I recently caught up with the lovely and talented Zhaklina Spencer to learn all about her story and music, topping it all off with gluten-free crepes served with feta and honey. Check out the recipe below!

Zhaklina has been singing for as long as she can remember. Her parents always said she was singing even before she could talk. When she was around 11 years old, she began writing her music along with a lot of poetry and short stories; she got into literature. Zhaklina also joined a cappella group and performed in shows and concerts throughout middle school, high school, and college. She was a part of some pretty competitive a cappella groups. After graduating college, her brother told her about a competition happening in New York and suggested she give it a shot. She thought, “Why not?” So, she decided to try out. It was a long process that took months, but ultimately, she won. It was an amazing experience for Zhaklina. Later she performed at a major music festival called Kfest, where she met several record executives who offered her guidance on her career. She realized at that point that she could pursue music and use the songs she had been writing. That experience in 2015 was what truly launched Zhaklina’s career in music.

She decided to take a chance and push herself with her music. One thing she hadn’t anticipated when becoming a professional artist was the importance of considering, “What is your branding? What do you stand for?” She needed to figure out the overarching message she wanted to convey through her music. After taking time to reflect seriously, in 2017, she made mental health a central theme in her branding and music. She realized many of the songs she had already written included mental health themes, so she decided that everything she would create moving forward would be intentional and centered around healing. Mental health became a key focus for her and that’s when she launched her first project series called “17 Reasons”. Zhaklina’s first project was inspired by the show on Netflix called “13 Reasons” about a girl who listed 13 reasons why she didn’t belong, which tragically led to her taking her own life. The number 17 held spiritual significance for Zhaklina and was always a reminder from God that everyone matters and you are where you’re supposed to be. Since 2017, she has released a series of EPs with 17 songs, each expressing a different message about mental health.

Zhaklina’s music falls under the umbrella of alternative. She incorporates elements of pop and rock in her music but keeps her genre alternative allowing for the most flexibility in her musical styles. She draws inspiration from a wide range of artists, including Celine Dion, and Amy Lee from Evanescence, who strongly influenced her. Among alternative rock and pop artists, Bishop Briggs and PVRIS are major influences. Florence and the Machine also inspires her with their diverse musical elements and exceptional production, motivating her to create authentic art that fans can vividly picture. Their music evokes a sense of creativity and purpose in her.

Zhaklina.com

So what’s next for Zhaklina? She has a few more songs slated for release soon, including her upcoming single, What Do You Believe?, which will be available on all platforms on November 1st. She also plans to continue releasing her music in series format, ensuring each EP has a distinct theme to make the content more accessible and engaging for her fans. Her next series is focused on a therapeutic practice she learned called Internal Family Systems (IFS). According to Zhaklina, it’s all about viewing different emotions as parts of oneself and establishing healthy relationships and boundaries with those parts. Some emotions might require healthy distance from, especially those that feel too close, while others may need more attention- all while learning how to listen to them with compassion, without letting any one part take over. She views these different parts of herself as something she guides, figuring out where each part belongs and what messages they have to share. Each part holds valuable insights. She’s writing from that space of reflection and healing, exploring what she’s learned about her anger, sadness, joy, and all the other parts of her being, and how they apply to her adult life. Age of Reason is the culmination of this, a major statement signaling the entry into a new age of self-awareness and understanding. For Zhaklina, integrating all these parts involves approaching them through the lens of reasoning.

In the future, Zhaklina hopes to continue to tour extensively and continue her journey of creating music. As a birth doula, she has found a way to balance her schedule between supporting women through labor and being on the road sharing her music with the world. Her message to her fans is to “live loved,” which is a reminder that everyone is always loved, and no one can take that away. She believes that when people embrace their inherent self-worth and dignity, they can approach the world with confidence and give from that place of love. She hopes that this message resonates with others and inspires them to find love within themselves. We love hearing her positive message. Be sure to follow her on Instagram and stay tuned for more music from Zhaklina!

Follow Zhaklina on Instagram

When it comes to food, Zhaklina follows a gluten-free and dairy-free diet, with an allergy to jalapenos, and she’s not particularly fond of black licorice or beets. One of her favorite nostalgic dishes is palachinka (crepes), a food her grandmother used to make. She loves them with honey and feta cheese. With her Albanian roots, she has a Mediterranean palate, enjoying foods like lentils and goat cheese, though she avoids cow cheese now. On a day-to-day basis, she enjoys making gluten-free pasta with shrimp and pesto, and she’s a big fan of vegetable omelets. For sweets, she prefers edible cookie dough, acai bowls with granola and fruit, and fruit popsicles. She also has a love for German chocolate cake and angel food cake. Lately, she’s been on a fresh Mango kick as she tries to make healthier sweet choices with fresh fruit.

For this recipe, I wanted to draw from Zhaklina’s love of crepes, feta, and honey. So, I went with a delicious, gluten-free crepes recipe that’s a healthier alternative she can enjoy. Topped with warm, local honey and authentic Greek crumbled feta, it’s the perfect blend of flavors she loves. This dish is not only a nod to her heritage but also a fun, healthy treat. Check out the recipe below for a delightful twist on Zhaklina’s favorite ingredients!

Gluten-Free Crepes with Feta & Honey

Ingredients

1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour ( try to get one with Xanthan Gum already included like Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour)
2 tablespoons pure cane sugar
3/4 cup whole milk (you can use plant-based or lactose-free milk as an alternative)
1/2 cup water
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon Madagascar vanilla extract
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
pinch of salt
non-stick spray of choice (coconut oil preferred)
high-quality Greek feta cheese, crumbled (I used Greek Isle Barrel Aged Feta Cheese)
two tablespoons of local honey (more if you prefer to drizzle on top of crepes)

Directions

Using a stand mixer bowl with a whisk attachment, whisk the eggs for about 1 minute.
Add all the remaining ingredients except feta and honey. Continue mixing the batter on medium speed for another two minutes until it is smooth and mixed well.
Spray a non-stick medium pan with the coconut oil cooking spray on medium heat.
Using a measuring cup, pour ¼ cup of the batter into the center of the pan. Pick up the pan and swirl the pan around a bit to spread the batter evenly and make a circle shape for the crepe.
Cook for 1 minute until the edges are slightly browned and flip on the other side for about 20 seconds. Repeat the process for each crepe.
Arrange the crepes on serving plates either in rolls or folded. Crumble feta cheese top and drizzle with honey. Serve immediately and enjoy!