. Check out her Facebook page!

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Their booth was actually right next to mine, so I got to learn a bit about them. They are a non-profit organization and are a great educational resource!

CJ Tammons of Tumbling Gluten-free! She's a fellow gluten-free blogger, and a wonderful person.

I'm off to study for my math final!
-Sema

Gluten and Allergy-free Wellness Event in St. Louis

Last year I had a wonderful time meeting those of you who came out to the St. Louis GFAF Wellness Event! I am looking forward to this Saturday, when I will be speaking about living on the gluten-free diet as a teenager! If you are in the area, be sure to come hear me speak at 1:00 pm. Click here to read my recap from last year.
 

Click here for more information about the event in St. Louis.
Click here to go to the event's homepage.
Click here to go to the event's Facebook page.

Happy Mother's day to all the mothers out there! I surprised my mom this morning with a breakfast, complete with star-shaped pineapple, because she's a star. (Sorry to be cheesy, it had to be said.) I am truly thankful for my best friend, and am truly thankful for everything my mom has done for me. Thank you mom :').

Happy Celiac Awareness month!
-Sema

Easy Candied Walnuts

Tomorrow I have my first AP test for this semester, so I will be spending the majority of today reviewing environmental science. I think the best way to stay motivated with studying is with study snacks! Today I really didn't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen when I needed to be going over all the material, prompting me to make candied walnuts. This 4-ingredient snack takes about 5 minutes to make, and will satisfy your sweet cravings!

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 candied walnuts and have the perfect snack to satisfy your sweet tooth!
Enjoy!
-Sema

Iced Coffee

 The weather is getting warmer, and schoolwork is getting busier! What's the perfect remedy? Iced coffee. Now I know I could go to the nearest Starbucks and pick up a delicious grande iced coffee, but I often don't have the time to spend. Starbucks can get pricey (although it's a wonderful treat), so that's why I make my own! I have a mandatory ACT this week as well as two finals, and the following week AP testing starts, so sleep will be scarce. What better way to get up in the morning than to pour myself a nice cup of iced coffee (we all need something to look forward to on those dreaded Mondays, and pretty much the rest week)?

The iced coffee I treat myself with is a bit different than the one I bring along with me to school or to study at the library.

Ingredients
Your usual amount of coffee (brewed to your taste, and whatever brand you prefer)
Creamer/milk (I love adding a hazelnut creamer to my coffee, because I absolutely adore the flavor)
Dash of Cinnamon (optional)
Whipped cream (optional)
Shredded chocolate (optional)

Procedure
1. Brew your coffee.
2. Now this is optional-when your coffee has cooled down a bit, add some of it to an ice tray. That way your coffee doesn't get watery when you poor the liquid coffee over it. I couldn't find an ice tray, so I just used regular ice, and it was still delicious.
3. Add your coffee to a large jar and stick it into the fridge. Wait for it to become a bit cooler than room temperature, or just leave it overnight to enjoy in the morning.
4. Select a nice glass or tumbler. I use a tumbler to bring to school, adding ice and a little hazelnut creamer!
5. To make it more of a Starbucks-y drink, I add the creamer, ice, and whipped cream. I then top it with a dash of cinnamon and shredded chocolate.

Voila! You have a delicious drink that you can customize the way you like it!
Happy studying/enjoying iced coffee!
-Sema

Prom 2015

 

I went to prom on Saturday and it was a fantastic evening! At the prom they served dinner, so we made sure to plan everything ahead of time. When I got to prom, they gave me two index cards-one to put on the table and one to give to the waiter. This ensured that I got the correct food and that instead of worrying about what I was going to eat, I could enjoy my prom night! The main entree was naturally gluten-free (chicken and mashed potatoes with a side of steamed vegetables), so all I needed "specially prepared" was the salad (we eliminated the blue cheese) and the dessert. I actually never got to the dessert since I was up dancing and having a great time ;).
-Sema

Visiting Norway on the Gluten-free Diet

As you all know from my last blog post, I went to Norway two weeks ago!  Fortunately, as a lot of foods in the Nordic diet happen to be naturally gluten-free, I didn't have much trouble looking for delicious foods to eat. Most local bakeries have gluten-free pastries and bread, so that's a real treat! One of my favorite store-bought items would have to be the Waza Crisp Bread (knekkebrød), so if you ever visit Norway, be sure to stock up on this "bread alternative."

 

The hotel I stayed at had both gluten-free crisp bread and regular bread, and I used toaster bags to make sure that there wasn't any cross contamination issues when using the toaster!

I mean, look at this leaning tower of hamburger!

Almost everyone in Norway speaks English, which means you'll have no trouble talking to the chefs and servers about the gluten-free diet. The waiter walked me through the buffet offerings, pointing out what was gluten-free and what wasn't which  was really nice :).

How cool is this wine glass candle thing :)! 

If you ever find yourself in Norway on the gluten-free diet, don't fret, because you'll be just fine!
-Sema

A Quick Trip to Norway

 

Last week I had the wonderful opportunity to go to Norway! Traveling requires preparation, especially if you are on the gluten-free diet. I made sure that before my trip, I packed sandwiches and snacks in a lunch bag, which I then put into my duffel bag. That way, whenever I got hungry on the plane, I wouldn't have to sort through all my things to get to the food. Unfortunately, there were no restaurants with gluten-free items near my gate in the airport in Amsterdam on my return to the US, but I wasn't worried since I was prepared for anything :). My trip was smooth-no delays or cancellations, but I'd rather be safe than sorry (rather too much food than too little)! The food on both the Delta and KLM planes was good (I know, I was surprised too!), so I never went hungry.

I checked with a flight attendant before take-off to make sure that I was getting a gluten-free meal. They came around with a list and put a sticker on my seat that said I was gluten-free. Since it was such a long flight, they served multiple meals. On the way to Norway, breakfast was an Udi's muffin and a banana.

-Sema

Gluten-free Bread Pudding and Vanilla Sauce

 

I haven't had bread pudding for a while, so today I set to the task of making it, as I had quite the sweet tooth this morning. It wasn't hard to make, and my mom said that she couldn't tell that it was gluten-free (even though I assure you, it most definitely was.) I decided to make this recipe lactose-free as well with lactose-free milk :).

The Pudding
Ingredients
6 slices of gluten-free bread (I used the BFree white bread, check them out!)
2 tablespoons of melted butter
4 beaten eggs
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup raisins
2 cups milk
3/4 cup white sugar

Procedure
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cut the gluten-free bread into little squares and them to a bread pan.
3. Sprinkle the raisins and the melted butter over the bread.
4. In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, cinnamon, vanilla extract, milk, and white sugar. Mix it well.
5. Add the mixture to the bread pan, completely covering the bread. You may have to push down on the bread to completely submerge it.
6. Bake for about 35 minutes, then take it out and cover it in foil. Put it back in for another 10 minutes.
7. Take it out to cool. 

The Vanilla Sauce
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Procedure
1. Combine all the ingredients except for the vanilla extract over medium heat in a saucepan.
2. Mix it together until the mixture becomes thick. It will begin to boil, and once it does add the vanilla extract.
3. Mix it a little more and then remove it from the heat.
4. Add the sauce to an individual bowl filled with the bread pudding.


Voila! You have a delicious dessert!
Enjoy!
-Sema

Easy Fish Dinner

 

Do you need dinner fast? Here is a quick and easy fish dinner recipe! You can eat fish cold or warm, grilled, baked, boiled, poached or fried (so many options!). I usually opt for boiling the fish, as it is the healthiest, and in my opinion, most delicious option. When you have learned how to boil fish properly, the end result is a tender, juicy meal! I mean, if you can boil water, you can boil fish!

Ingredients

4 skinless salmon fillets

6-8 cups water

Pinch of salt

4 bay leaves

Procedure

1. Fill  pot with enough water to cover the fish.

2. Add a couple of bay leaves and a pinch of salt.

3. Bring the water to a boil.

4. Add the fish and bring it to a simmer. Let it simmer for 20 minutes.

On the side you can add steamed vegetables and brown rice, as I think they complement the fish nicely. Voila, you have a meal (and a really healthy and delicious one too)! 

Enjoy!

-Sema

Gluten-free Norwegian Almond Cake (Suksesskake)

 

Happy pi day everyone! In honor of this special day, I decided to make a cake (because I love to celebrate with food). This cake is pretty easy to make, and I love how it's naturally gluten-free. The first time I tasted this cake was at my great-aunt's house in Norway, and ever since I've been dreaming about it :).

The Frosting
Ingredients
5 egg yolks
2/3 cup white sugar
2/3 cup softened butter
1/2 cup heavy cream

Procedure
1.  Place a saucepan over low heat, and add the egg yolks and sugar, whisking them together.
2. Stir in the heavy cream until the mixture becomes really thick. (Bring the mixture to a near boil.)
3. Remove it from the heat and let it cool down to room temperature. I used an electric mixer to get rid of any lumps.
4. After it reaches room temperature, mix in the softened butter until you get rid of the lumps.
5. Set it in the fridge so it can get cold.

The Cake
Ingredients
5 egg whites
1 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
2 cups almond flour
1 teaspoon baking powder

Procedure  
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and grease your baking pan (I used a round 9 inch form).
2. In a bowl, mix together the egg whites with an electric mixer until they become firm.
3. In a different bowl, mix together the almond meal, confectioners sugar, and the baking powder.
4. Fold the egg whites into the mixture.
5. Pour your batter into your baking pan.
6. Bake for 30 minutes! Your cake should spring back when you put your finger on it-it will also get a nice golden color.
7. Let it cool down (and sit down and enjoy the scent of an almond cake). Once cool down , add the frosting! 

Look how beautiful it is :').

Add some slivered almonds for garnish,  and voila, you have traditional (and tasty) Norwegian almond cake. The best part of the recipe is that it is entirely gluten free!
 Enjoy!
-Sema 
 

Strawberries and Cream

I spent the majority of today outside, basking in the beautiful weather. Lately, we've gotten a lot of snow and icy cold weather, so today was quite a treat (it got up to 65 F/18 C)! When I got home, I decided I wanted a simple dessert, something that was easy to make and didn't require a lot of prep time. So, I whipped 1/2 a cup of heavy whipping cream in the blender, adding a dash of sugar. I then cut up some strawberries, and shaved the side of a chocolate bar, and voila, I had dessert :).

Also, happy International Women's Day!
-Sema

Spicy Gluten-free Chicken Wings

It's been snowing on and off for the last few weeks, and last night we got a lot of snow! (Of course the snow couldn't have waited until tonight, so that we'd get a snow day tomorrow...) To counteract the extremely cold weather outside, I decided we needed something spicy for dinner. I love spicy chicken wings, as they are pretty easy to make as well as delicious to eat! I could have just used a ready made gluten free buffalo wing sauce, but instead I used this recipe (shout out to my dad for teaching me this!). You can add any side dish, and I decided to go with boiled potatoes, rutabaga (a Swedish turnip), and carrots, as well as a side salad.

Ingredients
3 lbs chicken wings
Gluten-free soy sauce
Honey mustard
1/2 cup buffalo wing sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Black Pepper

Procedure
1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Spread the chicken wings on an oven safe pan.
3. Sprinkle a little bit of soy sauce and honey mustard over the wings.
4. Add 1/2 a cup of buffalo wing sauce.
5. Sprinkle a dash of black pepper and 1 tspn Italian seasoning.

6. Now for the fun part! Treat your chicken wings to a spa treatment by massaging all the ingredients in!

7. Put the wings into the oven for about 30 minutes.
8. After about 30 minutes, set the oven to 400 degrees and flip the chicken wings over.
9. Put them back into the oven for another 30 minutes, or until done.

Voila! You have spicy chicken wings!
Enjoy!
-Sema

Gluten-free Cheerios!

Picture Credit: glutenfreehomemaker.com

I used to eat Cheerios all the time as a child, as it was a great snack and cereal! Of course, when I was diagnosed with Celiac at the age of 6, we didn't want to focus on what I couldn't eat-so we focused on what I could eat (there is plenty out there)! Oats are in fact gluten-free, but often come in contact with wheat during the production phase , which is why you have to buy certified gluten-free oats. I am very excited that the manufacturer of Cheerios finally has decided to make Cheerios certified gluten-free through a procedure that ensures the separation of oats from other grains during the production phase. However, make sure you check with your physician if you can tolerate gf oats, as not everyone with Celiac can!

-Sema

Fruit Smoothie

Here's a naturally gluten-free delicious smoothie that you can enjoy in this chocolate-infused week :)! I absolutely adore this recipe-it's got a sweet taste to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings! The good thing about smoothies is that you usually can add anything you've got in the fridge to make a delicious creation! This is my favorite smoothie recipe, as it is sweet and filling!

Ingredients
1/2 a cup of Greek yogurt: you can make your own, click here for the recipe!
1/4 a cup of sliced strawberries
1/4 a cup of sliced kiwis
1/4 a cup of sliced frozen mangoes
1/4 a cup of sliced bananas
a dash of mango/orange juice-I used mango juice to give it a sweeter taste
1 tablespoon of chia seeds

Procedure
1. Put all the ingredients in the blender.
2. Blend until you reach the desired consistency.

Voila! You have a delicious snack/breakfast item!
Enjoy!
-Sema

No Cook Gluten-free Oatmeal

Sometimes mornings can be hectic-but that shouldn't mean that you skip breakfast! With a little prep the night before, you have a delicious breakfast the next day. This week make sure you get a hearty breakfast in the midst of all the chocolate!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of gluten-free oatmeal
1/2 cup of Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon chia seeds
A drizzle of honey
Optional: fruit of your choice.

Procedure:
1. Mix all the ingredients together.
2. Put a lid on the jar and store in the fridge overnight.

Voila! You have a delicious breakfast for those chaotic mornings!

Valentine's day is just around the corner, and I'm really looking forward to it this year. I will be performing with a small orchestra at a retirement home. I love seeing their faces light up as we stroll into the room, instruments up and ready to play.
Here's my outfit of the day for Valentine's day! Sometimes just a pop of color really goes a long way :).

Enjoy!
-Sema

Gluten-free Waffle Sandwiches

 Do you like waffles? Do you like sandwiches? Well then I have the perfect snack for you! Sometimes when you're in a hurry, you don't think about what you are going to eat. Here's your solution-once a week, make waffles. Store them in an airtight container, and whenever you run out of time for a meal, pop a waffle into your toaster, and voila you've got a snack!

But you can do so much more with waffles than you think! The cool thing about it is that you can top waffles with whatever you're in the mood for! I mean, there are some days where I'm just like I need some whipped cream on my waffles. But then there are other days when I like to top them with a mixture of sauteed hotdog, mushroom, tomato, and a little green onion for garnish.

Enjoy!
-Sema

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