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