Quinoa Salad

Hello everyone! It rained non-stop for the past few days in my neck of the woods, flooding highways and streets! While I enjoy a good rainy day complete with a book and a cup of tea, I'm ready for some sun. The recipe I have for you all today is a quinoa salad, which will brighten up anyone's day :). If you have guests and need to prepare an easy lunch/dinner, this recipe is perfect for you. Now I know the ingredient list is long, so you can substitute/eliminate ingredients as you need (although they all work together quite well).

Ingredients
4 cups of quinoa
8 cups of water
2 cucumbers
1 lb of radishes
1 head of lettuce
3 branches of green onions
3 branches of Italian parsley
2 cups of diced red peppers
1/2 cup of lemon juice
1 cup of olive oil
1 cup of sweet red pepper paste or 4 diced tomatoes

Procedure
1. Add the quinoa to the water in a pot, and cook it until it gets fluffy.
2. Chop ALL of your ingredients.
3. Mix all your vegetables with the quinoa, and then add the olive oil, lemon juice, and red pepper paste/tomatoes.

Voila! You have a delicious light lunch/dinner!
Enjoy!
-Sema 

Coconut Macaroons and College News!

Hello everyone! Finals week is finally over, so I can take a breather! I also have some amazing news to share with you all. I was recently accepted into Washington University in St. Louis! It has always been my dream college, and I am VERY excited for the next four years. To celebrate, I decided to make coconut macaroons. This is honestly one of my favorite desserts, and this simple recipe is perfect for the holiday season. The macaroons were so good that they disappeared in no time courtesy of my family!

Ingredients
1 14 oz package of sweetened coconut flakes
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 pinch of salt
4 egg whites
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional for dipping at the end)

Procedure
1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Separate your egg yolks from your egg whites.
3. Beat the egg whites in an electric mixer until they are firm. Add a pinch of salt to the egg whites while they're mixing.
4. In a separate bowl, mix together the coconut flakes, condensed milk, and vanilla extract.
5. Fold the egg whites into your mixture, and make sure everything is mixed together.
6. Line a flat baking pan with parchment paper.
7. Roll the mixture into balls and make sure they are placed at least one inch apart on your baking pan.
8. Bake it for 20-25 minutes or until the top begins to turn a golden brown.

Now for the optional part: melt your chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring it until it gets smooth. You can dip your coconut macaroons in it, or dip clementine pieces into it!

Voila! You have a delicious dessert perfect for the holiday season!
Enjoy!
-Sema

DIY Gluten-free Study Snacks

It's that time of year again! Finals are almost upon us, and what goes best with studying? Study snacks! Sometimes when we are studying, we forget to feed ourselves, so I have compiled a list of easy snacks to make when you're stressed out :).

1. Candied Walnuts

For those days when you want a healthy, crunchy snack.

2. Strawberries and Cream

Sometimes the simplest snacks are delicious.

3. Fruit Smoothie

 Stay healthy while you're unhealthily stressing out :).

4. No Cook Gluten-free Oatmeal

 While this is more of a breakfast item, you can still use it to snack on :).

5. Gluten-free Apple Crisp

Feel fancier as you eat this delicious yet easy comfort food.

6. Gluten-free Banana Nut Muffins

 Spruce up regular boring muffins with bananas and walnuts to help you power through the week.

7. Chex Muddy Buddies

8. Nugo Bars

If you're not in the mood to cook/bake, you can dine on this delicious bar.


Happy studying!
-Sema