Be Free For Me Blog

Good things do indeed come in small batches. An example of this is Urban Raccoon snack bars. These bars only contain high-quality, good-for-you ingredients that are only made in small batches – unlike most gluten-free snack bars made by larger corporations.

Urban Raccoon snack bars are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, GMO-free and vegan. They are made with organic amaranth and blended with only finest & natural ingredients, such as nuts, chia seeds and fruit.

And the flavors of Urban Raccoon snack bars are mouth-wateringly delicious: Peanut Chocolate, Banana Chocolate (my favorite!), Coconut Chocolate, Cherry Chocolate Chia, Cranberry Maple Almond and the limited-edition and special order, Apricot Cherry. Three of flavors (Peanut Chocolate, Banana Chocolate, & Coconut Chocolate) are made with organic coconut nectar, a lower glycemic natural ingredient binder that is essentially the sap of the coconut tree... Yet another example of using only the highest quality and natural ingredients.

Ohhh… and another thing I love about Urban Raccoon is the “back story” of how it started!  The founder of Urban Raccoon Bars, Brad Indoe, originally started the company out of the personal need for better tasting and better for you gluten-free snack bars. Being gluten-intolerant, Brad wanted a bar that he could bring along with him to work, the gym, and when he traveled. However, the bar needed to be nutritious, satisfying and tasty. However, all the bars that he tried were massively produced “cookie-cutter” bars made by huge conglomerates that contained non-nutritious ingredients and cheap ingredients like rice products. As a result of Brad’s need (as well as every other gluten-free person out there!), Urban Raccoon was founded. Thank you, Brad. =)

And to make the story even super-cooler, the maple syrup used in the Cranberry Maple Almond flavor is from Brad’s family’s farm!

And lucky for us, Urban Raccoon gluten-free snack bars is sponsoring this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com!

A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe.com members will be randomly selected to win a prize pack of these small-batch, nutritious and tasty snack bars.  One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, March 4 and Tuesday, March 10, 2015 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 Urban Raccoon snack bar looks the best to you!

Good luck, keep it healthy & tasty… and, as always …

Be Free!

There is nothing better than a Valentine Day gift that is handmade with love. A gift that is overflowing with love and sweetness. A gift that is made from the heart – and it shows.

Bello Treats is a sweet that is perfect for a gift for your sweetie, or even bought for yourself. Perfect for gifting, or even an everyday indulgence, Bello Treats are gluten-free and have no additives, preservatives and contain high-quality, yet simple, all-natural ingredients.

Discovering Bello Treats has been one of my best gluten-free finds in a long time. Handmade with love by Amanda Bellone, these treats originally pop into my gluten-free radar when discovered at my local farmers market.

Amanda is a Brazilian native and created Bello Treats to introduce her beloved authentic Brazilian Brigadeiro. Commonly known as “brigs”, Briigadeiros (pronounced: bree-gah-day-ro) are a traditional Brazilian treat that’s found at most parties, bakeries and grocery stores in Brazil.

These creamy, silky and soft fudgy treats are to die for! Made with sweetened condensed milk,  a touch of butter, and  Belgium chocolates and other fresh ingredients such as fresh shredded coconut or walnuts, these treats melt in your mouth. Creamy and rich, it’s difficult to eat just one.

These delicious treats are true masterpieces. Hand-crafted in small batches, these artesian-style confections are the gourmet answer to satisfy any sweet tooth. My favorite variety is the Happily Married, a soft and creamy milk chocolate andwhite fudge. But other yummy flavors include the Coconut Kiss, topped with shredded coconut; Almond, topped with shredded almonds; Carnival, a kid’s favorite featuring colored chocolate sprinkles; Fun Chocolate Chip, smothered with chocolate chips, and the Traditional Brig, milk chocolate fudge with chocolate sprinkles.

And lucky for us, just in time for Valentine’s Day, Bello Snacks is sponsoring this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com.

A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe.com members will be randomly selected to win a prize pack of these oh so delicious treats.  One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, February 18 and Tuesday, February 24, 2015 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 variety of Bello Treats looks the best to you!

Good luck, be sweet… and, as always …

Be Free!

This week’s Win-It-Wednesday is in honor of the upcoming Super Bowl Sunday show-down coming up this weekend! The Super Bowl is all about football, and let’s face it… snacking!

Some of our favorite snacks over here at BeFreeForMe are dips and spreads. Sure, we are able to smear and spread these dips on carrot and celery sticks, but gluten-free crackers are so much better. And three of our favorite gluten-free cracker brands will be included in the prize pack for this Win-It-Wednesday compliments of BeFreeForMe.com

What are these three brands? Blue Diamond Nut-Thins, Mary Gone Crackers, and Mediterranean Snacks Hummuz Crackers. All of these brands are gluten-free and found in most larger grocery stores.

Blue Diamond Crackers are loaded with nutritious almonds (or pecans) and are baked to a crispy crunch. With 2-3 grams of protein per serving, these crackers are my favorite with cheese and crackers or paired with our Pimento Cheese Dip. My favorite flavor? The traditional Hint of Sea Salt.

Mary Gone Crackers are not only gluten-free, but also organic, non-GMO, soy free and vegan. These whole grain crackers come in a bunch of flavors that can tantalize any taste-bud. One of our go-to favorites snacking combos is the Hot & Spicy Jalapeno Mary Gone Crackers with our Layered Mexican Dip.

Last, but not least, are Mediterranean Snacks Hummuz Crackers. Made with real Garbanzo beans, these crackers pack a healthy protein punch. I love the Olive Tapenade Hummuz Crackers paired with our Goat Cheese & Olive Spread, or our Feta Cheese Dip. These crackers are a must try!

All of these wonderful gluten-free snacking ideas make this week’s Win-It-Wednesday a delicious reason to enter to win!

A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe.com members will be randomly selected to win a variety prize pack of these crackers! One (1) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, February 4 and Tuesday, February 10, 2015 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 gluten-free cracker is YOUR favorite (is it one of the three listed above… or do you have another favorite we need to know about?)

Good luck, it’s ok to be a little crackers…  and, as always …

Be Free!

Snacking. Snacking. Snacking. I love the word. I love the way it sounds, and what it means. There’s nothing like a good snack to hold your hunger over between meals. But often it is hard to find a good healthy, tasty AND gluten-free snack.

That is why I love Popcorn Indiana. And in honor of National Popcorn Day on Monday, January 19^th (yes… this truly is a nationally recognized day!) this Win-It-Wednesday is all about a popping good and a-maize-ing snack… Popcorn Indiana.

Popcorn is a good for you snack. It is a whole grain, and compared to most snack foods, low in calories. And with the knock-your-socks off flavors that Popcorn Indiana offers it is one heck of a super tasty snack too!

And the best part is that Popcorn Indiana’s popcorn is gluten-free including their Classic popcorn varieties (which include American Cheese, Caramel, Kettle Corn, Move Theater, Aged White Cheddar, Cinnamon Sugar, and Sea Salt and the newest varieties, Hatch Chili Cheese and Sriracha); The Fit Popcorn variety each with only 37 calories per cup and Biggest Loser Approved (Sea Salt, Olive Oil, Parmesan & Herb, and Real Butter) and the Limited Edition Drizzle popcorn, since what goes better with popcorn than chocolate (Black & White Chocolate Drizzle, Dark Fudge Sea Salt Caramel, Dark Fudge Chocolate Chip or Chocolate Peanut Butter)?

I am so excited that this week’s Win-It-Wednesday sponsor is the healthy and tasty Popcorn Indiana! A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe.com members will be randomly selected to win a variety prize pack of Popcorn Indiana! One (1) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, January 21 and Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us which Popcorn Indiana flavor looks the best to you! (Me? I love the sweet Cinnamon & Sugar and the savory Fit Olive Oil!)

Good luck, Happy National Popcorn Day and, as always …

Be Free!

P.S. Want to keep poppin’ with the lastest and greatest over at Popcorn Indiana? Make sure you follow them on their Facebook Page and Twitter page!

It’s the start of the New Year and many folks are looking for new and exciting budget-friendly dinner ideas. One of my favorite ways to make a delicious dinner-on-a-budget is by using gluten-free pastas made by SamMills.

SamMill’s Pastas are made from corn. They are available in most grocery stores and come in tons of different pasta shapes… some of my favorite include Penne Rigate, Tubetti, Lasagna Corte, and Bucatini.

The SamMills Pastas are also made of 100% Natural Ingredients, are free of dairy, eggs and gluten, and are low-glycemic, GMO Free and Kosher Pave. I also love that most of pastas cook-up in about 10 minutes, so dinner can be served in a jiff.

And if you are looking for some inspiring gluten-free pasta dishes to start off this New Year check out some of our favorite pasta recipes on BeFreeForMe.com:

Gluten-Free Pasta with Brussels Sprouts, Pancetta and Olives

Gluten-Free Rotini with Red Bell Peppers, Fresh Mozzarella & Arugula

Blackened Red Pepper and Chicken Pasta Salad

Spaghetti with Toasted Pine Nuts, Olives and Parmesan

All of the delicious pasta recipes that await being made are the reason I am so excited that this week’s Win-It-Wednesday prize is SamMills! A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe.com members will be randomly selected to win a 4-pack prize of one of my favorite SamMills Pastas… the Bucatini… and for those of you that haven’t tried Bucatini yet… you must give it a try! It’s a thick spaghetti-like pasta with a hole running through the center… perfect for pestos, tomato based sauces and casseroles!

One (1) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, January 7 and Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us which SamMills Pasta product looks the best to you! (Is it the traditional Spaghetti, Ziti or Penne? Or maybe the more adventurous Quadrati or Lasagna Corti?) =)

Good luck, here’s to a healthy, happy and delicious New Year… and as always,

Be Free!

I love Van’s Gluten-Free Waffles. The waffle that is the perfect quick-and-easy breakfast staple at my house. That is why I was thrilled when I found out about Van’s newest products: their Whole Grain Pasta Skillet Dishes and their soft-baked Whole Grain Granola Clusters.

And just like the quality of their flagship waffles, these new products are also made with wholesome ingredients. They also contain no artificial flavors, colors or high fructose corn syrup. And they’re convenient and easy to prepare.

Plus, all these new products are Certified Gluten-Free.

Van’s Whole Grain Pasta Skillet Dinners are perfect for lunch or dinner – as a main entrée or even a side. I love that they can be prepared on the stove top in just 10 minutes, and the (suggested) retail price is $3.99 – perfect if time and money is tight. The three varieties are Rotini & Red Sauce, which is a robust marinara sauce over whole grain rotini pasta. And if you’re looking to kick the dish up a notch – toss in some cooked chicken strips and sliced black olives and add some extra protein & flavor while you’re at it!; Creamy Herb & Garlic which is a creamy whole blend of select spices and garlic tossed with a deliciouswhole grain pasta for a gourmet type pasta dish. And if your feeling creative toss in some cooked chicken and sundried tomatoes and make this a dish that everyone will love as a main course at your dinner table; and last, the Ultimate Cheddar Penne, a classic cheesy favorite your whole family will love.

The Van’s Soft-Baked Gluten-Free Granolas come in two fabulous flavors: the Blueberry Walnut and the Cranberry Almond. Both are great for breakfast, or for snacking. Try some sprinkled over Greek Yogurt, topped with fresh fruit, or just eaten by the handful. I love that these granolas are soft-baked, packed with fruit and nuts, and contain 12-grams of nutrient dense whole grains. Just check out the close up of these little soft-baked nuggets below!

Both these new product lines are simple, and tasty, and deliver the Van Food’s quality.

I am so thrilled that Van’s has come out with these new Gluten-Free Products AND is sponsoring this WIN-It-Wednesday contest on BeFreeForMe.com!

A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a prize pack of these new Van’s gluten-free products. One (1) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us which new Van’s Gluten-Free product looks the best to you! (Me? The Creamy Herb & Garlic Pasta! Yum!)

Good luck, remember to keep things simple, yet tasty… and as always,

Be Free!

P.S. Want to be the first to know about news, giveaways, and going-on’s at Van’s Foods? Then follow Van’s Foods on Facebook!

The holidays are here and it’s time to kick up our snacking a notch or two! One of my favorite snacks of all time is popcorn. I love to put out a big bowl when I have guests and see it disappear by the handful. And if you want to add some extra special holiday flair to this go-to snack you must check out 479°  Popcorn.

This popcorn is like no other. The flavors are fun, sassy and irresistible. 479°  Popcorn is snacking at its best.

And lucky for us 479°  Popcorn has two new must-try limited-addition (get ‘em when you can!) flavors for the Holidays: Pumpkin Pecan Praline and Dark Chocolate & Bing Cherry.

The founder of 479° Popcorn, Jean Arnold, started the company because she had nothing but fond memories of fresh, organic popcorn that was made by her Mom and enjoyed with her family during cozy moments playing cards. Her mom would make the popcorn with a “sturdy stove-top popper that she’d hand crank until the kernels turned into a delightful fluffy treat.”

And over the years, and with years of culinary training, Jean started experimenting with exotic seasonings and flavorings on the same type of organic popcorn her mom popped many years before… and 479° Popcorn was born! (By the way, the name 479° Popcorn comes from Jean’s discovery that 479° is the optimal temperature for popping popcorn! See… you DO learn something new every day!)

479° Popcorn varieties are all also certified gluten-free, Non-GMO and (drum roll please!) low calorie!

Besides the two special-edition Holiday flavors, the other flavors are: The Savory flavors… Asiago, Parmesan & Cheddar; White Cheddar & Black Truffle; Creamery Butter; Sea Salt; Farmers Market Herb and Toasted Sesame & Seaweed. And the Sweet & Salty varieties include… Toasted Coconut Caramel; Sea Salt Caramel; and Chipotle Caramel & Pumpkin Seeds.

All of these savory, sweet and salty snacking reasons are why I am so thrilled that 479° Popcorn is the sponsor of this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com.

A total of three (yes, 3!) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win 2 bags each of the two Holiday limited edition 479° flavors  (Pumpkin Pecan Praline and Dark Chocolate & Bing Cherry). Two (2) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, December 10 and Tuesday, December 16, 2012 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 variety of 479° Popcorn looks the best to you! (Me? I love the new Holiday flavor Pumpkin Pecan Praline… yum!)

Good luck, remember to keep your Holidays popping with good snacks… and as always,

Be Free!

P.S. Want to be the first to know about news, flavors, giveaways, and going-on’s at 479° Popcorn? Then follow 479° Popcorn on Facebook!

If you have a child in your life that has celiac disease there is a perfect book for gifting this Holiday season: “Mommy, What is Celiac Disease?” by Katie Chalmers.

Explaining celiac disease and the gluten-free diet to kids can be tough. That is why this book is a god-send. 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 5 years ago. Since that time they have learned to embrace, and make the best, out of living gluten-free, and they share their experiences and sunny outlook in this kid-friendly book. (Looking for more inspiration? You need to check out Katie’s blog!)

Katie’s book encompasses what celiac disease is and what the gluten free diet requires 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… making it also a perfect gift for teachers that they can use year-after-year.

I love 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 WIN-It-Wednesday sponsor on BeFreeForMe.com.

A total of two (2) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a copy of “Mommy, What is Celiac Disease?” One winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, November 25, 2012 at 11:59 PM EST, and another winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, November 26 and Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?

Easy?

Reply to this blog and let us know who you would give this book too if you won OR how you look at the sunny side of being gluten-free. (Me? I have met so, so, so many awesome people because of my celiac diagnosis, and I also find myself eating more fruits and vegetables which has resulted in discovering local farmers markets and expanding my own backyard garden).

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

Be Free!

P.S. Want to learn more? Follow Katie on Facebook & Twitter and check out her fabulous blog. Want to buy this book for a Holiday gift? Buy it now on Amazon.com.

GREAT NEWS for all of you Cabot Cheese lovers out there!  Cabot has a new line of cheeses that taste out of this world (and inspired from different parts of the world!)… the Legacy Cheese line.

This yummy trio of cheeses was inspired by century old cheese-making techniques from different parts of the world… in honor of the European roots of the Cabot farmers’ ancestors.  And like all other Cabot cheddars, the cheeses in the new Legacy line are naturally gluten-free and lactose-free.

The Legacy line has three unique and distinctive varieties:

Alpine Cheddar: My personal favorite! A creamy cheddar and nutty Parmesan blend, this cheese has that nutty “crunchy” or slightly granular texture distinctive of cheeses influenced by Swiss & Italian cheese-making traditions. Try one slice and you’ll see why this is my new favorite Cabot cheese variety.  A must have for any cheese board…  also pairs well with sweet Italian Prosecco and a few of your best friends!

Farmhouse Reserve: This Artesian grade cheddar cheese is quintessential New England. Aged for 18 months this New England classic is an Extra Sharp cheddar that is bold and creamy, and a must-try. When I eat this cheese I like to “melt” a bit in my mouth… it’s like tasting a fine wine… flawlessly balanced, well defined and lush. You haven’t tasted cheddar like this before!

White Oak: A classic British style cheddar, the White Oak cheddar has a subtle caramel sweetness with slight oaky hints. Smooth and composed this cheddar is similar to the Cabot’s Clothbound Cheddar with the perfect balance of sharp & smooth. With nutty flavors and aromas, this cheese begs to be used for snacking and in recipes. Oaky & buttery in every bite… What’s not to love?

And please feel free to check out the Cabot Creamery website to find some great recipes, discover all of the gluten-free products they offer (please note that all of the Cabot products are gluten-free with the exception of the spreadable cheddars – due to their sourcing they cannot guarantee these spreadable cheddars are gluten-free. However, all other Cabot products and ingredients have been “researched and verified to be gluten-free and are produced in a gluten-free environment” according to the Cabot website).

All these wonderfully cheesy reasons are why I am so excited that the sponsor of this Win-It-Wednesday is Cabot Creamery!

Four (Yes…4!) lucky winners will each win a prize pack of the new Cabot Legacy items. Two (2) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, November 11, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and two (2) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, November 12 and Tuesday, November 18, 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 new Cabot Legacy cheese looks the best to you… the creamy & nutty Alpine? The flawlessly balanced Farmhouse Reserve? Or the sharp & smooth White Oak? (I know, I know.. it is so hard to pick!)

Good luck, remember to smile and say “CHEESE!” every single day, and as always,
Be Free!

Want to hear more about Cabot Creamery’s contests, recipes, new products and more? Make sure you sign up to become a Cabot Insider, and also follow them on Facebook and Twitter!

I love when the food I eat is good for me. But as an added bonus, it’s also awesome when the food I eat also does good for others.

An example of this? Nouri Bars.

The Nouri brand really raises the bar when it comes to makes healthy, gluten-free, vegan and non-GMO bars… For every bar sold a child in need is fed a hot meal. So this bar is not just wholesomely delicious, but a “socially conscience” snack. Curious to find out more & see how this all works? Make sure you check out this link on their website and find out how buying Nouri Bars can save lives.

And if doing good isn’t enough, these 100% real fruit and nut bars also taste good too. Nouri Bars come in three delicious flavors: Apple Cinnamon Spice (ingredients: organic dates, hemp protein, organic agave nectar, apples, organic cashews, cinnamon, organic vanilla extract); Chocolate & Creamy Cashew (ingredients: organic dates, hemp protein, organic cashews, organic cashew butter, organic agave nectar, dark chocolate chips, organic vanilla powder) and Peanut Butter & Wild Cherry (ingredients: organic dates, organic peanut butter, cherries, peanuts, organic pumpkin seeds, hemp protein, organic vanilla extract, sea salt).

These bars also are made only with organic ingredients and have no preservatives or flavorings.

In a nutshell, these fruity and nutty bars are super-delicious, good for you and good for others. What’s not to love?

All of these reasons are why I am nuts over Nouri Bars as being this week’s Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com. Two lucky winners will each win a prize pack of Nouri Bars! Yay for us!

One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, October 29 and Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at 11:59PM EST. So – make sure you enter to win two times! (And please… only two times!)

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us what Nouri Bar flavor looks the best to you (Me? Apple Cinnamon Spice) OR tell us a way you “do good” for yourself or for others (Me? Here are two things. For myself: I always have breakfast; and for others: Once the holidays come I vow that when I see a Salvation Army Bell Ringer I’ll contribute all the change in the wallet.)

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

Make sure you follow Nouri Bars on Facebook , Twitter & Pinterest!