Be Free For Me Blog

As a topping for ice-cream, a drizzle on your favorite pie, or even as a dip for fresh fruit, Mrs. Richardson’s Butterscotch Caramel topping is the perfect gluten-free pantry item to make any dessert extra special.

I love the rich, buttery sweetness of the caramel. And if you are a fan of other types of toppings, no problem! All of Mrs. Richardson’s topping are gluten-free. So take your pick and enjoy not only the Butterscotch Caramel, but also Mrs. Richardson’s Hot Fudge, Butterscotch, Strawberry, Chocolate Lovers or the Fat-Free Caramel or Fat-Free Hot Fudge on top of your favorite dessert.

For all of these yummy reasons, this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Mrs. Richardson’s toppings. Congratulations!

P.S. Check out my Gluten-Free Apple Spice Cake with Creamy Butterscotch Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting using Mrs. Richardson’s … delicious!

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.

Gotta love a bar with a good crunch! And top that crunch off with a burst of fruit and you have yourself a 180 Degree Trail Mix Crunch Bar.

I love that these gluten-free, kosher, 100% vegan and all natural bars have a totally different texture than any other bar I have tried. They have a really crunchy, call it actually crispy, snap that is surprisingly tasty and perfect for breakfast or snack time. 180 Degree Snacks achieves this perfect crispy crunch by oven baking the bars… delicious!

These bars come in two varieties including, Almond Cashew, and my favorite, Cranberry Pomegranate. 180 Degrees also makes other products including Clusters, Nutty Rice Bites and a Trail Mix Crunch.

Congratulations to 180 Degree Snacks for making a perfectly crispy and crunchy gluten-free bar and for being awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com! Cheers!

It’s Taco Night once again in gluten-free households across the country! How about that all my gluten-free amigos?

Thanks to McCormack spices and seasonings all of us gluten-free folks out there can enjoy tacos, burritos, enchiladas and even a gluten-free Grilled Fajita Salad or a Seven Layer Fiesta Dip thanks to the folks over at McCormick.

The new Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning contains natural spices such as chili pepper, cumin, paprika and oregano. It is also free of MSG, and has no artificial flavors. Other new gluten-free items that McCormick makes are Chili Seasoing Mix, and Brown and Turkey Gravies.

So break out those gluten-free taco shells, and fill ‘em up with taco seasoned ground beef and all your favorite gluten-free fixins’! Congrats (and Gracias!) to McCormick for being named this week’s Friday Favorite!

Want to buy now? Check out this link on Amazon.com and take advantage of FREE Super-Saver Shipping!

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!