Be Free For Me Blog

This week’s WIN-it-Wednesday it full of the sweetness that we all deserve during the holiday season.

The kind of sweetness that you get when you walk to the corner bakery during a snow-globe-type-of-snowstorm all bundled up in mittens and hats, and gets a whiff of fresh still-warm baked goods that just came out of the oven. Or the kind of sweetness you got as a kid, all pink cheeked, cold and wearing a snowsuit full of snow and bursting into an oven-warmed kitchen, with fresh baked chocolate chip cookies that are “coming out of the oven in a minute or two.”

These are the simple sweetness’ that life offers us this time of year.

And thanks to Glutenus Minimus (don’t you just love the name?!) sweet measures such as these are made possible for those of us that are on a gluten-free diet, or have other food allergies.

Natalie McEachern, the owner of Glutenus Minimus, started her company baking gourmet gluten-free baked goods, a  little over 2 years ago after getting diagnosed with celiac disease 6 years earlier when she was a senior in college. I met Natalie at a celiac convention shortly after she started her business, and just loved all of the baked offerings that she was sampling, along with her mother, who was Natalie’s partner in developing these delicious gluten and allergen-free recipes.

If you are lucky enough to live close enough to Natalie’s bakery in Belmont, Massachusetts (a close suburb of Boston), make sure you stop by her shop at 697 Belmont Street. Otherwise, you can order her delectable baked goods on-line. My favorites are the Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies (gluten & nut free), Sugar Cookies, and Carrot Cake Muffins (gluten, dairy & nut free).

I am so excited that Glutenus Minimus is sponsoring this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday and offering three (Yes, 3!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe members a gift pack containing Holiday Sugar Cookies that are ready-to-eat, and a Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix that you can bake-up yourself.

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us your sweetest holiday memory (Me? Ice skating during Christmas break with my sisters, and our neighbor, Gail, on the frozen cranberry bog down the street).

All entries must be received by Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at 12 midnight EST.

Good luck, hold close the sweetness of the Holidays and as always…

Be Free!

ONE MORE WEEK TO WIN! Enter again between Wednesday, 12/8 and Wednesday 12/15 for a SECOND CHANCE TO WIN! Double your chances of being the winner on BeFreeForMe and enter again… today!

~ Be Free! Kathleen

This week’s WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe is a Gigantic Glu-TEN Free Giveway! BeFreeForMe, as well as, nine other gluten/allergen free bloggers (see the list below), are each hosting a giveaway of the book, “Mommy, was it Celiac Disease?” signed by the author Katie Chalmers, PLUS a jam-packed holiday gift bag loaded with tons of gluten-free goodies and treats!

So lucky for everyone out there in gluten-free cyber-land you have exactly TEN chances of winning this “Gluten-Free Holiday Giveaway Galore x10!” This is what I call Glu-TEN Free Madness!

The book “Mommy, What is Celiac Disease?” is a perfect holiday gift. It is a one-of-a-kind book so gracefully & eloquently written by Katie Chalmers, a mom who has celiac disease, along with her daughter, Morgan. They were both diagnosed with the disease a little over 2 years ago, and since that time they have learned to embrace, and make the best, out of living gluten-free. Make sure you check out their page on facebook.

The book explains what celiac disease and the gluten free diet entails in language that children can understand, all the while encouraging dialogue for additional questions. A must-have for any child with celiac disease, this book is also a must-read for any elementary school story hour that has child with celiac disease in the classroom.

Along with the signed copy of this book, the second part of this prize pack is a gift bag loaded with gluten-free foods including products from Mary’s Gone Crackers, Snyder’s of Hanover, Chebe, Bob’s Sweet Stripes, Nature’s Path, Schar’s and Pamela Products; as well as some fun giveaways including Holiday pencils, erasers and note pad, a stuffed teddy bear, and a plastic snowman cereal bowl perfect for your favorite gluten-free cereal. Wheww… that’s a LOT of gluten-free goodness that great for gifting*!

How can you WIN?
Easy!

Reply to this blog between now and December 15, 2010 (10 PM EST), and tell us your favorite holiday gift growing up as a child (Me? A walking doll! I loved her!).

Note: Also make sure you enter to win one of the 9 other prizes on my fellow gluten-free blogger’s sites (Let them know that BeFreeForMe sent you over!). The blogs are: Accustomed Chaos, Adventures of a GF Mom, Celiac Family, Gluten Free Betsy, Gluten Free Easily (gfe), Gluten Free is Life/CeliacDisease.com, Gluten Free Philly, Gluten Free Taste of Home, and Simply Sugar & Gluten Free.

Good Luck, remember to often look at the world through the eyes of a child, and, as always…

Be Free!

———-

Contest Rules (From “Mommy, What is Celiac Disease?”):
•    All 10 of these contests are open to residents of the USA. Only the Accustomed Chaos and Gluten Free Easily contests are also open to Canadian residents.
•    All 10 contests begin on Wed. Dec. 1, 2010 and will end on Wed. Dec. 15, 2010 at 10pm EST.
•    Entry requirements will vary between bloggers. Please follow their directions to enter.
•    Entrants can only win once total within all 10 giveaways. If anyone is chosen more than once as a winner, another winner will be chosen so everyone only wins once.
•    One winner per household.
•    Winners with valid entries will be selected at random. The winners will be announced and notified via email and must reply within 24 hours to claim. Otherwise, another eligible entry will be chosen, in order that all prizes will arrive before Christmas. So please remember to check your email on Dec.16th.
•    If any of the 10 prizes do not arrive before Christmas because of any unforeseen holiday mail rush problems, the USPS, Katie Chalmers and hosting bloggers will not be held accountable.
* Note: Prize pack contents may vary.

O.K. Everyone… “THE HOLIDAYS” are here! Yes, my friends, the never-ending summer full of steamy days and the beautiful crisp autumn afternoons full of color-bursting foliage are just bygone memories.

It’s time to dust off those relish dishes, dig out those pumpkin bread loaf pans, and put on your thinking caps to start planning the most delicious, memorable and gluten-free Holiday meals of all time!

But where do you start?

If you’re like me, you know what kind of gluten-free meal you want to cook: the kind that has everyone asking, or rather begging, for the recipes before they leave the gathering.

But wouldn’t it be nice to get help creating these masterpiece holiday meals with your own personal dietitian and culinary experts? And how about ones that are both world-renowned authorities on gluten-free cooking and living?  Well… thanks to two remarkable ladies, Carol Fenster, author of numerous gluten-free recipe books, including Gluten-Free Quick & Easy, 1000 Gluten-Free Recipes, Gluten-Free 101, and 100 Best Gluten-Free Recipes; and Shelley Case, author of  “The Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide” – you can have them both… right in your very own kitchen through their best-selling books on gluten-free living and cooking.

Last weekend I was able to spend some time with both Shelley and Carol at the American Dietetic Association conference. We spoke about ways that we could make holiday cooking, baking and gift-giving easier for those on a gluten-free diet, as well as those folks that have celiacs on their Holiday guest & shopping lists. Along with a few other features and ideas that will be coming on BeFreeForMe in the coming weeks, Shelley & Carol also graciously offered to sponsor this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday.

So, if you need to find out a way to thicken that Thanksgiving gravy; need a recipe to make gluten-free ginger bread with a snap, or have a wish to make Santa cookies from a new recipe this Christmas Eve, look no further than  Carol and Shelley, two world-renowned gluten-free authors and experts here to help.

Although this prize package is nice enough to pass along as a gift, and you may plan on doing so, you’ll probably want to keep it for yourself once you see the information and recipes packed in both of them.

For this week’s Win-It-Wednesday prize-package, Carol and Shelley have graciously offered a total of six (YES 6!) prize packages. Each prize pack will include “The Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide” by Shelley Case and a copy of   “100 Best Gluten-Free Recipes” Cookbook by Carol Fenster.

How can you win?

EASY!

Reply to this blog and let us know the one thing you are thankful for that not too many people know about (Mine? Talking with my Mom on the phone just so we can report in on the little things happening in our lives).

Six (yes … 6!) randomly selected winners will be chosen as winners. Three winners will be selected from all entries posted before Tuesday, 11/23/10 midnight EST; and three winners will be selected from the entries posted between Wednesday, 11/24/10 and Tuesday, 11/30/10 midnight EST.

Enter EACH WEEK to increase your chances of WINNING!

Good luck, be ever so thankful – even for the little things… and as always…

Be Free!

Whoever says that eating a gluten-free diet isn’t sweet hasn’t yet tried DiDi Davis Food Sugar Blends.

These sugar blends work miracles on any kind of gluten and allergen free foods. In essence these sugar blends are like a magical “Pixie Dust” that can make even an amateur cook or baker into a world renowned master chef or patisserie.

Didi Davis Food Sugar Blends are a must have in gluten and allergen free kitchens. Boring gluten-free sugar cookies, coffee cakes, or even first courses jump to life when sprinkled with a little love, courtesy of DiDi Davis Foods.

Want to add a splash of citrus to blueberry muffins? Sprinkle on some Lemon or Mojito Sugar Blend. Is your salmon getting bored and baked to pieces? Dash on Orange Ginger Sugar Blend for an Asian-influenced ginger-packed sweetness.

And for a topping for good old yogurt or cottage cheese (or even as a topping for toast smeared with peanut butter and sliced bananas) start your breakfast off on the sweeter side with a dusting of the Espresso Sugar Blend. For dinner? Enjoy a caramelized glaze on chicken breasts by sprinkling on the Curry blend (or any other of the sugar blends) and serve with a side dish of  sweet potatoes or butternut squash sprinkled with the Spiced Gold Sugar Blend that is bursting with a holiday influenced experience of cinnamon, all-spice, clove and ginger. Delicious!

Created with a base of natural sugar from Hawaii and infused with natural spices and essences, these DiDi Davis Sugar Blends add sweetness and tantalizing flavors to most any cooked gluten and allergen free dishes or baked goods. I also like the way that these sugars look when sprinkled on food. The sparkly and transparent crystals are such a pretty addition when sprinkled on muffins, scones and loaves. It truly is a magical Pixie Dust!

All these fabulous sugar blend creations are why I am so very excited that DiDi Davis Food is this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday sponsor.

Three (Yes 3!) Lucky BeFreeForMe members will win a Didi Davis Food Sugar Blend Collection, which consists of a sampler pack of the six sugar blends mentioned above.

How can you WIN?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us which of the sugar blends listed above sound the best to you… as well as how you would use it. (Me? I would love to try the Mojito Blend sprinkled over Lime Gelato!). All entries must be received by Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 12:00 midnight EST.

Good Luck, remember to sprinkle a little sweetness around each and every day, and… as always…

Be Free!

This week’s WIN-It-Wednesday is sponsored by a company that believes in good food – and their name reflects their commitment… Food Should Taste Good!

Food Should Taste Good sponsored a WIN-It-Wednesday in the past and it turned out to be one of our most popular blog posts yet! If you are not yet familiar with the products offered by Food Should Taste Good you must check out their website and give their chips a try.

And besides Food Should Taste Good sponsoring another WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe, do you want to hear something else really, really good? For a limited time, Food Should Taste Good is giving away 100,000 bags of their chips to those that sign-up on their Facebook page. So sign-up now, spread the word and share the “good word”!

No “woulda, coulda, shoulda” on getting around to trying these chips. Food Should Taste Good chips are  super good and they’re making it so easy for all BeFreeForMe members to snag a FREE BAG! Make sure you become a Fan of Food Should Taste Good on Facebook, and get a coupon for your free bag today! (Click the “Free Bag” tab, the fourth one over, at the top of their Facebook page from a computer… not a smart phone… to snag the bag).

Food Should Taste Good fabulous chip flavors are packed with unique and sophisticated ingredients. The variety of flavors… from sweet, to spicy, to savory… makes snack time a good fun time! These wholesome flavorful chips, made with all natural ingredients, capture the great flavors by cooking them INSIDE their chips. Ingenious!

Some of the more interesting chip flavors that Food Should Taste Good offers are: Olive (perfect with tapenades), Chocolate (smothered in apple sauce or cinnamon cream cheese), Lime (guacamole anyone?), The Works (the ultimate dipper… hummus? sour cream? the kitchen sink?) and, my favorite… Sweet Potato (eaten plain or crumbled on top of a fresh garden salad).

Besides the knock your socks off varieties, that all pair well with all kinds of dips, spreads and tapenades, Food Should Taste Good is also certified gluten free, dairy/lactose free (all flavors – except for the cheddar!), cholesterol and trans fat free, MSG free and also made with non-genetically modified ingredients. Plus, all the chips are certified vegan (except for the cheddar).

Good taste, good variety, good for you, and just plain old good ingredients, are all the good reasons why I am so excited that Food Should Taste Good is this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday giveaway on BeFreeForMe.com. Three (Yes 3!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe members will win a Food Should Taste Good reusable shopping bag jam packed with a variety of Food Should Taste Good chips, notepads, pens and other good goodies!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us your favorite Food Should Taste Good variety or the flavor you would like to try most. I know… it sound too good to be true!

All entries must be received by Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at 12:00 midnight EST.

Even when I am a little bad – I try to throw in a little goodness too. Kind of like that devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other scenario that often plays out in my mind when I reach out to eat the sweet and sinful.

But as the old saying goes, “the good usually always wins-out in the end” especially rings true when munching an Angell Crisp Candy Bar.

I like the crispy Angell Candy Bars because they make decadent snacking a very, very, very good thing.

Certified USDA organic and Fair-Trade certified, these gluten free crispy candy bars contain no corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. And if that isn’t good enough – 1% of gross sales support environmental charities through 1% for the Planet.

Since I discovered Angell Crisp Candy Bars at a recent tradeshow I’ve been hooked. I have missed crispy candy bars since going gluten free, so Angell Bars were heaven at first bite.

The founders of Angell bars, Christopher and Suzanne Angell are super cool people too. These entrepreneurs-at-heart started their company because they wanted to create a great tasting organic candy bar that was healthier for you and better for the planet.

Christopher and Suzanne also know that it is hard to give up old habits, especially delicious ones, so they decided that instead of giving up candy bars, they’d just create ones that had all of the deliciousness of their old favorites (maybe even a little bit extra) but none of the guilt (or gluten in the Crispy Bars!).

And take my word for it that they have met their heaven sent dream… made with real chocolate and great organic ingredients, Angell bars are naturally good and divinely delicious!

Guilty goodness is the reason why I am so very excited this week’s BeFreeForMe’s WIN-It-Wednesday is sponsored by Angell Bars… and JUST in time for Halloween!

THREE (yes 3!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe members will each win a 12-pack of Angell Crisp Candy Bars, plus fun Angell themed stickers.

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog (make sure you are a BeFreeForMe member if you want to win) and let us know how you (or your kids) can be a little devil or a little angel… or both!  (Me? I’m a little devilish when I sneak healthy ingredients such as flax seed into my baked goods… I am soooo sneaky!).

All entries must be received by Tuesday, November 2, 2010 by 12 midnight EST.

Good luck, remember to be that angel, but keep that sassy devilish side and… as always…

Be Free!

NOTE: Want to order your own Angell Crispy Candy bars? Click on this link to purchase them on Amazon and use coupon code: BEFREE10 to get an additional 10% OFF from now until 11/01/10.

Fall is here, and the days are inevitably getting shorter and colder. This is the time of year that many of us develop dry skin, and we need to treat it with a little TLC.

That is why I called my Arbonne rep, Krissy. I asked her to help me out and give me suggestions on any skin care products that were gluten-free and could assist in making my skin smooth and nourished. She suggested a ton of Arbonne products that I have used in the past  but also gave me some free samples of the new FC5 product line.

Like all of the other Arbonne skincare products (with the exception of the vitamins and hormone cream), the FC5 line is gluten-free, as well as free of synthetic fragrances; dyes, PABA and mineral oils. They are also pH correct and are botanically based.

But as I’ve said in the past what I love the absolute most about Arbonne is my rep, Krissy.
A number of years ago, Krissy was diagnosed with celiac disease too. She lives a strict gluten-free lifestyle along with her family, many of whom are also celiacs.

Krissy “gets it” and she understands when you’re adamant about getting body care products, sunscreens, make-ups and lip balms that are free of gluten! She’s also very generous when it comes to getting free samples of products you’re interested in trying and she ships my orders direct to my door…. Whenever I need them! (No malls… no stores… no snooty make-up counter girls that have no clue about gluten and allergens!)

If you would also like to receive FREE samples of the FC5 Moisturizer and Body Wash be one of the first 30 people to enter this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeforMe.com (NOTE: You MUST be a Member of BeFreeForMe to win!). Krissy is also offering one randomly picked winner a grand prize-package which consists of four (4) full-sized bottles of the FC5 product line! This includes Hand Cream, Foot Cream, Moisturizer and Body Wash.

How can you WIN?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us what reminds you of how beautiful your life is. (Me? I have so many! But here are a few: Laughing with my friends until my belly hurts; Crisp fall air and the spectrum of vibrant leaves gracing the hills in the town I live; and seeing Sadie “The Incredible Boxer” smile… Yes – she DOES Smile!). All entries must be received by 12 midnight EST on Tuesday, 10/26/10.

Also… For the month of October, Celiac Disease Awareness Month, Krissy is offering BeFreeForMe.com members 20% OFF ALL Arbonne products!

If interested, contact Krissy directly.

Good Luck, Remember to always find the beautiful things in life, and… as always…

Be Free!

Cookies should be sweet and chewy. Period. The type of cookie that leaves you wishing for a second. A gluten-free cookie that is worth every single calorie. Basically – I want the cookies I eat to be worth it.

That is why I am so excited to once again have Jackie Home Baked Cookies as this week’s BeFreeForMe WIN-It-Wednesday sponsor! These cookies are jammed packed with chocolate and coconut. Sweet and chewy perfection!

I think that I love these cookies so much because they are a cross between two of my all time favorite cookies: Chocolate Chip and Macaroons. Appropriately named “More than a Macaroon” they are the perfect combination of nutty coconut and sweet chocolate. The best of both worlds.

These cookies are also extra special because they are made by a Mom & Dad on a quest to make the best cookie possible for their daughter, Jackie, who was diagnosed with celiac disease several years ago. These parents started baking up all of their favorite recipes gluten-free to adapt to their daughters new lifestyle, when they stumbled upon what they describe as “… the creation of a caramelized, coconut confection that tasted like nothing we had ever had. It took macaroons to new heights and was a true decadent experience.”
And decadent these cookies are. Just one and you will be hooked – so beware. Don’t say that I didn’t caution you. Also, I am warning you that gluten-eaters will love these too. So determine your hiding place for these cookies before you bring them into your home.

These decadent clusters of sheer joy are this weeks WIN-It-Wednesday sponsor. Two (yes 2!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe members will win a double-pack of For Jackie Cookies.

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog (make sure you are a BeFreeForMe member if you want to win!) and let us know why you, your family or even your life in general can be a little nutty, or a little sweet… or both!  (Me? I’m a little nutty because I actually like taking walks in the rain, and I can be sweet when I take my incredible boxer, Sadie, for 2 walks a day… instead of just one).

All entries must be received by Monday, November 1, 2010 by 5 PM EST.

Good luck, Be slightly nutty, but constantly sweet, and… as always…
Be Free!

Fall is here. Leaves are falling. Soft blankets are being tossed onto beds, and comforting fragrances such as apples, spices, cinnamon and pumpkin are wafting through households everywhere.

Fall is just a great time to enjoy your family, kitchens warmed by goods in the oven, and the joy of baking your favorite gluten-free goodies. But to be honest, I don’t have the time to bake all of my gluten-free goodies from scratch.

This is when I reach for Little Bay Baking products. I like the Little Bay Baking mixes since all the gluten-free flours are already combined, and all you need to do is add a few ingredients to make the moistest, sweet bread, cakes and cookies …and Whoopie Pies!  No fuss, no mess… and no need to mix 5 or 6 types of gluten-free flours. Plus, all of the Little Bay Baking products, when made according to the package directions, are free of casein and lactose.

Also make sure to check out the recipes on the Little Bay Baking website. These recipes show fantastic ways to make family-favorites out of their baking mixes, including: Apple & Spice Bars and Peanut Butter Cookies out of their Cookie Bar Mix; Blueberry Buckle and Pineapple Upside Down Cake out of their Waffle & Donut Mix; and  Whoopie Pies, Snickerdoodles, or Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins with Lemon Glaze out of their Vanilla Cake Mix.

Convenience, ease of use, versatility and made-from-scratch taste are all the reasons I am so excited Little Bay Baking is the sponsor of BeFreeForMe’s WIN-It-Wednesdays for the next two weeks.

Little Bay Baking has graciously offered a total of six (YES 6!) Prize Packages full of their delicious baking mixes. The first week we will pick three (3) winners and the Prize Package will include: a Pumpkin Bread Mix, Corn Bread Mix and a Cookie Bar Mix. The second week we will pick three winners and the Prize Package will include: Ginger Bread Cookie Mix, Yellow Cake Mix, and the Waffle/Donut Hole Mix.

How can you win?
EASY!

Reply to this blog and let us know the one thing you love about the change of seasons (Mine? Taking long walks in the cool weather so I can take the time and focus my attention on relishing the vivid fall colors… all the while kicking up the leaves under my feet!)

Six randomly picked winners will be chosen as winners. Three winners will be selected from all entries posted before Tuesday, 10/06/10 12 midnight EST; and three winners will be selected from the entries posted between Wednesday, 10/07/10 and Tuesday, 10/12/10 midnight EST.

Enter EACH WEEK to increase your chances of WINNING!

Good luck, cherish the changes in the seasons and in your life… and as always…

Be Free!

Understanding celiac disease is tough enough for adults, never mind for children.

Coming to grips that you can’t ever again eat the bread, pizza and beer that you’ve known, and loved, all your life takes a lot for an adult to accept and embrace. But thankfully, most adults realize that the gluten-free lifestyle is not the end of the world. In fact I, and many others, have discovered living the celiac lifestyle is actually a way to look at the sunny side of life.

But how can you explain eating gluten-free and celiac disease to a child whose whole world is centered around pizza parties at school, a best-friends birthday party, or favorite foods that include chicken nuggets and onion rings? How can a child look at the sunny side of being gluten-free?

Enter the book: “Mommy, What Is Celiac Disease?” by Katie Chalmers.

This one-of-a-kind book is gracefully & eloquently written by a Mom who has celiac disease. Both the author, Katie Chalmers and her daughter, Morgan, were diagnosed with celiac disease a little over 2 years ago. Since that time they have learned to embrace, and make the best, out of living gluten-free.

The book encompasses what celiac disease and the gluten free diet entail in language that children can understand, all the while encouraging dialogue for additional questions. A must-have for any child with celiac disease, this book is also a must-read for any elementary school story hour that has child with celiac disease in the classroom.

I like that  “Mommy, What Is Celiac Disease?” empathizes the positive, rather than the negative, attributes of a gluten-free diet. However, in no way does this book sugar-coat this disease. Instead “Mommy, What Is Celiac Disease?” puts a positive spin on a serious subject that many children may find difficult to understand and accept.

All these reasons are why I am so very excited that “Mommy, What Is Celiac Disease?” by Katie Chalmers is this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday sponsor on BeFreeForMe.com.

Five (yes 5!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe members will receive a copy of the book.

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and let us know how you look at the sunny side of being gluten-free. (Me? Reading labels because of my celiac diagnosis has made me more conscious & aware of the ingredients in the foods I eat, which has resulted in me and my family eating a lot healthier across the board!)

All entries must be received by Tuesday, September 28th, 2010 at 12 midnight EST.

Good luck, Keep the sunny side up… and as always,

Be Free!

P.S. Want to learn more? Follow Katie on Facebook and find out more, as well as purchase, her book on her website.