Be Free For Me Blog

I love chocolate. But unfortunately chocolate is one of those things on my “only eat once in a while” list, especially when I am watching what I eat.

That is why I was so excited when NuGo came out with their Slim Bars. These bars that are made with real dark chocolate, have almost no sugar and contain no Maltitol or artificial sweeteners. Diabetic friendly, gluten-free and only 2-grams of sugar (which comes from the real dark chocolate) these bars are delicious and perfect for celiacs and diabetics.

NuGo Slim Bars, which are this week’s Friday Favorite pick on BeFreeForMe.com, are each packed with 15 grams of protein and 9-10 grams of fiber – so they are a perfect mid-day snack. They come in three great flavors – Brownie Crunch (my favorite), Raspberry Truffle and Roasted Peanut.

With NuGo Slim Bars I can have my chocolate… and enjoy every single delicious bite…. Guilt free!

Congrats!

Want to buy NuGo Slim Bars today? Check out this link on Amazon.com and take advantage of the SuperSaver Free Shipping: NuGO Slim Brownie Crunch, 1.59-Ounce (Pack of 12)

Thank you Bolthouse Farms for making my resolution of eating a salad, every day, for lunch so much easier… and also for tossing in tastiness too.

Because of Bolthouse Farms, I love lunch. I look forward to my salads.

And if you haven’t seen Bolthouse Farms Yogurt Dressings before you are probably looking in the wrong place. These dressings are found in the produce department. Yup – right above the lettuce, fresh veggies and other salad fixin’s.

All are delicious. All are gluten-free.

The Bolthouse Farms Yogurt Dressings are all between 35 and 45 calories per serving, so they are perfect for pouring, dipping and dressing. They come in a few varieties too: Chunky Blue Cheese, Classic Ranch, Zesty French, Thousand Island, Caesar Parmigiano, Honey Mustard and Salsa Ranch.

So on behalf of my salad, this week’s BeFreeforMe’s Friday favorite goes to Bolthouse Farms Yogurt Dressings. Congrats!

Sometimes days are too busy. So often my morning promise to prepare a recently found recipe for dinner goes by the wayside after car pooling, heavy traffic or work hours that extend oh-so-close to the dinner-hour.

This is when Caesar’s Stuffed Shells with Cheese in Marinara Sauce fits the bill.

This frozen meal, goes from freezer to plate in moments, and offers a generous sized portion, that can be shared along side a fresh garden salad.

Made with fresh, high quality and natural ingredients these stuffed shells are made from rice flour and stuffed with seasoned ricotta, and topped with a flavorful marinara sauce.

Convenience, great taste and busy days are all the reasons this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe goes to Caesar’s Gluten-Free Stuffed Shells with Cheese in Marinara Sauce. Congratulations and mangia!

Want to buy? Check out these links on Amazon.com (Note: One of the links is for the Caesar’s Gluten-Free Stuffed Shells with Cheese in Marinara Sauce,
and the other is for just the gluten-free stuffed shells…. you add your own sauce!)

Caesar’s Pasta Gluten Free Stuffed Shells with Marinara Sauce Entrée

Conte’s Gluten Free Stuffed Shells, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3)

I love baking. The mixing, the blending, the smell of a good gluten-free goodies baking in the oven. I love to make sweets for myself, and for those in my life…  just because.

After all, cake isn’t just for birthdays. Celebrations should happen daily. Got a “B+” on that math test? Time to celebrate! Mom home from a business-trip after being gone all week? Time to celebrate! It’s the little things in life that are sometimes the most overlooked, yet those that bring the biggest joys into our lives. The kind of joys that put a smile on your face, and a bounce in your step.

And to celebrate these tiny joys, cupcakes made from Pamela’s Cake Mixes are perfect.

I love the convenience of adding just a few ingredients and mixing up a batch of gluten-free cupcakes.  Afterward I frost and decorate each one uniquely… for each special someone in my life. I learned early-on the perfection in decorating doesn’t matter one bit. After all, as the old saying goes… it’s just the frosting on the (yummy, gluten-free) cake… so go nutty-crazy with the frosting & sprinkles.

Celebrating every day wonders and joys are the reasons this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com goes to Pamela’s Cake Mixes. Congratulations…and have fun celebrating!

Want to buy Pamela’s Cake Mixes on Amazon.com? Take advantage of FREE Super Saver shipping. Here are the links:

Pamela’s Products Luscious Chocolate Cake Mix, 21-Ounce Packages (Pack of 6)
Pamela’s Products Classic Vanilla Cake Mix, 21-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6)
Pamela’s Products Vanilla Frosting Mix, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6)
Pamela’s Products Dark Chocolate Frosting Mix, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6)

This week’s Friday Favorite goes to one of our favorite snacks… Calbee’s SnackSalad Snapea Crisps – a crispy salad treat!

We love these crispy peas that are made into fun to eat snacks because they are tasty… and nutritious.

With no artificial flavors or colors these snow pea-shaped crispy snacks are the perfect way to get your veggies and enjoy them too.

Calbee says that their purpose is in their name. “Salad” means they will bring you the wholesome goodness of the entire fruit or vegetable, and “Snack” means they crafted it to be eaten more enjoyably.

Although we love eating them straight out of the bag, many gluten-free folks I know add them to the top of their dinner salad for a crispy crunch, or as an appetizer dipped in some lemon hummus.

Any way you snack it – these crispy peas are delicious!

All these reasons are why this week’s Friday Favorite goes to Calbee SnackSalad Snapea Crisps. Congrats!

Want to Buy? Check out this deal on Amazon.com with FREE SUPER SAVER SHIPPING! Calbee Snack Salad Snapea Crisps, Original Flavor, 3.3- Ounce Bags (Pack of 12)

Note: Made in a facility that also manufactures products containing wheat, milk, soy, shrimp, and fish.

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe goes to a fantastic new yogurt that I recent discovered… Green Valley Organic Yogurt.

This is the real stuff too… REAL DAIRY yogurt that is lactose-free. Creamy. Rich. Real dairy.

I love all the yogurt  flavors, including Vanilla, Blueberry, Honey, Plain and Peach,  but my favorite is the Strawberry. Creamy, rich and just sweet enough, I found myself scraping the sides and bottom of the cup for more… it was just that good.

This lactose-free, gluten-free yogurt is great for those that are sensitive to lactose, as well as gluten. The yogurt also contains 10 live and active cultures, is probiotic rich, and kosher. I’m loving that it is organic too.

Green Valley Organics also makes other lactose / gluten-free dairy products including kefir and sour cream. YES… REAL SOUR CREAM! =) Creamy, dairy-full sour cream.

No wonder Green Valley’s logo is “Peace. Love. Dairy.”

I met the folks at Green Valley Organics at a tradeshow last year, and they are a great bunch of great people. They are passionate about the products they make, and are so happy to make  top-notch dairy products that all of us gluten/lactose free  people can enjoy… and love!

For all of these reasons Green Valley Organics gluten and lactose-free rich, creamy dairy products are this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Cheers!

Note: Want to buy these lactose and gluten-free products? Check out the “Where To Buy” page on the Green Valley Website.

This week’s BeFreeForMe Friday Favorite is one of my all time favorite go-to frozen meals: Amy’s Light & Lean Soft Taco Fiesta Meal.

These meals are delicious… they have a zip of cilantro (which I love), that is  layered with organic vegetables, organic brown rice, corn tortillas and black beans. In fact, it is hard to believe that these meals have only 220 calories. These meals are the perfect trifecta that I am looking for to keep my New Year’s resolutions:  Tasty, low calorie and easy to prepare. Jackpot.

As well as the Soft Taco Fiesta Meal, the Light & Lean Meals also come in  many other varieties, including: Black Bean & Cheese Enchilada, Pasta & Veggies and Spinach Lasagna to name just a few.

This week’s Friday Favorites on BeFreeForMe goes to the Light & Lean Meals since they are all under 300 calories, have less than 5 grams of fat, and are only 6 Weight Watchers points in the Points Plus program. All the while tasting delicious!

These meals can be found in most grocery stores, and will be available SOON through Amazon.com. To sign-up to get notified when this item becomes available on Amazon.com, check out this link: Amys Light & Lean Soft Taco Fiesta Bowl, 8 Oz (Pack of 12)

Congrats, Amy’s!

This is the time of year for appetizers. And my favorite? Shrimp Cocktail. Any way you look at it, this appetizer is a winner hands down. Between it being the perfect finger-food (no utensils required here), low in calories and nutritionally sound it is a real crowd pleaser.

But for those of us with celiac disease and on a gluten-free diet, the “cocktail sauce” can be the culprit since it can include hidden gluten and other allergens. That is why I make my own cocktail sauce. And my secret ingredient… Gold’s Prepared Horseradish.

Gold’s is manufactured by the fourth generation of a  family has been providing quality OU certified Kosher products for almost 80 years, and has quite an extensive list of gluten-free products they manufacturer as well.

My recipe for cocktail sauce is simple and you can find it here. And since prepared horseradish has less than five calories in a one teaspoon, along with virtually no fat and tons of flavor, I plan on using it as my secret ingredient in many recipes for the coming New Year.

Tons of flavor, little to no calories and tons of ways to incorporate into recipes are the reasons this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Gold’s Prepared Horseradish. Cheers & Congratulations!

Whoever said that gluten-free crackers are boring and bland, needs to try this sweet decadent dessert using Glutino Gluten-Free Table Crackers.

As of now, gluten free crackers  have been used for only cheese, dips, and spreads – but now they are making a debut into desserts! Welcome deliciousness!

While I was pining and ogling over gluten-FULL cookies recipes found in a magazine, I decided to attempt making one of these recipes with a gluten-free twist.

The result? Our very own Gluten-Free Crackling Chocolate Crackers – a no-bake recipe (perfect when your oven is packed with other baked goods), that is a mix of sweetness and saltiness, and loved by both the gluten-free and non-gluten free folks.  They are simple to make and made with products from two of our Friday Favorite gluten-free brands: Glutino & Kinnikinnick.

For the crispy, nutty topping we sprinkled the tops with Heath Bits o’ Brickle Toffee Bits (we called Hershey’s and they confirmed this item is indeed gluten-free), but you could always sprinkle the tops with crushed Glutino crackers too.

These Gluten-Free Crackling Chocolate Crackers are also great for gifting … we’ve been bundling them up in tins and have been gifting all week!
Enjoy!

Gluten-Free Crackling Chocolate Crackers
The beauty of this recipe is that it is a no-bake dessert, that is great for gifting. If a nut-allergy is a concern, omit the toffee topping and use crushed gluten-free pretzels instead.

One 4.4-ounce package of Glutino Gluten-Free Table Crackers (Check label for allergens)
1 cup of Kinnikinnick Graham Crumbs (Check label for allergens)
1 cup of dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1 stick of butter, plus enough to lightly grease the cookie sheets
1/3 cup of light cream
3 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups dark chocolate chips
1 ½ tablespoon shortening or butter
1 8-ounce package of Hershey’s Heath Bits o’ Brittle Toffee Bits (check label for allergens)

Place the Glutino Gluten-Free Table Crackers in a single layer on a lightly greased cookie sheet. You will need 2-3 sheets. If that crackers are broken, that is o.k.

In a small saucepan over high heat, combine the Kinnikinnick Graham Cracker Crumbs, brown sugar, the stick of butter (cut into pieces), and the light cream. Stir until the brown sugar dissolves, butter melts and the mixture is well blended and starts to boil. Reduce heat to medium, and continue to stir for another 6-7 minutes – being careful not to scorch the mixture. Spoon over the crackers, and using the back of the spoon spread evenly. Place the crackers in the refrigerator until cooled – about ½ to 1 hour.

Next, melt the dark chocolate chips and the shortening in a small saucepan, making sure you keep stirring to prevent scorching. Once melted, remove the crackers from the refrigerator and evenly spoon the melted chocolate over the crackers.

Immediately sprinkle the toffee pieces over the crackers. Refrigerate for several hours to overnight.

Break into bite sized pieces. Store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Yields: 2-3 dozen pieces.

Recipe adapted from: Better Homes & Gardens, 100 Best Cookies

Want to buy the Glutino Table Crackers and the Kinnikinnick Graham Cracker Crumbs? Check out these links:
Glutino Gluten Free Table Crackers, 4.4 oz
Kinnikinnick Crumbs – Graham Style Gluten Free, 10.5000-Ounce (Pack of 3)

If you’re looking for a snack bar that is good for you, and just as nutritious as a good piece of fruit, look no further!

I found the ultimate fruit in a bar! Oskri Fig Bars.

I love the simplicity of these bars. The only ingredient = Figs.

These bars are naturally sweet and packed with flavor. Perfect for adults and kids. I love the fact that they have only 131 calories, 5.3 grams of protein and also only 1 gram of fat. They are also gluten-free, lactose-free, nut-free and vegan. This bar is a generous size and fills me up too.

They are the perfect bar to throw in your bag, and have as a snack while on the go.

Simple perfection is the reason the Oskri Fig Bars receives this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Congratulations!

These bars are also found on Amazon.com and qualify for Super-Saver Shipping. You can find them here: Oskri Fig Bars