Be Free For Me Blog

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe goes to Euforia Confection’s Gluten-Free Thousand Layer Cake.

I first tried this soft, spongy, flourless, all-natural cake at a trade show. The samples were enticing and intriguing. These cakes are made with thin delicate layers of cake, which are all individually baked… and I find utterly amazing! The cakes themselves are beautiful to look at – but, as I discovered, even more beautiful to eat. =)

Euforia’s Thousand-Layer Cakes come in two flavors: Vanilla – with a familiar and comforting melt-in- your-mouth flavor, or Spice – a sassy blend of spices that creates a ultra-chic spice cake even Grandma would love.

I love that these cakes can be frozen for up to 6-months– which is perfect for those last-minute get-togethers. This cake is also great served as a birthday cake, or eaten “just because”.

All these reasons, plus thousands more, are the reasons why Euforia Gluten-Free Thousand layer Cake is this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Congratulations!

Want to buy? Check out these links on Amazon.com:
Thousand-Layer Cake (Vanilla / Roll)

Thousand-Layer Cake (Vanilla)

Last week I attended a Whole Foods Market during a “local night” … a night featuring free samples and information about local food producers.
The event was absolutely amazing!

The premise of the evening is to introduce Whole Food shoppers to local companies. Companies that do business in our communities. Employ our neighbors. And farm our land. Entrepreneurs that live and breathe their businesses… day in and day out.

The event that I attended last week was held at the Hadley, Massachusetts store. The event was organized by Rachel Hackett – the Whole Foods Local Forager. She did an incredible job, and was a gracious and accommodating hostess. Cheers to Rachel for organizing such a fantastic event! The store was packed, and smiles were everywhere. I know that other Whole Foods Markets in the New England area also hold Local Nights, so I am not sure if it is just a (wicked) cool “New England thing” or if other Whole Foods around the country have similar events too. My advice is to ask your local Whole Food market if they have these Local Nights, and if they don’t have them – asks them to organize one!

The night had a “farmers market” type of feel to it, but featured everything from marinades, salad dressings, puddings, wines, cheeses, ice cream, strawberries, and local milk. Almost all of the items featured were gluten-free too, so I had a real field day when it came to the samples.

I also have to mention an unbelievably delicious product I tried at this event: Mom’s Munchies. These bars are to die for (SO good) and are not only gluten-free and dairy free, but vegan, organic and have no refined sugar. I love it when I find a new product that is unbelievably good! A must-have!

Good yummy, local food, smiling faces and fantastic New England hospitality are all the reasons that this week’s Friday Favorite goes to Whole Food’s Markets “Local Night”… Congrats!

P.S. Does your neighborhood Whole Food’s have a Local Night? Please let us know in the comments below!

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com goes to a group of sassy sauces that will add a kick to your chicken, meat, veggies, tofu or noodles.

Stonehouse 27 sauces are the gluten-free solution to creating delicious Indian food at home without the effort of making them from scratch.

I love that the Stonehouse 27 sauces are a quick and easy dinner solution with a made-from-scratch taste. These sauces come in a variety of flavors including Tamarind & Garlic, Tomato & Chilies, Dates & Tamarind, Mild Cashews & Cream, Spicy Cashews & Cream, and my favorite – Cilantro & Coconut. Made with healthy and premium ingredients, all the sauces are gluten-free, vegan and less than 25mg of sodium per serving.

Need some recipe ideas for these must-have sauces? Check out the website of Stonehouse 27 and snag yourself some real recipe keepers.

Exotic taste, fantastic flavors and an array of delicious recipe ideas are the reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com goes to Stonehouse 27 Sauces. Congrats!

Salty & Sweet. My all time favorite taste combo that there is. There’s nothing like the contrast of tasting a sweet smoothness that is awakened by a snappy saltiness.

And The Whole Earth Kettle Corn is the benchmark when it comes to salty & sweet perfection.

The Whole Earth Kettle Corn is made with all natural organic ingredients, has no trans fat or gluten ingredients, is made with non-GMO ingredients, and has 16 grams of whole grain per serving.

So if you’re looking for something a little sweet that is punched-up with some saltiness reach for The Whole Earth Organic Kettle Corn.

Congrats to this sweet and salty little snack for being this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com!

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com is awarded to little puffs that offer more that you ever thought they could!

Kay’s Naturals Protein Puffs. Tasty little gluten-free puffs that are full of flavor, high in fiber and protein, gluten-free, low glycemic and super low in calories.

I love that Protein Puffs come in a variety of flavors to satisfy those sweet or savory snacking moods you may be in. The Almond Delight is a sweet snack that I enjoy with my mid-afternoon tea, or even as a breakfast-on-the-go. The Tomato Basil and Veggie Pizza are savvy savory snack (say that three times fast!), while the Mac and Cheese is… well… Mac and Cheese – comfort food at it’s best, but without all the calories and guilt.

One single serve bag of the Protein Puffs delivers a heaping portion… which is awesome. And, best yet,  although the portion size is satisfying, it’s only a measly 110 to 120 calories per bag. (Note: For all of the Weight Watcher point counters…  these snacks are only 2 to 3 points per serving/ bag… Tasty, filling and low points!)

All these wonderful reasons are why Kay’s Naturals Protein Puffs are this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. These snacks really are all they are puffed up to be!

Congratulations!

Want to buy? Check out this link on Amazon.com:
Kay’s Naturals Protein Puffs 12 – 12 oz bags (34 g) Al

Summer’s here and we’re all screaming for ice cream! Now thanks to SO Delicious Dairy Free even those with dairy allergies or intolerances can enjoy a nice, cool, refreshing treat on those hot summer days.

Say Hello to SO Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Ice Cream!

I love that these frozen treats are creamy and come in tons of fantastic gluten-free flavors. Some of my favorites are: Cherry Amaretto, Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl, Coconut Almond Chip, Mint Chip and Mocha Almond Fudge. And for those of you that can’t have coconut, SO Delicious also makes a line of frozen desserts made with a soy base too!

And for those looking for additional allergy and nutritional info, the SO Delicious website has a comprehensive chart detailing their products allergens. I love it when companies supply this info, don’t you?

Another way you can make this product extra-special is by serving it atop a Goldbaum’s Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cone. Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free joy!

Dairy-free, gluten-free and SO delicious are all the reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite goes to SO Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Ice Cream! Good lickins’ and congratulations!

Want to buy? Use this store searcher to find a store that sells SO Delicious  Frozen Desserts near you… or get your Goldbaum Ice Cream Cones (Gluten, Dairy, Egg, Nut, Peanut and Soy Free!) on Amazon.com:
Goldbaum’s Gluten Free Ice Cream Cone Cups 12 cones/1.76 oz. – case of 4
Goldbaums Ice Cream Cones – Gluten Free Sugar Cone, 4.7-Ounce (Pack of 4)

I hear quite often that cooking gluten-free foods can be time consuming, since many favorite dishes often need to be made from scratch.

This is why I am thrilled to pass along info on Roland Foods Flavored Quinoa packs. A convenient and tasty package of quinoa that is pre-seasoned, flavored and…best yet… ready-in-minutes!

All you need to do is add water, heat and serve. It makes quinoa a snap to make, and takes the guessing out of deciding  how to prepare it.

My favorite is the Mediterranean, but they also come in Toasted Sesame Ginger, Black Bean, Garden Veggie & Roasted Garlic.

Convenience and tastiness. The two reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe is awarded to Roland Foods Ready-In-Minutes Flavored Quinoa.

Want to buy? Check out these links on Amazon.com.
Roland Quinoa Mediterranean, 5.46-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 6)
Roland Quinoa Black Bean, 5.46-Ounce (Pack of 6)
Roland Quinoa Garden Vegetable, 5.46-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 6)
Roland Quinoa Toasted Sesame Ginger, 6 – 5.46-Ounce Pouches
Roland Quinoa Roasted Garlic, 5.46-Ounce (Pack of 6)

If you’re looking for a new gluten-free chip for dipping, for snacking or for a crunchy side to your lunchtime sandwich you must try Simply 7 Hummus Chips.

With no trans fats, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives – these gluten-free chips are delicious. They come in three flavors: Sea Salt, Spicy Chili Pepper, and Tomato Basil.

What exactly is a hummus chip, you ask? A hummus chip is a perfectly shaped chip that is the perfect shape for scooping up your favorite brand of hummus, dip or spread. The ingredients are simple. And they are made with… chickpeas!

Chickpeas contain tons of protein, fiber and many important minerals. So I love that the very first, and main, ingredient in the Simply 7 chips is chickpea flour.

Chips made with chickpeas… ingenious… and the reason why this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com goes to Simply 7 Hummus Chips.

Congratulations!

Looking to buy Simply 7 Hummus Chips? Check out these links on Amazon.com:
Simply 7 Hummus Chips, Sea Salt, 1-Ounce Bags (Pack of 24)
Simply 7 Hummus Chips, Spicy Chili Pepper, 5-Ounce Bags (Pack of 12)
Simply 7 Hummus Chips, Tomato Basil, 5-Ounce Bags (Pack of 12)

It’s tough to find a gluten-free cracker that will be loved by the gluten-free and the non-gluten free alike.

And we all know that some gluten-free crackers are not what they’re cracked up to be. Some out bland. Some are hard. Some are tasteless.

But thanks to Crunchmaster that is not the way gluten-free crackers need to crumble.

Crunchmaster crackers are so versatile. They are great all by themselves, with cheese, with dips and also ground and used as crumbs on chicken and seafood. Many of the varieties are also dairy-free, vegan and sugar-free too.

Crunchmaster Crackers are also made in a certified gluten-free facility. They are made with 100% whole grain, are cholesterol free, low in sodium, low in saturated fat and have no trans fat.

Cheers to Crunchmaster and the fabulous crackers they make…and congratulations on being awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Crunch on!

Want to buy Crunchmaster Crackers? Check out this link on Amazon.com and take advantage of FREE Super Saving Shipping: Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers Gluten Free 20 oz.

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com is awarded to Golden Valley Organic Beef Jerky.

If you’re a beef jerky fan you know that most beef jerky contains gluten. There seems to be gluten on every single ingredient label you check. BUT – Golden Valley Organic Beef Jerky is gluten-free! Celebrate gluten-free jerky fans!

Not only is this jerky gluten-free – it also contains no MSG, preservatives, nitrates or artificial ingredients. Another added bonus is that they are made with organic beef, which is fed organic feed, and raised without added hormones.

All good stuff.

I am a huge fan of Golden Valley Organic Beef Jerky. I’ve chatted about Golden Valley Organic products in the past, but never pointed out the fabulous gluten-free beef jerky varieties that Golden Valley has. If you like a basic jerky, the Original is for you, but if you’re looking for a spice, go with the Black Pepper. If a punch of flavor is your thing grab the Teriyaki or the BBQ. And last if you like things sweet, but also a tad spicy…  the Sweet & Spicy variety is a sure-bet.

Please note that not all the products Golden Valley make are gluten-free, so as always, check the labels carefully and look for the gluten-free notation. on the label.

NOTE: The Golden Valley Beef Jerky is available to purchase on Amazon with Super-Saver shipping! Here are the links:
Golden Valley Natural Organic Beef Jerky Teriyaki — 3 oz
Golden Valley Natural Organic Beef Jerky Bar-B-Que — 3 oz
Golden Valley Natural Organic Beef Jerky Original — 3 oz
Golden Valley Natural Organic Beef Jerky Sweet ‘n Spicy — 3 oz
Golden Valley Natural Organic Beef Jerky Black Pepper — 3 oz