Be Free For Me Blog

Breakfast can be tough on a gluten-free diet. We all know that you just can’t reach for the basic breakfast items that everyone else in the world is eating. Sometimes it’s hard just to keep up.

On the days that I make myself a bigger breakfast, I reach for Jones’ Canadian Bacon slices. Whether I am fixing gluten-free pancakes, waffles or eggs, the Canadian Bacon is gluten-free, delicious, and a perfect side.

My favorite breakfast special though is a McGluten-Free Muffin: A toasted Joan’s gluten-free English muffin, a fried egg and Cabot cheese, all topped with a slice of the Jones’ Canadian Bacon.

Now that’s what I call keeping up with the Jones’.

Anything quick and easy, plus tasty, is good for me! That’s why this week’s Friday Favorite is Pamela’s Products Baking & Pancake Mix.

A bag of this mix should be a staple in any gluten-free cabinet.

The absolute beauty of this gluten-free mix is that it can be made into anything… cookies, crepes, waffles, pancakes, muffins, breads and cakes… and more.

In fact this mix is so versatile it kinda reminds me of the Bisquick for the gluten-free set! This mix really can make it all – all the while making you look like the Queen of Gluten-Free Baking.

My favorite use of Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix? The pancake recipe, which is on the bag of the mix, as well as Pamela’s website.  

Why do I love these pancakes so much that I made them this week’s Friday Favorite? Well, they are delicious, convenient and practical! On Sunday Mornings I make up a batch of the batter and cook-up a dozen or so silver-dollar pancakes. I then place 2 to 3 of the cooked pancakes in individual freezer bags and toss them in the freezer. During the crazy weekday mornings, I grab a single-serve bag out of the freezer, pop the pancakes into the toaster, and enjoy… all with no mixing, fussing or pans to wash!

Perfect! =)

Sometime I want a crunchy snack, but want to shy away from higher calorie chips & crackers.

That’s when I grab a handful of Crunchies, gluten and allergen free fruits and veggies that are made through a unique freeze-drying process.

This unique process, which removes 97% of the moisture from the fruit and veggies, contributes to the crunchy texture, all the while retaining many of the nutritious enzymes that are lost through traditional heat drying.

I discovered Crunchies last year at the Natural Food Expo in Boston – and I am looking forward to visiting them again this year too!

Some of the varieties they have are: Strawberries, Blueberries, Mango, Mixed Fruit, Very Berry, Salted Edamame or Edamame Crunchies, or Roasted Veggies.

My favorites though are the Corn Snacks and the Tropical Fruit Mix.

They come in zip-top resealable sharing sized bag or single-serve lunch box / on-the-go sized servings! (Note: there is currently a Lunch Box packs – Buy 2 for $17.99 and get one free!)

Now that fall has official begun, the leisurely mornings of poking around, reading the daily paper on the front porch with a cup of coffee, and nonchalantly deciding what’s for breakfast is over. Sorry folks!

But I recently made a great find with Glutenfreeda’s INSTANT Oatmeal! It is quick, easy and delicious – and perfect for these crazy early September mornings!

This instant oatmeal is made with certified gluten free oats, organic maple syrup and all natural ingredients. But what I like best about them is that they all contain flax, which boosts up the nutritional content and keeps me just a bit more satisfied until lunch time rolls around.

The flavors Glutenfreeda offers are: Maple Raisin with Flax; Banana Maple with Flax (which is my fav); Apple Cinnamon with Flax. Each box has 6 packages of oatmeal in each.

Can’t decide what flavor you may want to try? Get the variety pack that offers 2 of each of the 3 flavors.

They are perfect for a quick breakfast – just microwave for 2 minutes with water. Easy, simple and gluten free! That is why Glutenfreeda’s Instant Oatmeal got my vote for this week’s Favorite Friday!

(Note: Many celiacs question if oats are safe to eat. To find out more on this read this article written by Shelley Case –  http://glutenfreediet.ca/oats.php)

I eat tons of salads. I know that there are plenty of other gluten and allergen free meal options out there, but salads are my old stand-by for the main course when I just don’t feel like cooking.

Many salads can be ho-hum, as boring as iceberg lettuce can get. But I am a true-believer that a good salad dressing can spruce up any salad green.

That’s why Brianna’s Salad Dressings are my pick for this week’s Friday Favorite.

Brianna’s comes in flavors such as Rich Poppy Seed (My all-time favorite. Is it possible to be addicted to salad dressing?), Champagne Caper Vinaigrette and Rich Santa Fe Blend. 

The Brianna’s website also, has some fantastic recipes that are worth checking out. Many are gluten and allergen free, and others can be easily adapted to be.

All of the dressings are nut free, vegetarian and have no MSG added; and MOST are free of gluten & lactose. To find out specifics on each individual type of dressing send an email to info@BriannasSaladDressing.com.

Send Brianna’s an email today… Because salads don’t have to be boring!

Quick and easy is the name of the game for me. That is why this week’s pick for the Friday Favorite is Valley Fresh canned chicken breast.

The only ingredients are: White chicken, water and sea salt. 

When things get hectic I want to reach for a few “go to” pantry items that are staples in my cabinet. No cooking and prepping involved, Valley Fresh chicken is my quick and easy lunch or dinner.

Gluten and allergen free the http://www.valleyfresh.com website has lots of recipe ideas. 

So simple. Yet such a life saver!

There are a few gluten-free go-to items that I keep on hand at all times. These items are usually ones that are versatile and can be used meal-after-meal, in many different recipes and ways.

Drew’s All Natural Salad Dressings are one of these items.

Not only are many of Drew’s dressings free of gluten and dairy; they are also free of sweeteners, trans fats, ingredients grown from GMO seeds, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.

They also use the freshest natural and organic ingredients, and the highest quality, expeller-pressed oils.

The taste is fabulous and you can tell that Drew and his staff put extra TLC into the products they make.

What I like the best about these dressings is that I read the list of ingredient, and I have them all right in my own kitchen cupboards, or out in my vegetable garden. Pretty cool, huh?

My favorite dressing is the Garlic Italian. My sister turned me on to using it as a marinade for chicken and seafood. Now I go through it by the bucket-full! It is also fabulous used in omelets and over steamed vegetables. A close second favorite is the Kalamata Olive & Caper. It is so creamy and is unique in flavor… it is a must try!

The extra versatility and the TLC is what made Drew’s All Natural Dressing my pick for this week’s Favorite Friday!

This week’s Friday Favorite is Edy’s Ice Cream, which is a perfect topping to last Friday’s Favorite, gluten-free ice cream cones.

Summertime is the perfect time for cool refreshing ice cream, but often it can be a challenge to determine what brands, and flavors, have particular allergens as well as other dietary needs (low fat, kosher, low sugar, etc.)

That’s why I love Edy’s Ice Cream website’s “Flavor Finder” feature. It allows you to check off what specific dietary attributes you are looking for in an ice cream treat; such as gluten-free, nut-free, kosher and fat free; as well as your specific flavor or add-in preference; some options include with candy pieces, with chocolate chips, with fruit. You then hit a “Find It!” button, and it comes back with a list of ice cream and frozen treats that fit your dietary preferences AND taste buds!

With the Flavor Finder there are so many flavor configurations and not enough days in the summer! Check it out, have fun… and as always…

Be Free!

Also, reply to this post and let us know if you have a certain brand or type of ice cream that you love! We can never have enough ice cream!

I love ice cream, but since going gluten-free my ice cream lovin’ life just hasn’t been the same.

There’s something about having to eat an ice cream in a cup. It seems just too proper. I decided it’s the cone that makes the ice cream rip-roaring fun. I miss the drips. I miss the mess. I miss the bottom falling out of the cone. I miss licking as fast I can.

I miss my ice cream cones.

That is why I was so very excited to find Goldbaum’s Gluten Free Ice Cream Cups at my local Stop & Shop supermarket.

They come in a box of 12 cones, wrapped in two separates packs with 6-cones in each. Me? I put one of the 6-packs in my car, for those Dairy Queen type of days, and the other 6-pack in my cupboard for my late night “I Can Eat An Ice Cream Cone So I Am!” type of nights. 

Hurray to Goldbaum’s for making all gluten-free summers a little sweeter… drips and all.

This week’s Friday Favorite is once again another favorite condiment: Boar’s Head Pub Style Horseradish Sauce. Why? Because condiments make life fun!

This gluten free sauce is just the right consistency, not too thick, yet not too thin. It is perfectly creamy and can be used as a spread, dip or sauce.

My favorite ways to use this horseradish sauce is to spread it on lettuce wraps layered with thin sliced roast beef, cheese and onions; smothered on top of a cheese burger; or used as a coating before I grill chicken breast.

Plus, with only 15 calories per teaspoon, and flavor that allows a little to go a long way, it is a great alternative to mayo or other high-fat alternatives.

Boar’s Head horseradish sauce is spicy though, so it is not for those folks that stick to more mild-tasting condiments. But if you like it spicy, pour this stuff on for a fantastic gluten free kick!