Be Free For Me Blog

Sometimes eating gluten-free gets me into a rut. It seems like I always rely on my one or two “go-to” recipes when I need a quick and easy meal, snack, dessert or dish to bring to a party. Borrrinnng!

And sometimes when I find gluten-free recipes that look delicious, they are often full of numerous hard to find items and designed for those that have the luxury of spending hours in their kitchen. Not realistic for a working gal like myself.

So… if you’re like me… a no-nonsense, give me a yummy recipe that’s quick and easy to make type-of-gal… you will LOVE Carol Fenster’s newest cookbook, “100 Best Quick Gluten-Free Recipes”.

If you’re not familiar with Carol Fenster, let me start by introducing her as one of my all-time favorite gluten-free chefs and cookbook authors. She is the author of eleven (YES! ELEVEN!!) gluten-free cookbooks including Gluten-Free 101, and the award-winning 1,000 Gluten-Free Recipes. When it comes to gluten-free baking and cooking, Carol’s cookbooks are the best out there.

The “100 Best Quick Gluten-Free Recipes” cookbook is divided into five sections: Breakfast & Breads; Soups, Salads, Sandwiches &Snacks; Grains, Beans, and Pasta; Main Dishes; and Desserts. The cookbook starts by outlining how to stock a gluten-free kitchen (this was a nice refresher even for a seasoned-celiac like myself!) along with ideas for combining the recipes in the cookbook for occasions or themes – such as brunches, luncheons, an Italian feast, or Asian, Southwestern or All-American suppers. I also love that there are plenty of slow-cooker and one-pot recipes – always time-savers in my kitchen.

And the best of all? ALL recipes can be made prepared in 30 minutes or less!

Some of my favorite recipes in Carol’s new cookbook are: Chicken Enchiladas; Focaccia Flatbread;  Microwave Muffin in a Mug;  White Chocolate, Apricot, and Almond Balls; and the Chocolate Refrigerator Cookies.

All these quick, easy and delicious reasons are why I am so excited that the sponsor of this Win-It-Wednesday is Carol Fenster and her new cookbook “100 Best Quick Gluten-Free Recipes”!

Two lucky winners will each win a copy of this new cookbook. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, October 15 and Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 11:59PM EST. So – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us a gluten-free tip or trick that makes your life more simple (or… if you are new to the gluten-free lifestyle, ask a question on simplifying your life!)

Good luck, always keep things simple, quick and easy… and of course, yummy! And, as always,
Be Free!

Want to buy this cookbook now? Find it here on Amazon.com.  Also, make sure you follow Carol Fenster on Facebook and Twitter!

The mornings are getting chilly once again. And as my slippered feet pitter-patter their way down the hallway and into the kitchen of my New England Saltbox colonial, I find myself dreaming about the steaming hot cup of Teeccino Herbal ‘coffee’ and Teechia cereal to start-off my day.

As many of you already know from my past blog posts, I love Teeccino’s Herbal ‘Coffee’. The perfect combination of an herbal tea, and a rich creamy ‘coffee’, this dandelion- based coffee alternative “brings the health benefits of roasted dandelion root including its inulin content, antioxidants, and stimulating effects on liver function to your cup” according to the Teeccino website. The Dandelion Herbal Coffee comes in two flavors: Dandelion Dark Roast and, my favorite, Dandelion Caramel Nut.

The health-benefits of the herbs, combined with the rich coffee flavor make this a perfect coffee alternative to start my day. It is also the only certified gluten-free, barley-free & caffeine-free certified organic coffee alternative on the market.

And alongside that steaming mug of Teeccino Dandelion Caramel Nut Coffee on my old oak kitchen table is a big bowl of Teechia Sustained Energy Cereal. The cereal tastes great, and fills you up since it is made up of a delicious blend of six organic super seeds, plus certified gluten-free rolled oats, which are slightly sweetened by using fruit… No added sugar in this cereal! Teechia is a perfect breakfast cereal enjoyed with fresh milk or creamy greek yogurt.

Along with being certified gluten-free, I love that this cereal has no refined sugars, has 28 grams of whole grains and is Non GMO project verified.

This cereal comes in two flavors: Cranberry Apple and, my favorite, Blueberry Date. The nutrient-dense super seeds (chia, flax, quinoa, ramón, amaranth, and pumpkin) in both of the varieties paired with gluten-free oats, fruits and nuts, create a high performance cereal that keeps me energized and satisfied all morning long. It has 6 grams of fiber and 6 -7 grams of protein…  It’s cereal you feel good about eating!

All these glorious reasons are why I am so excited that the sponsor of this Win-It-Wednesday is Teeccino’s!

Ten (Yes…10!) lucky winners will each win a VIP Gluten-Free Sampler prize pack of Teeccino items. Five (5) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and five (5) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, October 1 and Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at 11:59PM EST. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell which gluten-free Teeccino Super Seed Cereal and/or Herbal Coffee sounds the best to you.

Good luck, always start your mornings with a bounce in your step (even in your slippers!)… and, as always,
Be Free!

Want to hear more about Teeccino’s contest, coupons, giveaways and more? Follow them on Facebook and Twitter!

If you are a fan of KIND Bars and love big, bold flavors you are going to flip when you hear about these new bars from KIND snacks.

Aptly named, these STRONG & KIND Bars are full of the wholesome goodness you expect for all KIND Snacks, packed along with big, bold, strong flavors.

These are no boring and blah bars. These bars are savory and special. A bar that breaks beyond the boundaries of being average, and takes gluten-free bars to a whole new level of savory goodness!

The five varieties of these bars are: Hickory Smoked, providing a smoky & smooth taste; Thai Sweet Chili, offering a taste that is bold and exciting; Honey Mustard, that has a blend of sweet and spicy that is paired perfectly; Roasted Jalapeno, a hot pepper lovers delight; and Honey Smoked BBQ, that delivers a real BBQ taste.

The STRONG & KIND bars are made from 100% whole ingredients: almonds, pumpkin & hemp seeds, pea crisps and spices, plus they provide 10 grams of protein per bar that comes from the legumes, nuts and seeds.

These bars also contain no whey, soy, gluten, and are also non-GMO.

All these big, bold and healthy reasons are why I am so thrilled that KIND Snacks is this week’s Win-It-Wednesday sponsor on BeFreeForMe.com.

A total of two (2) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a prize pack of KIND Snacks loaded with 5 bars of each of the five flavors (25 bars total!) of the new STRONG & KIND Bars (Hickory Smoked, Thai Sweet Chili, Honey Mustard, Roasted Jalapeno, and Honey Smoked BBQ).

One winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, September 17 and Tuesday, September 23, 2014 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you’re a BeFreeForMe member and enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and let us know which new STRONG & KIND bar sounds the best to you.

Good luck, remember to be STRONG… and KIND … and as always,
Be Free!

I love a good barbeque sauce. Slathered on chicken, beef and pork; as a topping for juicy hamburgers; and a dipping sauce for fresh-cut fries. There’s always a reason to put use Bar-B-Q Sauce on my plate.

And my all-time favorite Bar-B-Q Sauce is Stubb’s. All natural and all gluten-free, I love Stubb’s Bar-B-Q sauces since they do not contain any high-fructose corn syrup (it’s surprising how many Bar-B-Q sauces do contain high-fructose corn syrup as the first ingredient… YUCK!). I also like that on average Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Sauces have on about 20 calories per tablespoon… making it a guilt free way to add some flavor to grilling and dipping. The Stubb’s Bar-B-Q line-up will have you thinking up creative ways to use Bar-B-Q sauce with all of your gluten-free meals. The varieties are fantastic too: Original, Spicy, Hickory Bourbon, Sweet Heat, Smokey Mesquite and Honey Pecan.

And with the autumn season almost here, I am excited to announce that Stubb’s has come out with a new product… Cookin’ Sauces! These sauces will help you creative flavorful, easy skillet and slow cooker meals, even on the days that time is of the essence and your family is hungry for a good warm meal.

The Stubb’s Cookin’ Sauces are also certified all gluten-free, all natural and contain no artificial flavors, colorings or high fructose cornsyrup. They come in four great varieties, including Bar-B-Q Slider, Chili Fixins, Hatch Chile and Smokehouse Bourbon.

Now Stubb’s make it easy for us all to have yummy gluten-free meals made grill-top or stove-top!

All of these tasty reasons are why I am so glad that Stubb’s is the sponsor of this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com

The prize is three (3) FREE product coupons for Stubb’s products (two for the core line of sauces, marinades and rubs and one for the new Cookin’ Sauce).  One (1) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, September 3rd and Tuesday, September 9th, 2014 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you’re a BeFreeForMe member and enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and let us know the one thing you’ll miss about summer OR the one thing you look forward to in the fall. Me? I’m going to miss summer nights hanging out in my screen house!

Good luck, remember everything’s better with some seasoning, spicy and sauciness… and as always,
Be Free!

It’s August and the crazy, lazy, hazy days of summer are here! And it’s a perfect time to grab a blanket, gaze at the stars, and enjoy a cool gluten-free treat while soaking up a beautiful summer evening.

But sometimes being gluten-free, as well as “free” of other allergens like dairy, egg, soy & nuts can make it difficult to find desserts that are craveable… and available.

This is when the folks over at Enjoy Life Foods and their scrumptious gluten-free and allergen-free Crunchy Cookies can help make dessert-time super sweet.

Enjoy Life’s Crunchy Cookies come in four varieties: Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate, Vanilla Honey Graham, and Sugar Crisp. All of these cookies are gluten-free and also free of tree nuts, peanuts, soy, dairy, casein, eggs, sesame, fish, shellfish, potato, wheat & sulfites.

This cookies give you the perfect crunch, snap and really shows us how a cookie should crumble! It is perfect alone, dipped in (cow, soy, almond or hemp) milk, or made into one of the fabulous (No Bake!) allergen-free recipes that are featured on the Enjoy Life Foods website, including: The chocolate-covered Frozen ‘Smore Cookie Sandwiches, the decadent perfect for company Frozen Chocolate Black-Bottom Pie or the chocolaty and sweet Double Stuffed Sugar Cookies.

All of these super cool and crunchy reasons are why I am so excited that Enjoy Life Foods is the prize sponsor of this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForme.com.

The prize is a gift pack of each of the Crunchy Cookies… FOUR boxes total! One (1) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, August 20 and Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you’re a BeFreeForMe member and enter two times (once each week) to win!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and let us know how you enjoy summer evenings. Me? Hanging out in my screen house with good friends or looking for rainbows after late-afternoon rain showers!

Good luck, remember to embrace the rest of the summer… and as always,
Be Free!

Find more recipes, savings, and more by following Enjoy Life Food’s on Facebook and Twitter!

P.S. Want to buy Enjoy Life Crunchy Cookies? Check out this link on Amazon.com! Enjoy Life Foods Crunchy Cookies

One morning last week a college student that works with me came to work with a tall glass full of an icy, frothy baby-blue drink. It looked delicious. Between sips he explained that this “drink” was his breakfast and he had, literally, whipped it up that morning. Packed with fresh blueberries, coconut water, chia seeds and pineapple, the drink, he explained,was not only gluten-free, but full of nutrients, and was a refreshing & convenient breakfast on the run. Intrigued, I set out to find out more information about “juicing” – the practice of extracting juice from fruits and vegetables.

My search to discover  juicing basics, the do’s & don’ts, and fantastic recipes lead me to the new cookbook, “Juice: Recipes for Juicing, Cleansing & Living Well” by Carly de Castro, Hedi Gores and Hayden Slater – the three founders of Pressed Juicery – one of America’s most successful emerging juice companies with nearly 20 locations throughout California (they also offer nationwide shipping.)

Along with all the juicing how-to’s and recipes, this book made me realize the health benefits of fresh juice is astonishing and an important part of a fit & healthy lifestyle. Fresh juice is a great energy booster, replenishes nutrients in your body and is great for youthful and glowing skin.

I was also shocked at how easy juicing can be… and fun too! Following & making the recipes are quick and easy. In no-time you’ll be whipping up your very own breakfast, snacks, smoothies and more. Two of my favorite recipes are the Coconut Mint Chip Smoothie (this tastes just like Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream) and the sweet Pineapple, Beet, Pear, Ginger blended juice.

I also love the chapter on Elizers and Flavored Waters (you must try the Infused Blackberry Sage Water – YUM!). To make things simple I use my water pitcher infuser (I LOVE THIS! And they are only $19.90 on Amazon.com) and PRESTO I am drinking my daily allowance of water with no problem at all! (Or check out the singe serve infusion water bottles!)

All of these healthy and delicious reasons are why I am so excited that “Juice: Recipes for Juicing, Cleansing & Living Well” Cook Book is the prize sponsor of this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForme.com

The prize (drumroll, please!) is a copy of this phenomenal cookbook on Juicing! One (1) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, August 5, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, August 6 and Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you’re a BeFreeForMe member and enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and let us know one way you stay healthy and well. Me? Trying to get my daily walk in first thing in the morning… when my day is not yet hectic and excuses don’t exist!

Good luck, remember to eat (or juice!) your fruits and veggies… and as always,
Be Free!

P.S. Want to buy the cookbook today? Check out this link on Amazon.com!

It’s summertime and the living is easy! And thanks to Bakery on Main summertime is also an easy time to find snacks that are also gluten-free, dairy-free, casein-free and yummy!

All summer long Bakery On Main is celebrating Gluten Free in the Summer Sun!   Celebrating Bakery On Main style means that you may see the Bakery On Main Street Teams handing out gluten-free granola samples at a park, beach or even local farmers markets. It’s all about enjoying, sunshine and sharing their products and recipes… all summer long! Check out where the Bakery On Main team is headed here.

And even if Bakery On Main doesn’t come to your neighborhood, you can still join in on the fun and share your adventures of hiking, camping, road trips, making family memories, or anything that makes your summer fun, while enjoying Bakery On Main products. All you have to do is snap a photo while enjoying Bakery on Main’s gluten-free granola or bars, and share it with Bakery On Main on Facebook or Twitter with the hashtag #gfsummerfun or by tagging Bakery on Main in your post.

Bakery on Main is also the sponsor of BeFreeForMe’s Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com where four (yes, 4!) winners can snag a prize pack of two (2) bags of granola (you get to pick the flavor!) plus some SuRpRiSe samples!

Two winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, July 22, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and two more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, July 23 and Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you’re a BeFreeForMe member and enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and let us know how you have fun in the summer, PLUS the variety of granola that you would like if you are a winner. Me? Heading to the beaches of Maine or Cape Cod is summertime fun for me… And my favorite Bakery on Main Granola variety is Rainforest Banana Nut. (Note: you can check out all of the yummy granola varieties on the Bakery On Main website).

Good luck, remember to have fun, fun, fun in the summertime … and as always,
Be Free!

Yes! Yes! YES!!!  KIND Bars has two new flavors to expand their Nuts & Spices line… Plus, three new varieties to their Healthy Grains Clusters line!

If you’re in love with KIND Nut & Spice bars because they have the most awesome flavor combinations ever, contain premium all-natural ingredients that you actually pronounce, or have 5 grams of sugar (or less!), you now have yet another reason to crave for and rave about – two delicious new flavors.

The two new flavors KIND has created for their Nuts & Spices line are (drum-roll, please!) Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond and Caramel Almond & Sea Salt.

Joining the first four varieties of the Nuts & Spice lines (includes Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt, Madagascar Vanilla Almond, Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Pecan, and Cashew Ginger & Spice) these two newcomers will have all of us sweet, savory, nut loving, and even you coffee-crazies begging for more.  The Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond bar is made with dark roasted coffee and whole almonds. It is then blended with honey, before being drizzled with dark chocolate. The Caramel Almond & Sea Salt is touched with sea salt and drizzled caramel over almonds, which creates a sweet and savory bar that leaves you begging for more.

More exciting news from KIND is the new addition to their Healthy Grain Clusters line. Three new varieties have been added to this line of gluten-free granola. The new flavors are: Fruit & Nut Clusters; Raspberry Clusters with Chia Seeds; and, my favorite, Banana Nut Clusters.

All of the varieties of Healthy Grain Clusters are made with a unique blend of 5 super gluten-free grains including gluten free oats, millet, quinoa, amaranth, and buckwheat. Packed with whole grains, essential nutrients and minerals, KIND clusters can be enjoyed snack time, breakfast time, or anytime. I love that the Banana Nut Clusters and the Raspberry Clusters with Chia Seeds are also low in fat and sugar… and taste delicious.

All these wonderful, healthy and tasty reasons are why I am so thrilled that KIND Snacks is this week’s Win-It-Wednesday sponsor on BeFreeForMe.com.

A total of two(2) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a prize pack of KIND Snacks loaded with 5 bars of each (!) of the new Nuts & Spices Bars (Caramel Almond & Sea Salt AND Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond) and 2 bags EACH of the three new Cluster flavors (Banana Nut Clusters, Fruit & Nut Clusters, and Raspberry Clusters with Chia Seeds).

One winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, July 9 and Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you’re a BeFreeForMe member and enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and let us know which new KIND Nut & Spices Bar OR Clusters variety sounds the best to you. And if you want…. let us know something kind that someone has shared / done for you lately. (Me? My sister brought me a huge bouquet of peonies from her garden… just because!)

Good luck, remember to be KIND … and as always,
Be Free!

Yes! It is time for a new WIN-It-Wednesday and we are on a roll with another fabulous cookbook giveaway!

This Win-It-Wednesday sponsor is the Vibrant Food Cookbook by Kimberley Hasselbrink… a cookbook that celebrates the ingredients, recipes and colors of each season.

Being the start of the summertime season, my first instinct was to page to the chapter on the bold colors of summer. With thoughts of my upcoming garden bounty, I was happy to see some exciting recipes using some of the vegetables and fruits I will soon be enjoying in abundance. Some of my favorites are the Sweet Corn and Squash Fritters with Avocado Crema, Summer Squash Pasta with Green Goddess Dressing, Smoky Red Pepper Soup with Pumpkin Seeds and Feta, and Summer Berry-Coconut Milk Ice Pops.

The vivid photography in this cookbook has the food bursting off the pages, tempting you to create them in your own kitchen, and enticing you to enjoy not only the flavors, but the beauty of your food creations. Usually when I make a dish, I dig in right away, but the recipes that Kimberley Hasselbrink has created in the Vibrant Food Cookbook begs me to step back a moment to admire… and appreciate… before my fork hits the plate. No wonder Kimberley is a photographer, as well as a food blogger (you must check out her fabulous blog The Year in Food)!

The recipes in this cookbook are truly a feast for both your eyes and your appetite. Made with fresh, seasonal (think local) and vivid foods, almost all the recipes in this cookbook are gluten-free (and the ones that are not “naturally” gluten-free can be super easily adapted to be so – i.e. swapping out regular pasta for gluten-free pasta).

All of these fabulous reasons are why I am so excited that Kimberley Hasselbrink the photographer and food blogger behind the new cookbook  “Vibrant Foods”  is the sponsor of this Win-It-Wednesday contest on BeFreeForMe.com!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us your favorite vibrant summer fruits or vegetables. (Me? Berries! I love the bluish, purple, red colors… and their sweet, yet tart, taste!)

A total of two (Yes… 2!) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a copy of “Vibrant Food” Cookbook by Kimberley Hasselbrink. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, June 25 and Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

Good luck, remember to keep your world colorful, vibrant and tasty… and as always…
Be Free!

Want to buy “Vibrant Colors” cookbook? Be the first of your friends… it goes on sale, June 17, 2014! Check out this link on Amazon.com!

P.S. Join me and follow Kimberley on Facebook for her vibrant posts, news and recipes! ~Kathleen

If you’re looking to blend, shake and mix things up when it comes to your snacks, meals, salads, soups, appetizers and dessert you need to  check out Tess Masters new cookbook, “The Blender Girl… Super-Easy, Super-Healthy Meals, Snacks, Desserts & Drinks”.

After paging through this cookbook and checking out all of Tess’s mouth-watering recipes I have to admit I have a brand new respect for my trustworthy blender. Who would have thought that my appliance that normally just sits unused on my kitchen counter could whip up such dishes? Simply amazing! Some of my favorite recipes that Tess has created include: Flourless Triple-Pecan Mousse Pie, Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake Smoothie and Taste Like Ice-Cream Kale. Tess’s sense of style and flair is apparent in all of her health conscious recipes… all of which nourish our bodies and get our taste-buds dancing.

Another bonus is that all of Tess’s recipes are gluten-free, vegan and rely on natural flavors and sweeteners. Super-easy and super-healthy… just the way I like things!

And while you’re at it… check out Tess’s website, and follow her on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook to make sure you catch all of her latest recipes, posts and healthy blending ideas.

All of these fabulous reasons are why I am so excited that Tess Masters the blendaholic behind  “The Blender Girl” Cookbook  is the sponsor of this Win-It-Wednesday contest on BeFreeForMe.com!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us a super-easy thing you do to keep yourself super-healthy. (Me? I can’t make up my mind, so here are two things… I park at the furthest end of a parking lot to get a little walk into my day and I substitute avocado for mayo on my gluten-free sandwiches!)

A total of two (Yes… 2!) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a copy of “The Blender Girl” Cookbook by Tess Masters. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, June 11 and Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

Good luck, Keep things super-easy & super-healthy… and as always…
Be Free!

Want to buy “The Blender Girl” cookbook? Check out this link on Amazon.com!