Be Free For Me Blog

The Grilled Cheese sandwich is such a comfort food. The oozey, gooey cheese… the perfectly toasted gluten-free  bread that is crunchy & buttery on the outside, and soft & warm on the inside.  Perfection.

But if just the “basic” grilled cheese sandwich has so much perfection going on – what could a little creativity fueled by a bunch of fanatic grilled cheese lovin’ foodies create? Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread, in partnership with Horizon Organic Cheese, has taken on this feat and is sponsoring a challenge among a group of top food bloggers and chefs. The task? To create an original,  unique & delicious Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

First off… I was thrilled that I was asked to compete in this challenge… so thank you Udi’s and Horizon Organics. Secondly, I’ve come up with three Grilled Cheese creations that will each blow your gluten-free griddles off.

Along with the first gluten-free grilled creation listed below, my Prosciutto & Blackberry Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a Balsamic Reduction, I have also created a Cherrywood Smoke Bacon & Date Stuffed Grilled Cheese Sandwich, which is reminiscent of my favorite appetizer of all time (Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Cherrywood Smoked Bacon) and also a fantastic breakfast grilled cheese creation – a Honey-Apple & Strawberry Grilled Cheesy Breakfast Sandwich.

Thanks to Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread and Horizon Organic Cheese for getting my grill-ative forces moving! Enjoy!

Prosciutto and Blackberry Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a Balsamic Reduction

Who said Grilled Cheese Sandwiches had to boring? This sandwich is salty, sweet and tangy…. All grilled into one. I really stuffed my sandwich with blackberries (since I love them so much) but use fewer or even substitute blackberry preserves. The Balsamic Reduction creates a unique dipping experience!

Ingredients:
About 1 tablespoon butter
2 slices of Udi’s Omega Flax & Fiber Bread (or your favorite Udi’s gluten-free bread)
2-4 slices of Horizon Organic Provolone Cheese
4 slices thin-sliced Prosciutto
10-12 ripe blackberries – or 2 tablespoons blackberry preserves
1/8 cup Balsamic Vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:
Spread 1 tablespoon of butter on one side of each slice of bread. Place one of the slices of bread butter side down in a skillet over medium heat.

Place 1-2 slices of cheese on the bread. Next top with ½ the prosciutto, the blackberries, the remaining prosciutto, and 1-2 slice of cheese.  Top with the remaining piece of bread, butter side up.

Cook for about 6-7 minutes, flipping to ensure each side is golden brown.

While the sandwich is grilling, heat the balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan over high heat. The vinegar will boil quickly, so whisk often to prevent scorching. Add in the sugar little-by-little. Cook, and continue whisking, until the vinegar is reduced by about ½ and is syrupy and thick.

Drizzle the Balsamic Reduction in a fun pattern on the plate. Place the halved sandwich on top. Dip sandwich into the reduction for a tangy dipping experience!

Makes 1 sandwich.

This Grilled Cheese Sandwich is my adaptation of my favorite appetizer, Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Cherrywood Smoked Bacon. By substituting the blue cheese with Horizon Organic Cheddar Cheese you’ll find cheese that melts beautifully, with a sharpness that mates well with the sweetness of the figs and the smoky bacon.

This is also a perfect appetizer. After cooking cut into bite-sized strips and serve.

Want to see other Grilled Cheese Creations using Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread and Horizon Organic  Cheese? Check out these links:

Prosciutto and Blackberry Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a Balsamic Reduction

Honey-Apple & Strawberry Grilled Cheesy Breakfast Sandwich

Cherrywood Smoked Bacon & Fig Stuffed Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Inspired by my favorite appetizer, Cheese Stuffed Dates Wrapped in Cherrywood Smoked Bacon, this combination takes the grilled cheese sandwich to the next level.

Ingredients:

4 slices cooked Cherrywood Smoked Bacon
2 slices of Udi’s Gluten-Free White Sandwich Bread
About 1 tablespoon of butter, for the skillet
1 ½ tablespoons Fig Butter or Fig Preserves (find this in the jam section of your local grocer)
2 slices of Horizon Organic Cheddar Cheese

Instructions:
Equally spread the Fig Butter equally on each slice of bread.

In a large skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, place a slice of bread Fig Butter side up in the skillet. Top with a slice of cheese. Next top with the cooked Cherrywood Smoked Bacon (halved) and then the second slice of cheese. Place the second slice of bread Fig Butter side down on sandwich.

Cook for about 6-7 minutes, flipping to ensure each side is golden brown and the cheese is melted, ooey and gooey.

Serve immediately.

Makes 1 Fig-licious sandwich.

If you’re like me and you love grilled cheese sandwiches so much that you could eat them for every meal, every day, you need a few suggestions on how to grill them up for breakfast.

This sandwich is sweet, crunchy and packed with fresh strawberries. Love by kids and adults alike, it will soon be a family favorite.

Want to see other Grilled Cheese Creations using Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread and Horizon Organic  Cheese? Check out these links:

Prosciutto and Blackberry Grilled Cheese Sandwich with a Balsamic Reduction

Cherrywood Smoke Bacon & Date Stuffed Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Honey-Apple & Strawberry Grilled Cheesy Breakfast Sandwich

A breakfast sandwich with no eggs? Absolutely! The addition of Honey Apple Butter makes Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread even softer than it already is. Good Morrrnnn-ing, Gluten-Free!

Ingredients:
2 slices of Udi’s Gluten-Free White Sandwich Bread
3 Tablespoons Honey-Apple Butter, plus 1 tablespoon for the skillet (I used Trader Joe’s brand – but any type will do)
About 1 tablespoon of butter, for the skillet
2 slices of Horizon Organic Provolone Cheese (or American)
2 Strawberries – washed, hulled and sliced thin

Instructions:
Spread 2 tablespoon of Honey-Apple Butter equally on each slice of bread.

In a large skillet, heat the butter, plus one tablespoon of the Honey-Apple Butter, over medium heat. Once melted, place a slice of bread Honey-Apple side up in the skillet. Top with a slice of cheese. Next top with the sliced strawberries and the second slice of cheese. Place the second slice of bread Honey-Apple side down on sandwich.

Cook for about 6-7 minutes, flipping to ensure each side is golden brown and the cheese is melted, ooey and gooey.

Serve immediately and start your day off Udi-fully.

Makes 1 delicious sandwich.

Finally. Finally.  Someone has raised the bar. Thanks to Enjoy Life Foods you can now say goodbye to hard, crunchy and hard to chew bars.

Enjoy Life Foods Chewy Bars are a must try. With four delicious flavors these bars are perfect for morning, mid-day or even as a substitute for those (like me!) that have an after-dinner sweet tooth.

I love the Caramel Apple or Very Berry variety in the morning, the Sunbutter Crunch as an afternoon snack and the Cocoa Loco for a sweet treat.

My favorite though is the Sunbutter Crunch… a nutty treat for those that can’t have peanuts. Enjoy… and go nut-free!

Besides being gluten-free, these bars are also free of the eight (8) top allergens: Wheat, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish, and shellfish.

Leave it to Enjoy Life Foods to make a bar that is chewy & delicious – without the most common allergens.

Cheers & Congratulations to Enjoy Life Foods for being this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeforMe.com. Enjoy… Life…!

Want to order these on Amazon.com? Check out these links and take advantage of Free Super-Saving Shipping:

Enjoy Life Cocoa Loco Chewy On The Go Bars, Gluten, Dairy & Nut Free, 5-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6)
Enjoy Life Sunbutter Crunch Chewy On The Go Bars, Gluten, Dairy & Nut Free, 5-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6)
Enjoy Life Caramel Apple Chewy On The Go Bars, Gluten, Dairy & Nut Free, 5-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6)
Enjoy Life Very Berry Chewy On The Go Bars, Gluten, Dairy & Nut Free, 5-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 6)

I love macaroons. I love the chewiness. I love the coconut. I even love the way the word itself sounds. Macarooooooon.

Just saying the word macaroon makes you get a big smile smacked across your face.

Macaroons have been a long time favorite of mine. My Mom use to make them when I was a little girl. I loved the chewy & sweetness of the inside, and the crunchy, almost caramelized, just-right browned outside.

There’s nothing like a good macaroon.

That is why I was smiling from ear-to-ear basting in my macaroon glory when I found Hail Merry Macaroons at a tradeshow a few months back.

Sweet, golden & chewy. Macaroon perfection served up in bite sized portions.

The Hail Merry Macaroons are not only gluten-free, but are also vegan and  a raw food. Simple goodness.

This week’s Friday Favorite is graced upon Hail Merry for making the best macaroons and for bringing back good memories in every chewy, sweet bite.

Congratulations!

Want to order Hail Merry macaroons? Check out this link on Amazon.com: Hail Merry Macaroons Gluten-free Raw Blonde 3.5 oz (Pack of eight)

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!

If you’re not yet familiar with the products that Food Should Taste Good offers you must check out their website and give their chips a try.

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

And for all of you that are already lovers of the Food Should Taste Good brand, be on the look-out for their NEW PRODUCTS! Among them are a line-up of Kettle Cooked Sweet Potato Chips in awesome flavors like Barbeque, Salt & Pepper, Salt & Vinegar, and Original. As well as a new Kettle Corn Tortilla Chip. Yum! I can’t wait to give these all a try!

I love that Food Should Taste Good has unique and exciting flavors. They’re a chip company that thinks beyond the boring potato. 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 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. Four (Yes 4!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe members will win a Food Should Taste Good snack pack jam packed with a dozen Food Should Taste Good snack sized Sweet Potato chips … my all-time favorite. Two (2) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 11:59 AM and two (2) more winners will be randomly selected from all entries between Wednesday, April 25, 2012 and Tuesday, May 1, 2012. So make sure you enter two times to win!

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.

Good luck, Be good…. And as always,
Be Free!

It’s awesome when I find healthy snacks that are absolutely, positively, incredibly delicious. But it’s true love when the snacks are also low calorie, full of fruit, and contain all-natural ingredients.

That’s why it was true love when I tried Matt’s Munchies Premium Fruit Snacks.

I’ve tried a lot of fruit snacks, but Matt’s Munchies are different. These snacks are very, very much better in everyway possible. It’s almost like Matt’s Munchies are the Fruit Snack for the discerning adult (but are loved by kids too). These Fruit Snacks are for the folks that demand more from their fruit snacks than the typical corn-syrup ridden fruit pasted on a piece of plastic wrap.

I love the flavors too… they are exotic and tantalizing… Flavors made for adult taste-buds! Mango Acai; Apple Pie; Chili- Chocolate; Apple-Licious; Ginger Spice; Banana; Mango; Raspberry-Delight; Coco Nana; Tangy Apricot; and my favorite, Island Mango – packed with tiny coconut flakes that add a bit of “texture” and an unexpected burst of flavor.

I also like the way these fruit snacks are portioned into bite-sized squares, rather than rolled-out in one big piece; making snacking easy.

And if it couldn’t get any better these fruit snacks are also Certified Gluten-Free, Kosher, USDA Certified Organic (except for the three chocolate flavors), and free of peanuts, soy and preservatives, artificial colorings or flavorings.

These week’s BeFreeForMe Friday Favorite honor is bestowed upon Matt’s Munchies for creating a truly premium fruit snack… and showing us the way fruit snacks should be!  Congratulations!

Want to buy Matt’s Munchies Premium Fruit Snacks? Check them out on Amazon.com and take advantage of the FREE Super-Saver Shipping! Here is the link: Matt’s Munchies Premium Fruit Snacks

Question:
I like to eat cereal for breakfast but now that I am on a gluten-free diet I have to give up so many of my favorite ones. Can you offer some suggestions?

Answer:

Cereals made with wheat, barley, barley malt extract, barley malt flavoring, or rye are off limits since they all contain gluten. Also,  regular oats are not allowed since they are frequently cross-contaminated with gluten.  But thankfully for everyone on a gluten-free diet there is now a wide variety of  tasty cold and hot gluten-free cereals on the market. It used to be that you could only find these products in health food stores but now more gluten-free cereals are showing up on the shelves of grocery stores. They are also available online from gluten-free specialty stores like glutenfreemall.com, glutenfree.com, glutensolutions.com, as well as a wide variety on Amazon.com or direct from the manufacturer.

Gluten-Free Ingredients
Cereals that are gluten-free and also nutritious can be made from grains such as brown rice, white rice, corn, buckwheat, amaranth, millet, quinoa, sorghum, teff and pure uncontaminated oats. Some may also contain nuts; seeds (e.g., flax, chia, sesame); dried fruits (e.g., raisins, cranberries, apples); or pulse flours (e.g., yellow pea flour).

Pure Uncontaminated Oats
These specialty oats have been grown on fields where wheat, rye or barley have not been grown for a number of years.  They also have  been harvested with dedicated equipment,  processed in dedicated facilities and have  been tested for gluten using very sensitive ELISA tests. The following companies produce these specialty gluten-free oats:
www.avenafoods.com
www.bobsredmill.com
www.creamhillestates.com
www.glutenfreeoats.com
www.giftsofnature.net
www.mtmonstermunchies.com

To find out even more information on gluten-free oats see my website:  http://www.glutenfreediet.ca/about_gf.php

Focus on Nutrition!
When choosing a gluten-free cereal read the ingredient list and nutrition facts table.  Look for cereals that are low in sugar, sodium, fat and calories; are high in fiber; contains whole grains and are enriched with iron and B vitamins.  Want to see how your favorite gluten-free cereal measures up? Check out my detailed charts comparing various gluten-free cereals on the market in the USA and Canada.

US Chart: http://www.glutenfreediet.ca/img/allergliv-summer2011usa.pdf

Canadian Chart: http://www.glutenfreediet.ca/img/allergliv-summer2011canada.pdf

Learn more about whole grains in my free handout called Whole Grains and the Gluten-Free Diet that offers nutrition information, cooking instructions, tips and recipes.

Gluten-Free Product Listing
I have over 3100 gluten-free products listed by company name, product name and package size in my book Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide. In addition to all the products, there is detailed information about the diet including foods allowed and to avoid, meal plans, recipes, cooking hints and substitutions, nutrition information and practical strategies for healthy gluten-free living, a directory of more than 270 companies, resources and much more! See the table of contents at http://www.glutenfreediet.ca/toc.php and you can order the book directly at http://www.glutenfreediet.ca/orderCurrency.php or on Amazon.com.

Shakes, Fruits, Yogurt… and More!
If you are looking for some new breakfast ideas that are both tasty and gluten-free, see these ideas. Some of the breakfast ideas are perfect for “eating on the run” for those that don’t have time for preparing breakfast.

When I think of springtime, certain foods come to mind. But the sweetest thought of all is that of sweet, moist and fresh Carrot Cake – right out of the oven, and prepared gluten-free style.

I have  the best gluten-free Carrot Cake recipe around. Over the years I’ve tweaked the recipe so it’s perfect – moist, full of carrots, and with just enough sweetness. It’s an all-time favorite for the gluten-free and the non-gluten-free alike, and it’s perfect for a brunch or dessert. Make sure you bring along the copy of the recipe to pass along to others!

Gluten-Free Carrot Cake
If you are a Carrot Cake fan you will love this recipe! Moist and rich, it is perfect for breakfast, brunch or for dessert. Buy pre-shredded carrots to make your job easier. Omit walnuts to make nut-free. Enjoy!

Carrot Cake Ingredients:

3 cups carrots, well grated
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
1 cup corn oil
4 eggs
2 cups sugar – brown or white
2 cups gluten-free all purpose flour (Check label for allergens!)
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
Dash nutmeg
1½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ cup raisins

Enough butter & gluten-free flour to grease a 10” tube pan or 9”x14” pan

Mix together the grated carrots and chopped walnuts. Set aside.

Cream the oil, eggs and sugar.  Add carrots and nuts.

In another bowl sift together the flour, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and soda.  Slowly add to carrot mixture.  Add the raisins.

Grease and flour (make sure you use gluten-free flour!) a 10” tube pan or 9”x14” pan.  Bake at 325 degrees for about an hour.  Cool before frosting.

Carrot Cake Frosting Ingredients:

¼ cup butter- softened
1 8-ounce package cream cheese – softened (Check label for allergens!)
1 teaspoon vanilla
About 12-ounces confectioner’s sugar

Cream together butter, cream cheese & vanilla. Add sugar, beat until smooth.

I usually eat “my bars”, as I fondly call my #1 go-to food item, as a snack… midway through the day, when I need a little pick-me-up, and when the stomach gets a growlin’.

But I recently found a bar that is perfect for breakfast. Quick, easy and portable. The name? BoBo’s Gluten-Free Oat Bars. They are filling, satisfying, tasty and absolutely perfect for that breakfast on the run.

BoBo’s Oat Bars is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado and founded by a gal named Beryl Stafford. She started the company due to her love for nutrition, wellness and life. What originally started out as super-tasty creation for her oldest daughter, whom she affectionately called “BoBo,” the BoBo products are now available nationwide and still are handmade with the same love and attention to quality that this Mom originally created for her daughter.

The gluten-free BoBo Bars come in some great flavors too: Chocolate Almond, Lemon Poppyseed, Peach and, my favorite, Maple Pecan. All these flavors are great any time of day… morning, mid-day and evening.

BoBo Bars can be found at retailers across the country, and also on Amazon.com.

Congratulations to BoBo Bars for being awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com … we love the way you are amazing people making some amazing products!

Buy BoBo Glute-Free Oat Bars on Amazon.com. Check out these links:
BoBo Gluten-Free Maple Pecan Bars

BoBo Gluten-Free Lemon Poppyseed Bars

BoBo Gluten-Free Chocolate Almond Bars

BoBo Gluten-Free Peach Bars