Be Free For Me Blog

I love peanut butter. But I don’t like all the fat and calories that come along with this super spread.

That is why I was so very, very excited to find PB2.

PB2 come in two flavors: the traditional peanut butter and, my favorite, peanut butter blended with premium chocolate (can you say yum?!) Both are gluten-free.

The product is made by slow roasting superior quality peanuts and then pressing them to remove 85% of the fat and oil… which produces a fine “peanut powder”. Next they add in a bit of sugar and salt (No preservatives or artificial sweeteners).

And… magically… when you blend PB2 with water (mix 2 tablespoons of PB2 with 1 tablespoon of water) it makes a super delicious, tasty and creamy peanut butter that is only 45 calories per serving with only 1 gram of fat!  This product is perfect for those on Weight Watchers or those concerned with calories.

And if the chocolate variety is your fancy, added into the peanuts are ground cocoa beans… which produces a chocolaty peanut butter deliciousness!!

I love to whip-up a batch to dip sliced apples and pears into… or put a tablespoon or two of the powder into my smoothies, or atop my ice cream. The possibilities are limitless!

85% less calories and fat… superior taste… and endless possibilities are all the reasons why I picked up a couple of containers for this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com. There will be two lucky winners. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, September 14 and Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us how you enjoy peanut butter (Me? As mentioned above, I love dipping apple and pear slices in mine!).

Remember it’s okay to be a little crazy and little peanuts… and as always, Be Free!

Want to buy now? Check out these links on Amazon.com: PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter

Summer is coming to a close and school days are right on our doorstep. It will be the time of busy mornings and making lunches before we know it!

And in every good lunch box should be a good snack. One of my go-to snacks are Glutino Pretzel Sticks. From the beginning Glutino has been one of my all-time favorite gluten-free brands!

Glutino Pretzels are always in my shopping basket. I love them! Not only are the Glutino products delicious, they are also a brand that I can count on. All the Glutino products are gluten-free and the most can be found in traditional grocery stores – which means less time running around to specialty or natural food stores! Glutino makes my life so much easier!

Besides the pretzels, Glutino also makes tons of other gluten-free products. The variety of products that Glutino offers is exceptional. They seem to make it all, from cookies, breads, bagels, pancake mixes, muffin mixes, frozen pizzas and convenient pasta dishes.

Glutino products can also be used as ingredients in favorite gluten-free recipes too. I use Glutino pretzels in my favorite Congo Bar recipe (check it out here!)

For this Win-It-Wednesday prize I picked up a couple extra bags of the “Sharing Sized” (that would be the jumbo 14.1 ounce bag) Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks for the prizes for this week’s Win-It-Wednesday.  There will be two lucky winners. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, August 30, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, August 31 and Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us your favorite snack… how easy is that!

Keep snacking, Be cool for school… and as always, Be Free!

Want to buy now? Check out these links on Amazon.com: Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks (Pack of 3)

August is here and the summer heat doesn’t seem to quit! During these dog-days of summer there is nothing better than an icy cold popsicle. When I was a kid I couldn’t wait for “Pony Boy” to come galloping down my Grandmother’s road so me and my two sisters could get an icy cold and sticky sweet Popsicle.

Nowadays I still crave these summertime treats, but was searching for a “big kid” version of the too sweet version of my childhood favorites. That is when I decided to take matters into my own hands and make my own gluten-free frozen treats… with a grown-up twist!

My inspiration to make my own Popsicles came from the Good Housekeeping website which features a bunch of recipes for make-your-own Popsicles… all in big-kid flavors, including Blackberry-Rose Ice Pops, Coconut Carrot Ice Pops, Melon Pops, Raspberry Buttermilk Ice Pops and, of course, the “Adult Only” Happy Hour Ice Pops!

The device that I used to make my own Popsicles was a Tovolo Rocket Pop Mold, which is the Cadillac, top-notch and big-gun variety when it comes to the world of iced pop molds. In fact, I loved my Tovolo Rocket Pop Molds so much I decided to go out and get two more for the winners of this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com!

The Tovolo Rocket Pop Molds let you make homemade freeze pops so easily. They are dishwasher safe, food safe and are BPA free. They are also reusable, which reduces waste. But the best part about the Tovolo molds are the fun that you (and your kids too!) can have making your very own homemade gluten-free Popsicles. Plus, these pop molds are real money savers!  (And did I mention the super-cool rocket shape? What is better than a Popsicle shaped like a rocket?!)

All of these out of this world reasons are why I am so excited to share the Tovolo Rocket Pop Molds to two BeFreeForMe.com members. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, August 17 and Tuesday, August 23, 2016at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us a fun summer activity or memory you have (Me? Cape Cod beach visits!) Good luck, remember to relax, enjoy the rest of the summer, chill-out…and, as always …

Be Free!

Want to buy now? Check out these links on Amazon.com: Tovolo Rocket Pop Molds (Set of 6)

With August right around the corner (Yickes! Is that possible?) and summer quickly coming to a close, I want to enjoy every moment of the warm weather.

So instead of mixing up a bazillion types of gluten-free flours, along with some Xanthan gum to make my favorite recipes, I’m always have in stock XO Baking Company’s All Purpose “Cup-for-Cup”Gourmet Flour Blend.

I love that this “Cup-for-Cup” flour allows you to make your favorite, treasured recipes with no hassle and no worry. All you need to do is follow your favorite sweet baked good recipe, and substitute the traditional gluten-laden white flour with the XO Baking Company All Purpose “Cup-for-Cup” Gluten-Free Flour Blend. Your baked goods will come out delicious, and it’s easy as a snap.

All of the XO Baking Mixes are Certified Gluten Free through the Gluten Free Certification Organization (GFCO).  This means that they test every one of their products to ensure that they are safe for those with a gluten intolerance, sensitivity or celiac disease. The mixes also contain no milk or eggs and are Non-GMO.

The XO Baking Company All Purpose “Cup-for-Cup” Flour Blend is also rice free, peanut free, certified kosher and contains no preservatives, artificial flavors or colors. They are also Non-GMO.

And as well as the Flour Blend, XO Baking also offers other delicious gluten-free baked good mixes including a delicious Pound Cake, Banana Bread, Zucchini Bread and Pumpkin Bread; a new Blondie Mix; Pie Crust Mix and also a Vanilla Butter Cream Frosting.

I was so excited to find the XO Baking Company All Purpose “Cup-for-Cup” Gluten-Free Flour Blend in my local store, so I grabbed an extra two boxes to feature on this week’s Win-It-Wednesday giveaway!

A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe.com members will be randomly selected to win a package of XO Baking Mixes All Purpose “Cup-for-Cup” Gluten-Free Flour Blend. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, August 3, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, August 4 and Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us what you would make with the XO Baking Company All Purpose “Cup-for-Cup” Gluten-Free Flour Blend (Me? My all-time favorite… Chocolate Chip Cookies!). Good luck, savor the summer & your sweets… and, as always …

Be Free!

P.S. Want to buy some now? Check out this link for XO Baking Company GF Cup-for-Cup Flour Blend

I love it when I find a scrumptious treat at a bargain!

That’s why I was so super excited to discover Curenero Macaroons at a local store. The price was good, the quality superb and the taste incredible! Plus they are gluten free.

These macaroons are made in Italy (hence the website written all in Italian!) and imported to the US. These macaroons are the real deal. I brought these macaroons to the beach (beach days are great days for treats,right?) and they were gobbled up by all and had rave reviews.

And lucky for all of you, I picked up two extra boxes of these macaroons for this Win-It-Wednesday edition on BeFreeForMe.com.

One (1) winner will be randomly selected to win a box from the entries received before Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, July 20 and Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us your must-have treat that you like to bring to the beach, pond, lake.

Good luck, remember to treat yourself daily, and, as always …

Be Free!

During the summer months it’s nice to have a quick and easy breakfast in the morning that will fill you up until lunchtime.

That’s why I was so excited to find Nature’s Earthly Choice Chia Goodness Cereal. My two favorite varieties are the Apple Almond Cinnamon and the Cranberry Ginger. Both are packed with nutrients that keep me going from day-break to mid-day.

These cereals are a good source of protein and Omega-3’s. They’re also packed with fiber, calcium and iron. And not only are they gluten-free, but also Non-GMO Certified.

And lucky for all of you there will be two winners of this Win-It-Wednesday. Each of the two winners will receive a package of the Nature’s Earthly Choice Chia Goodness Cereal.

One (1) winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received before Tuesday, July 6, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, July 7 and Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us a tip on how you start your day in a healthy way. (Me? I love my morning walks!)

Good luck, Keep the “good” in your mornings, and, as always …

Be Free!

This week’s Win-It-Wednesday blog contest prize is another fabulous cookbook… but this week’s Win-It-Wednesday is all about veggies!

“Gluten-Free Tips & Tricks for Vegans” Cookbook by Jo Stepaniak is a god-send for anyone who eats gluten-free and vegan, as well as anyone who eats a gluten-free diet, and is trying to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diet.

I love that this cookbook is easy to understand, and gives the readers numerous tips and tricks (as the name of the cookbook implies!) about eating a delicious, yet healthy, gluten-free and vegan diet.

Jo Stepaniak goes over how to keep a gluten-free and vegan diet healthy and nutritious, which can often be difficult considering many gluten-containing grains and proteins are often the nutritional focus of a plant-based diet.

Some of my favorite recipes in this cookbook include Banana Bread, Black Bean Tostadas, Chilled Noodles in a Spicy Sauce and Glazed Lemon Pound Cake (yum!).

The cookbook contains over 70 gluten-free and vegan recipes featuring salads & soups, pasta dishes, ethnic dishes, and delicious desserts.

And lucky for all of you there will be two winners of this Win-It-Wednesday. Each of the two winners will receive a copy of the “Gluten-Free Tips & Tricks for Vegans” Cookbook.

One (1) winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received before Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, June 22 and Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us a tip on how you plan on staying healthy this summer. (Me? I plan on eating something that I grow in my garden at every meal!)

Good luck, Keep healthy, and, as always …

Be Free!

Want to buy now? Check out these links on Amazon.com: “Gluten-Free Tips & Tricks for Vegans” by Jo Stepaniak

This week’s Win-It-Wednesday is all about baking!

If you ever thought about baking with almond flour, but didn’t know where to start, this Win-It-Wednesday is for you.

Almond flour is one of the easiest gluten-free flours to use. Besides being low-carb and high-protein, almond flour is the perfect flour for those on a gluten-free, paleo, grain-free, low-carb and high protein diets. I also love that almond flour is low on the glycemic index.

Another added bonus is that the health benefits of adding ¼ cup of almond flour to recipes is equivalent to eating 1 ounce of almonds. What a fantastic way to get your omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E, B vitamins, calcium, and minerals!

The “Almond Flour: The High-Protein, Gluten-Free Choice for Baking & Cooking” Cookbook by Beverly Lynn Bennett is a fantastic resource for those wanting to start taking advantage of baking & cooking with almond flour.

Some of my favorite recipes in this cookbook include the Snickerdoodle Cookies, Macaroon Crust, Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake and Lemon-Poppy Seed Bundt Cake.

The cookbook contains over 80 gluten-free and vegan recipes feature breakfast, brunch, snacks, and main dishes as well as breads, biscuits, bars, scones, pies, tarts, and cakes. I also love that the author also includes tips & tricks on adapting recipes using almond flour.

And lucky for all of you there will be two winners of this Win-It-Wednesday. Each of the two winners will receive a copy of the “Almond Flour: The High-Protein, Gluten-Free Choice for Baking & Cooking” Cookbook.

One (1) winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received before Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, June 8 and Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

How can you win? Easy! Reply to this blog and tell us what your favorite item is to bake?

Good luck, keep baking, and, as always …

Be Free!

Want to buy now? Check out this link on Amazon.com: “Almond Flour” Cookbook by Beverly Lynn Bennett

This week’s Win-It-Wednesday continues with the candy theme… and we are featuring Gourmet Gummie Bears from Happy Yummies. Yes… you heard it right… GOURMET!

What makes these gummie bears gourmet are the irresistible and oh-so-yummy flavors. These gummie bears really kick those other gummie bears clear into the forest when it comes to the flavors offered. The  flavors include Pink Grapefruit, Orange, Mango, Lemon, Green Apple, Lime, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, Grape, Pineapple, Wild Cherry and Strawberry.

Happy Yummies Gourmet Gummie Bears are gluten free, as well as fat free (PLEASE NOTE: This product is manufactured in a plant that also processes wheat, soy, dairy, egg, peanut and tree nuts).

If you are a gummie bear lover… this Win-It-Wednesday is for you!

There will be two winners of this Win-It-Wednesday. Each of the two winners will receive a bag of the Happy Yummies Gourmet Gummie Bears. What a yummy prize!

One (1) winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received before Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, May 25 and Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us what yummy flavor of the Happy Yummies Gourmet Gummie Bears looks the best to you. Is it the Grapefruit? Lemon? Grape? Or my favorite, the Mango?

Good luck, continue to keep your world yummy, and, as always …

Be Free!

Ever since I was a little girl my favorite candy has been red licorice. But after getting diagnosed with celiac disease I had to forgo my favorite candy since most brands are laced with gluten. That’s why I was super thrilled to finally, finally, finally find gluten-free licorice!

Just recently I tried Yum Earth Soft Eating Licorice. Besides the chewy texture and the real fruit juicy burst of strawberries, there is so much more to love about the Yum Earth brand of licorice.

For starters… it’s Certified Gluten-Free. On top of that it is vegan, non-gmo, peanut free, contains real fruit juice, is naturally flavored and has no synthetic dyes. Plus… it is soy free, egg free, dairy free and contains no high fructose corn syrup. Wheww! That’s a lot of “free of” stuff! (Note: it is also made in a dairy & peanut free facility)

Yum Earth is the #1 brand that Mom’s & Dad’s trust when it comes to finding a candy that is free of most allergens. Check out what others are saying about the Yum Earth on their website.

And lucky for all of you there will be two winners of this Win-It-Wednesday. Each of the two winners will receive a bag of the Strawberry soft chewy licorice. What a yummy prize!

One (1) winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received before Tuesday, May 10, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

How can you win? Easy! Reply to this blog and tell us what yummy flavor of the Yum Earth Licorice looks the best to you. Is it the Pomegranate? Peach? Or my favorite, the traditional Strawberry?

Good luck, Keep things yummy, and, as always …

Be Free!

Want to buy now? Check out these links on Amazon.com:

Strawberry Licorice

Mixed Variety Pack