Be Free For Me Blog

Looking for a quick squeeze that’s gluten & allergen-free – but full of fruity goodness? Look no further than GoGo Squeez Applesauce on the go.

These ingenious little pouches of unsweetened apple sauce are perfect for little tikes (Note: the website states the GoGo squeeZ pack has a small cap that makes it unsuitable for unsupervised children under 36 months. For kids under 3, they recommend that you remove the cap and keep it away from your child) but also are handy-dandy low-cal snacks  for the “big kids” too.

They also come in five yummy flavors: Apple-Apple, Apple-Banana, Apple-Cinnamon, Apple-Strawberry and Apple-Peach.

I threw a couple of these ice cold pouches into my beach cooler last week and was able to enjoy a 100% fruit snack without the fuss of a spoon or mess. All this – plus they are gluten and allergen-free too.

So if you’re looking for a little squeeze in your life, check out this week’s BeFreeForMe Friday Favorite – GoGo squeeZ applesauce on the go!

Want to buy? Check out this link on Amazon.com and take advantage of FREE Super-Saver Shipping too! GoGo Squeez appleapple, Applesauce on the Go, 3.2-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 48)

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe goes to yet another one of my favorite “go-to” items… Lean on Me Baking Company Quiches.

These single-serve crustless quiches are one of my favorite quick & easy, and low-calorie breakfasts. They come in four varieties: Spinach & Swiss, Broccoli & Cheddar, Mushroom & Swiss, and my favorite; Tomato, Basil, Onion & Mozzarella. I like these quiches for my morning meal, but they’d also be perfect for lunch paired with a side tossed salad.

And the best part about these quiches, gals? They are just 3 points in Weight Watchers! (See Calculator Chart to the right).

Lean on Me Baking Company was founded by Steven Leyva, an award-winning baker who has been honored for his high quality cheesecakes, breads, quiches, cakes and other desserts and baked goods.

Over five years ago, Steven recognized the need to offer great tasting alternatives for people with Celiac disease, diabetes, hypertension, gluten allergies and other dietary restrictions. So Steven transformed his proven recipes to create a one of a kind line of reduced fat, sugar free and gluten-free product line.

Lean on Me Baking Company also makes a line of gluten-free cheesecakes (Original, Blueberry, Chocolate Dipped and Marble) and cakes (Carrot and Chocolate Mousse) and, according to their website, will soon be coming out with some new products including Cookies, Brownies, Frozen Cookie Dough and Cupcakes.

Find a store near you that sells Lean On Me Baking Company products by clicking this link.

Thanks Lean On Me Baking Company for making such delicious, quick, easy (and low-calorie) gluten-free quiches! And congratulations on being awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com

When summer is here, I can’t help but want to whip-up good gluten-free dishes with fresh from the garden ingredients. Fresh herbs, vegetables and some good quality olive oil make a fantastic salad – but throw in some fresh Mozzarella Cheese and I have myself a meal.

One of my favorite mozzarella cheeses is made by Belgioioso. My favorite recipe using this cheese is simple – Cubed mozzarella and fresh tomatoes, thin slivers of fresh basil leaves, all tossed with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil, fresh cracked pepper and sea salt. So simple –  but so yummy.

The Belgioioso website also suggests other ways to enjoy their mozzarella including marinating their Fresh Mozzarella balls or cubes in minced garlic, fresh chopped basil, fresh chopped oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper and white wine vinegar for at least three hours then serving as a part of your antipasto platter; or topping a roast beef sandwich with roasted red peppers and a slice of their fresh mozzarella, drizzled with olive oil. Yum. This sounds like a delicious sandwich using my gluten-free bread.

According to the Belgioioso website all of their products are gluten-free. So dig in this summer and toss a little mozzarella in with your fresh garden vegetables.

Congratulations Belgioioso Cheese for being chosen as this week’s BeFreeForMe’s Friday Favorite!

Summer is here my friends and it’s time for the lazy, hazy and crazy days of summer. And what would summer be without ice cream?

But those of us on a gluten-free diet understand that ice cream in a boring little cup is, well…. just that…boring. There’s something to be said for ice cream that is licked, slurped and thoroughly enjoyed from a good old fashioned ice cream cone. Cups just can’t stand up to a cone.

That is why I bought my own gluten-free ice cream cones on Amazon.com and bring my own cone to my local Dairy Queen for a soft-serve treat that is so very, very, very much appreciated by this ice-cream-loving-gluten-free gal.

For those of you who weren’t aware, Dairy Queen soft-serve ice cream is gluten-free and they also have an extensive list of gluten-free treats. Note: If ordering a Blizzard make sure they know ahead of time you’re gluten-free so they can clean the equipment  to avoid any cross-contamination.

By now I’m sure my local Dairy Queen employees knows me as “the girl that brings her own gluten-free ice cream cone”. But to me I’m just one happy gluten-free gal… taking life one single lick at a time.

Just-Like-I-Remember, Pizza-Party-Deliciousness are the words that come to mind when I think of Gillian’s Foods Pizza Dough Mix.

Better than any pizza parlor around this gluten-free pizza dough is my pick when it comes to pizza… gluten-free style.

Another bonus of Gillian’s Foods products is that they are manufactured in a gluten and nut free environment and their products are dairy free too.

A few of my favorite toppings for these pizza crusts are Barbeque sauce, grilled chicken, mixed cheeses and caramelized onions or my old stand-by tomato sauce, basil, fresh mozzarella and fresh sliced tomatoes.

Any way you top it this pizza dough mix is a must-have  for anyone on a gluten-free (and dairy-free) diet.

Congrats Gillian’s Foods for being chosen this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com!

One of the things that people who are starting a gluten-free diet tell me they most the most is stuffed pasta… raviolis, pierogies, and stuffed shells.

That is when I direct them to the Conte’s Gluten-Free Pasta to check out the delicious gluten-free pasta that is made the old-fashioned way – but free of gluten.

I love the Conte’s Gluten-Free Cheese Raviolis. I always have a bag of these raviolis in my freezer ready for a quick and easy dinner.  It’s a cinch to a boil up some hot water, pop in a few raviolis.  Add a fresh tossed salad and top the hot raviolis with some fresh made pesto and my dinner is as good, if not better, than any Italian restaurant in the North end of Boston.
Delizioso!

Quick and easy restaurant quality raviolis and other gluten-free  pastas are why this week’s Friday favorite honors on BeFreeForMe.com goes to Conte’s Pasta Company!

NOTE: FREE Super-Saver Shipping on Conte’s Gluten-Free Pasta on Amazon.com! Here’s the link: Conte’s Gluten Free Cheese Ravioli, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3)

When I was a little girl, I can remember my Mom using Bisquick for every thing… from pancakes, cobblers, dumplings, casseroles and chicken breading!

Now thanks to the folks over at General Mills, they’ve come up with a gluten-free version of this classic kitchen staple.

Like my Mom, I love having a box of gluten-free Bisquick in my cupboards since it is always a sure-bet ingredient when needing to whip-up a last minute breakfast, dinner or baked good.

There are also some great recipes using gluten-free Bisque on the General Mills website. Some of my favorites? Banana-Pecan Waffles and Chesse Garlic Biscuits.

Fast, quick and so very, very versatile are the reason Bisquick is this weeks Friday Favorite honoree on BeFreeForMe!

Want to purchase? Get Gluten-Free Bisquick Mix on Amazon.com. FREE SUPER-SAVER SHIPPING! Here is the link: Bisquick Pancake and Baking Mix, Gluten-Free, 16-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 3)

Fast, Fantastic and Found in my grocer’s freezer case are the three reasons why this week’s BeFreeForMe’s  Friday Favorite is awarded to PJ’s Organic Chicken Enchilada Meal.

This organic frozen meal features a healthy-portioned Chicken Enchilada, accompanied organic brown rice and black beans. It only take 5 minutes to cook in the microwave, so it’s a perfect choice for lunchtime or when you need a quick meal.

All of PJ’s Organics products are made with USDA-certified organic ingredients, and contain no GMO’s, pesticides or preservatives.

Although I haven’t tried them yet, PJ’s Organics also makes a few other gluten-free items including, Beef Enchilada Meal, Deluxe Chicken Taquitos, and Traditional Chicken Taquitos. However, if the other gluten-free items are anything at all like the Chicken Enchilada Meal, you can bet you’ll see PJ’s Organics making the BeFreeForMe’s Friday Favorite roster again in the very near future.

Congrats P.J.’s Organics!

Great as a marinade, a dipping sauce or brush on during grilling, Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbeque Sauce is a sweet addition to any gluten-free grilling feast!

Sweet, thick and with a kick, Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbeque Sauce comes in several varieties, including: Sweet Baby Ray’s Original, Sweet Baby Ray’s Hickory & Brown Sugar, Sweet Baby Ray’s Sweet ’n Spicy, Sweet Baby Ray’s Sweet Vidalia Onion Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Chipotle; and my favorite,

And just to let you BBQ lovers all know… I called the Sweet Baby ray headquarters today and they assured me that all of the retail varieties of Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbeque Sauces ARE gluten-free! (The modified food starch is derived from corn).

All these sweet reasons are why this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com goes to Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbeque Sauce. So slather it, dip it, baste it, dunk it… and make sure to enjoy the sticky sweetness of an ole’ fashioned barbeque… gluten-free style!

I usually don’t rave too much about beverages, but last week I discovered a fantastic new drink at StyleFixx in Boston. Although found only in select markets it should be available across the US in the next 6 months (if you live in the Northeast, California, Metro-Seattle, and Wisconsin – your in luck now). But believe  me… it’s worth the wait!

The drink is called Bai and it is a powerhouse of antioxidants. This drink is juicy, tantalizing… and gluten-free. It’s not your average juice or even energy beverage since it’s naturally infused with coffee fruits extracts, which contain 40 times more antioxidants that a pomegranate.

My favorite of the Bai drinks are the two 5-calorie Bai-5 flavors Costa Rica Clementine and Sumatra Dragonfruit, but they also come in 4 other thrilling flavors too: Tanzania Strawberry, Mango Kauai, Jamaica Blue berry and Kenya Peach and Panama Peach.

And the fun part about this product is that although it taste nothing at all like coffee (trust me on this!) it contains 70 mg of caffeine which comes from the coffee fruit & white tea extract (a typical 16-ounce coffee contains about 70-120 mgs).

Check out their website for more info: www.drinkbai.com

Natural energy, plentiful antioxidants, only 5 calories and exciting flavors makes this week’s Friday Favorite an easy choice…. Bai-5 Antioxidant Infusion Drinks! Cheers!