Be Free For Me Blog

With the Lenten season beginning next week (I know… Can you believe Easter will be here before we know it?) this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Bumble Bee SuperFresh Fresh Frozen seafood items.

These all-natural and gluten-free seafood items can be found in your grocer’s premium frozen seafood section or in the frozen food aisle. The fillets and shrimp comes all cleaned and cut, and it is fresh-frozen within hours.

They are delicious too! Here are the varieties: Salmon with Basil Pesto, Salmon with Garlicky Black Pepper & Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Tilapia with Garlic & Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Tilapia with Lemon Pepper & Herbs, Lemon Shrimp with Garlic & Herbs and Spicy Shrimp Romesco.

I love that this fresh frozen seafood is so convenient, and has some super tasty varieties.  Plus, it can go from freezer to table in 20 minutes or less! Check out their menu ideas too!

Congratulations to Bumble Bee SuperFresh for being this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com!

The air is chilly and snow is still (unfortunately!) in the forecast, but summer, I promise you, is right around the corner.

And with summertime comes the memories of childhood… beach outings, barbeques, fireworks and overnight summer camp. But for those with celiac disease or a gluten-intolerance, summer camp can be challenging… and scary.

For some kids an overnight summer camp can be an apprehensive situation in itself. Throw into that mix a strict gluten-free diet, and the thought of being away from home for a whole week can be terrifying.

But there is no reason that a gluten-free diet should get in the way of kid’s having a great time at summer camp… and that is why I was so excited when I found out that Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery was offering scholarships to 20 kids (10 from the US and 10 from Canada) for a one-week gluten-free overnight summer camp trip!

The “Happy Camper” scholarship program is taking place from February 18^th to March 18, 2014. It is easy to enter to win too. Just check out the application on Rudi’s Gluten-free Facebook page and have your kid(s) (or you) submit a 100-word essay on “what makes them special” (this should be pretty easy, right?) for a chance to win a one-week scholarship to attend a gluten-free overnight camp. Rudi’s will then select the winner’s that will have an unforgetable fun-filled and safe camp experience.

And as another bonus, Rudi’s Gluten-Free has generous offered to sponsor this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com!

Two (2) lucky winners will each win a prize pack of THREE (yes, 3!) FREE product coupons for Rudi’s Gluten-Free items. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, March 5 and Tuesday, March 11, 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 us (in a sentence or two) why your kids, grandkids, nieces/nephews, etc. are special. (Me? Their caring and upbeat attitudes always put me in a great mood!)

(Please note: If you leave a comment on this blog post you are only entering to win the Rudi’s prize pack. To enter the camp scholarship contest you must enter on Rudi’s Facebook page!)

Good luck, always be a Happy Camper… and as always,
Be Free!

Want to hear more about Rudi’s contest, coupons, giveaways and more? Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

Brrr…. Baby, it’s cold outside! That is why I love to have a hot, steaming bowl of soup for lunch on the days were the wind is whipping, the temperature is dipping and my tummy is itching for a tasty and warm gluten-free treat.

I was thrilled to find Panera’s Tuscan Style Chicken Soup at my local BJ’s Wholesale Club this past week. Packaged in two (2) convenient 20-ounce containers per package, this soup was a bargain compared to the prices that you pay at a restaurant.

The soup is packed with chunks of chicken, white beans, spinach and onions… all simmered in a Tuscan-style tomato based broth. Delicious!

Hot and tasty soup all in the convenience of your own home or office is the reason why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Panera’s Tuscan Style Chicken Soup. Cheers!

It seems that Red Velvet bake goods… cakes, cookies, donuts and more… has become all the rage over the past few years. But trying to find gluten-free versions of these treats could put you in a rage yourself.

So fret no more my little Valentines.

Now you can make one of these rich, creamy, and ever so pretty cakes right in your very own kitchen.

How sweet is that?

Want to print out the recipe? Check out this link in the BeFreeForMe.com’s Recipe Section.

Yes…  I am a gluten-free food-junkie. I love cooking shows, trying my hand at new dishes, exploring gluten-free cooking blogs, obsessing over gluten-free Pinterest posts, discovering the baking & cookbook sections of my favorite bookstore and planning my gluten-free meals weeks in advance.

And, of course, I have my favorite chefs: Those chefs that have taught me the gluten-free way from the start, and continue to inspire me to dig deeper into gluten-free baking and cooking with confidence, creativity and encouragement.  And one of my favorite chefs? Carol Fenster.

Carol is a gluten-free baking and cooking legend. So when I heard that she had come out with another gluten-free cookbook, the “Gluten-Free 101 – The Essential Beginner’s Guide to Easy Gluten-Free”, this gluten-free junkie jumped for joy.

Carol Fenster, is the author of many gluten-free cookbooks that are a life-line in my kitchen. Carol is one of the foremost experts on gluten-free cooking and the author of several popular gluten-free cookbooks including: Gluten-Free Quick & Easy, 1000 Gluten-Free Recipes, 125 Gluten-Free Vegetarian Recipes and 100 Best Gluten-Free Recipes. Carol also consults worldwide and speaks frequently at national conferences. Carol Fenster is one-of-a-kind. Her talent and culinary expertise encourages me and has made me feel confident in the kitchen while cooking and baking gluten-free. (Note: Make sure you follow Carol on her blog CarolFensterCooks.com)

Not only is the Gluten-Free 101 Cookbook full of delicious recipes (Oven-Fried Chicken and a Mexican Casserole, anyone?) that the whole family will love, it is also an essential kitchen must-have that is packed with gluten-free basic 101 information & resources that will get any celiac or gluten-sensitive newbie off to the right start on their healthy and delicious gluten-free lifestyle.

A new cookbook, from my favorite chef, that’s full of delicious recipes and informative advice are all the reasons why I am so thrilled that this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com is sponsored by Carol Fenster – the author of  “Gluten-Free 101 Cookbook… The Essential Beginner’s Guide to Easy Gluten-Free Cooking”.

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us a little pointer, piece of advice or inspirational tidbit you would pass along to someone that just got diagnosed with celiac disease to help them troubleshoot and thrive with their new lifestyle (or if you are just diagnosed, something you would love to learn about). My tidbit? If celiac disease runs in your family… Get everyone tested! Symptoms or no symptoms!

A total of TWO BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win Carol Fenster’s new “Gluten-Free 101” Cookbook.  One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, February 19 and Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 11:59PM EST. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

Good luck, remember the gluten-free lifestyle 101’s… and as always,
Be Free!

P.S. Want more of Carol Fenster? Make sure you follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

Looking for a quick gluten-free, dairy-free and soy-free snack? Need a quick mid-morning pick-me-up that is vegan and high in Omega-3’s? If the answer is yes… you need to check out Chia Bars from Health Warrier.

These bars are small, about 2.5” x 2”, but don’t let the size fool you. Chia, you see, is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. So these little bars really pack a punch when it comes to nutrition and making you feel full and satisfied.

I love that these Health Warrior Chia Bars are also only 100 calories each, 100% natural and contain 1000 milligrams of Omeaga-3’s. They are also Certified Gluten-Free. The bars come in several  flavors too… Acai Berry, Coconut, Banana Nut, Coffee, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and my favorite, Apple Cinnamon.

Another bonus… Health Warrior also sells their own chia seeds so you can make your own chia-licious recipes. Some of my favorite recipes you need to try include this Chia Banana Breakfast Bowl and these Health Warrior Banana Nut Muffins.

For being a tasty and feel-good- about-yourself snack option is why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Health Warrior Chia Bars. Congratulations!

Note: Want to buy Health Warrior Chia Bars? Check out their link on where to buy on their website.