Be Free For Me Blog

It’s that time of year again. Yup… the time of the dreaded sniffles, coughs, chills, runny noses, sore throats and more.  But this year is different because I have decided to tackle the colds that usually run rampant through my household before the first sniffle ever starts.

Welcome… Soothie Suckers!

Soothie Suckers are a great tasting, pre­measured herbal remedies that helps you fight the cold season. They are designed for children, but are perfect for anyone from the age of 2 to 92. Because the formulas are blended especially with children in mind, they use gentle herbs rather than harsh chemicals, over the counter drugs or antibiotics. Soothie Suckers come in two formulas. One helps support the immune system and the other the upper respiratory system, which means they assist in preventing colds… not just relieving the symptoms.

Made by a Mom (Marietta) for her young daughter (Esther), Soothie Suckers are made with the love, caring and understanding that only the best, all-natural ingredients are the way to go when it comes to helping your kids stay, and get, healthy. Soothie Suckers can now be found at select retailers and on-line at Amazon.com and Drugstore.com. (I love it when a woman-owned Mom business thrives!).  Also, make sure that you check out Marietta’s Facebook and Twitter accounts for Soothie Suckers!

Soothie Suckers are also free from allergens… including gluten, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, eggs, fish and shellfish.

Another thing to love is that these proprietary, all-natural herbal formulas are packaged in kid-friendly ice pop pouches (how fun!) and come in two natural flavors, grape and orange (my favorite!). And take your pick… these pouches can be served frozen, or at room temperature… whatever your fancy.

And remember… although Soothie Suckers are made with kid’s in mind, they are perfect for adults too. =)

All these reasons are why I am so excited that Soothie Suckers is the sponsor of this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com.

Four (yes, 4!) winners will each receive a prize pack of Soothie Suckers. Two (2) of the winners will be randomly selected from all comments / entries received before Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at 11:59 PM (EST), and two (2) more winners will be selected from all comments / entries received between Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at 12:00 AM (EST) and Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 11:59 PM (EST).

How Can You Win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us which Soothie Sucker looks the best to you (immune support or upper respiratory support). Also please feel free to share how you make yourself or your family “feel good” when you do get a cold or sniffles (Me? Bundled up in soft, warm blankets with hot tea & honey).

Good luck, keep well and cold free, and, as always…

Be Free!

This Win-It-Wednesday is sponsored by a small business owned by two popcorn guys, Steve and Peter, who make popcorn with BIG flavor!

Steve and Peter started Yolo! Snacks because they’re popcorn fanatics. They knew that they had an awesome product that had people smiling. They both decided they wanted to share all the smiles that kept popping-up after people enjoyed their fantastic popcorn, and Yolo! Snacks was born.

The popcorn is made in a factory in Vermont.  Yolo! Snacks makes the freshest popcorn possible, and use a lot of local Vermont flavors in their varieties…  Pure Maple popcorn (popcorn kissed with sweet maple syrup) , Cheddar (a flavorful union of cheddar and spices), as well as the Original (a unique marriage of herbs, buttermilk, and sea salt) and Barbeque (Chipotle heat with sweet!). All the flavors are unique and original… they are nothing like any other popcorn you’ve ever tasted!

The fabulous, tasty, gluten-free popcorn flavors make me so excited to announce and share this Win-It-Wednesday contest with all of you!

Four (yes, 4!) winners will each receive a prize pack of the Yolo! Popcorn . Two (2) of the winners will be randomly selected from all comments / entries received before Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 11:59 PM (EST), and two (2) more winners will be selected from all comments / entries received between Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 12:00 AM (EST) and Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 11:59 PM (EST).

How Can You Win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us which Yolo! Snack Popcorn flavor looks the best to you (Me?  I LOVE the Maple Popcorn … it has just the perfect amount of sweetness!)

Good luck, keeping popping and, as always…

Be Free!

P.S. Check out Yolo! Snacks on Facebook and Twitter too!

Want to buy Yolo! Snacks? Check them out here at Snackaisle!  http://www.snackaisle.com/yolo-snacks/

Just in time for the holidays, our Win-It-Wednesday is all about good cooking and good baking! This week sponsor is Book Publishing Company, the publishing company for these two incredibly awesome gluten-free and vegan cookbooks that are being featured.

These Win-It-Wednesday’s prizes will get your creative juices flowing in the kitchen. The first cookbook is “Extraordinary Vegan” by Alan Roettinger. With 30 years of cooking experience, Alan shares tons of his culinary wisdom so we all can cook, and eat, deliciously healthy!

There are over 100 recipes using plant-based foods that will open your eyes (and your taste-buds!) to a whole new world of vegan living. His cooking style and tantalizing recipes will make you want to take chances in the kitchen that you have never taken before. All the recipes in this cookbook are also gluten-free. Some of my favorite recipes include the Roasted Cauliflower and Beet Salad, Spicy Minted Slaw, and the Pears in Pomegranate Juice.

This cookbook is perfect for those planning on making the upcoming resolution of eating and living a healthier lifestyle in the New Year.

The next cookbook prize is “The Allergy-Free Cook Bakes Cakes & Cookies” by Laurie Sadowski. If you’re looking for some awesome recipes for gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and soy-free cakes & cookies you have to check out Laurie Sadowski’s newest cookbook “The Allergy-Free Cook Bakes Cakes & Cookies”.

Laurie Sadowski, a food enthusiast with celiac disease (who is also a vegan) wrote this cookbook to share with us her sweet side of baking. Her newest cookbook is a collection of to-die-for cakes, cookies, bars and squares – all of which are perfect for those with celiac disease / a gluten-free lifestyle, dairy allergies, egg allergies, and also a vegan-life style, ADHD and autism.

Just looking at these recipes make me want to dig out my baking pans and rolling pin. They range from the decadent (Triple-Chocolate Layer Cake or Two-Bite Chocolate-Covered Cherry Cupcakes, anyone?), to the traditional (comfort foods like New Old-Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake or Autumn Apple Cake with Cider Sauce), to the dinner-party daring desserts  (Molten Lava Mini Cakes with Raspberry Sauce or Hazelnut Biscotti, to name just a couple).

I really like this cookbook because there are also a lot of tips and tricks to make gluten-free baking a success… something we all can use every so often. =)

Also… take note!!! This Win-It-Wednesday will be featured for a THREE week period… so make sure that you enter each week for THREE chances to win! The FIRST WINNER will be randomly selected to win a cookbook of their choice from the entries received before Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST, a SECOND WINNER  will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, December 18 and Tuesday, December 24, 2013 at 11:59PM, and a THIRD WINNER will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, December 25, 2013 and December 31, 2013 at 11:59 PM … SO – make sure you enter THREE times to win!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and let us know which one of the two cookbooks you would like to win (Me? It’s a toss-up! The sweet side of me says, “Go for the cakes and cookie cookbook”, while the healthy side says, “Do it! Go for the scrumptious vegan / gluten-free cookbook!” Ahhhhh… such a toss-up!)

Good luck, eat healthy… but remember that cookies and cakes are good once in a while too =) … and as always …

Be Free!

Note: Want to order these cookbooks? Check out these link on Amazon.com: The Extaordinary Vegan and The Allergy-Free Cook Bakes Cakes & Cookies: Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free

I love Thanksgiving. The turkey, the mashed potatoes, sweet butternut squash, gluten-free stuffing, cranberry sauce and more. But I must admit…  as I am enjoying my feast, I am already secretly concocting and contriving the “Feast of the Day After”… as I like it to be called.

Yes. I know. Some people refer to this meal the day after as “leftovers”  – a word with such a negative vibe. But not to me… Instead the stacked containers in my fridge full of my cleverly planned extra foods are full of promise and potential.

Move over Black Friday… this day should be called the “Feast of the Day After”!

But sometimes my mind goes blank on recipes ideas. That’s why I was more than thrilled when I discovered all the fab-u-lious “Feast of the Day After” recipes that are being featured on the Pacific Foods website. I love that the recipes can be sorted by allergen or special dietary requirements (there are tons of gluten-free recipes). Some of them include Asparagus Risotto (made with Organic Chicken Broth), Rustic Creamy Mushroom and Vegetable Soup (made with Organic Vegetable Broth), Pumpkin Spice Soup (made with Organic Free range Chicken Broth) and Parmesan Delicata Squash Soup (made with Chicken Simply Stock).

And if you think that Pacific Foods is just about broths, stocks and soups, you need to check out their website and see all themagnificent gluten-free products that Pacific Foods offers! Some of my favorites for Thanksgiving, and the “Feast of the Day After” include, Cranberry Sauce,  Mushroom Gravy and Organic Pumpkin Puree. And did you know that Pacific Foods has a gluten-free condensed Cream of Chicken Soup?? Yup… Perfect for casseroles and more!

I also love that Pacific Food’s products contain no preservatives, and the ingredients are things that you can pronounce, and are all natural or organic. Some good stuff.  Their Tetra packaging also makes the products shelf staple – so no refrigeration is needed (until opened, of course).  In a nutshell? Pacfic Foods is just natural and simple goodness.

All of these simply good reasons are why I am so excited that Pacific Natural Foods is the sponsor of this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com.

Two winners will each receive a prize pack containing a variety of Pacific Natural Foods . One (1) of the winners will be randomlyselected from all comments / entries received before Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 11:59 PM (EST), and one(1) more winners will be selected from all comments / entries received between Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 12:00 AM (EST) and Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 11:59 PM (EST).

How Can You Win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us which of the Pacific Natural Food Product looks the best to you – and make sure to sort by the allergen(s) that you are concerned with! (Me? The Rosemary Potato Chowder knocks this New England gal’s socks off… and I love my chowda! And second runner-up is the condensed Cream of Chicken Soup… perfect for casseroles!)

Good luck, be thankful, love those leftovers, and …. as always….

Be Free!

Good Gravy! It’s tough being gluten-free for the holidays. All the baking, the roasts, the turkeys, the fixings… it can leave a gluten-free gal like me wondering when holiday cooking and baking will get easier and more convenient.

Well wonder no more. Thankfully, Club House has recently come out with some gluten-free products to make our holidays… and our lives a heck of a lot easier. Thank you, Club House!

The gluten-free products that Club House has recently come out with are the Brown Gravy, the Turkey Gravy, Rice Flour, Potato Starch and Minute Tapioca. It’s also important to note that Club House, which is McCormick Canada – the largest spice, dry sauce, seasoning extract and specialty food operation in Canada – has become one of the growing number of companies that has become certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Program (GFCP) with the introduction of this line of gluten-free products (which will be available at grocery stores across North America).

I love the new gravy mixes. Why? They taste great, and they help me make my holidays meal prep a lot more simple. Gluten-free folks everywhere can now enjoy gravy on their Thanksgiving turkey or holiday roasts without all the fuss, mixing, whisking and lumps. These gravies also contain no artificial colors and flavors, and have 25% less sodium than the Club House original gravies.

The flours are awesome too. Want to try some chewy and fudgy Gluten-Free Brownies? Then grab a bag of Club House Potato Starch and get baking. How about making some Classic Gluten-Free Shortbread Cookies and packaging them up in a gift basket with an assortment of teas for a thoughtful, yet thrifty, gluten-free gift idea; or for a quick and easy dessert for a weekday (because desserts should not be reserved for special occasions only!) try making some Gluten-Free Tapioca Pudding with Club House’s Minute Tapioca.

The convenience of the Club House gluten free gravy mixes and the ease in baking-up gluten-free classic desserts are why I am so excited and thankful that this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com is sponsored by Club House.

A total of FOUR (Yes… 4!) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a prize pack containing the Club House Gluten-Free Gravy Mixes (both the brown gravy and the gravy for Turkey), Minute Tapioca, Potato Starch and the Rice Flour. This prize pack is bursting at the gluten-free seams with holiday goodness! Two (2) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST; Two (2) more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, November 6 and Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at 11:59. SO make sure that you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us one thing (even the simpliest thing) that you are thankful for. (Me? I am thankful for the happy, cheery and smiling gal that serves me every day at my local coffee shop. Through thick, or thin, her smile is always there!)

Good luck, be mindful of and thankful for those little things… and as always…
Be Free!

This week’s sponsor for the Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com is a new nutritious gluten-free cereal that has made its way into a Whole Food’s Market near you… Erewhon’s Quinoa & Chia Cereal.

Erewhon’s Quinoa & Chia cereal is packed with crispy flakes of organic quinoa and organic brown rice, and then it’s tossed with omega-rich chia seeds and baked to perfection. The result? A crunchy, super-nutritious cereal that is packed with 5 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.

I love that this not-to-sweet, organic cereal is made with only 5 ingredients (organic quinoa, organic brown rice, chia seeds, organic brown rice syrup and salt) and is not only gluten-free, but also free of nuts, dairy and eggs.

Erewhon, which was founded in 1966, has been making gluten-free cereal for years. Their philosophy is “Simple Ingredients. Simply Made” and their SuperGrain cereal line-up (including this new Quinoa & Chia cereal and also the Buckwheat & Hemp cereal) is a perfect example of that philosophy.

I also like that this cereal is non-GMO project verified, something that is important to me, and has been in the spotlight recently. All of the Erewhon’s gluten-free cereals are also certified by GIG (Gluten Intolerance Group).

In other words, you feel healthy and happy about eating this cereal. And what a better way to start off your day?

All these simple, healthy and tasty reasons are why I am so happy to have Erewhon Quinoa & Chia cereal sponsor the next two week’s WIN-It-Wednesdays on BeFreeForMe.com.

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us a simple thing in life that makes you happy. Me? Taking a walk on a crisp New England morning… kicking & rustling the fallen leaves up with my feet … while enjoying the scents and colors that make this time of year so refreshingly perfect!   =)

A total of FOUR (Yes… 4!) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a prize pack containing two boxes of the Erewhon’s SuperGrain Cereals (one box of the Buckwheat & Hemp cereal and another of the Quinoa & Chia cereal). Two (2) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST; Two (2) more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, October 23 and Tuesday, October 29, 2013 at 11:59. SO make sure that you enter to win two times!

Good luck, Keep things simple… and as always…
Be Free!

P.S. If you haven’t done so yet, make sure you download the $1.00 OFF Coupon for a box of Erewhon’s SuperGrain cereal!

Check out the Erewhon’s FaceBook Page and follow them on Twitter for more recipes, tips, savings and more!

Have you ever paged through a cookbook and tagged almost every single page? Have you ever adoringly gazed at the photos of  sweet gluten-free treats? Or have you ever been beside yourself with giddiness on  finding a recipe for a dessert that you once loved but haven’t had in years since you had no idea how to make it gluten-free?

These are the reasons why I was so excited, giddy and mesmerized while paging through the new cookbook from Kyra Bussanich, Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle.

If the name Kyra Bussanich sounds familiar to you it could be because she was the first gluten-free baker to not only appear on – but WIN – the Food Network’s hit Show, Cupcake Wars.

Let’s think about this: Here is a gal that lives the gluten-free lifestyle and bakes gluten-free who is competing  against traditional bakers that use “regular”  flours… and she WINS! Yup… SHE WON!

That means that her gluten-free confections went up against the “real thing” and beat them, hands-down, in the competition. =)

And that only means one thing: Kyra Bussanich’s gluten-free dessert recipes are deliciously awesome and worth trying! And 50 of them are included in this new cookbook. Some of the many that I cannot wait to try include: Apple Crisp, Peanut Butter Truffle Crispy Rice Bars, Cannolizella (yup… gluten-free Cannolis!!!), Linzer Bars, Mexican Chocolate Baked Alaska, and of course, her Boston Cream Pie Cupcakes (and since I’m from Boston, I’m “wicked excited” about trying these!).

All of these sweet reasons are why I am super-excited that Kyra has graciously offered four (yes, 4!) lucky BeFreeForMe dessert lovers a chance to win their very own copy of the Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle cookbook!

Two (2) winner will be randomly selected from all comments / entries received before Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 11:59 PM (EST), and two (2) more winners will be selected from all comments / entries received between Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at 12:00 AM (EST) and Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 11:59 PM (EST).

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us what dessert you miss the most since going gluten free? (Me? CANNOLI’S!)

Good luck, remember to always keep your cravings sweet, your dreams full of gluten-free desserts! … and as always…

Be Free!

Want to purchase the Sweet Cravings: 50 Seductive Desserts for a Gluten-Free Lifestyle cookbook? Check it out here on Amazon.com and save! (As of 09-17-13… Only $12.98 AND free shipping if you place an Amazon order for more than $25. How sweet is that?!)  =)

This Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com  is sponsored by the Musco Family Olive Company and features the newest addition to their family of products: Pearls Olives To Go.

Just in time for back-to-school, these yummy, convenient & gluten-free 4-packs of single-serve olives are a great toss-in addition to lunch boxing, snack time, and before sporting activities.

Each of the single serve cups are full of large California black pitted olives. They are only 40 calories per pack, have an easy peel lid and contain no liquid (Yes… NO liquid!). They are also gluten-free and GMO-Free.

Convenience at your fingertips!

These single-serve packs are also great for the adults too. I love snacking on these mid-day and also while driving between meetings (yup… no water = no spilling!). They are also great as a “side” with my gluten-free sandwiches… who needs fattening potato chips when you can have a side of olives instead!

Healthy yumminess at your fingertips!

And it’s no wonder that Pearls Olives tagline is: “Fun at your fingertips!” Kids (and let’s face it… adults like me too!) can help but be tempted to have “olive fingers” while snacking on these little orbs of goodness. That is why the Musco Family decided to have a contest to discover the best “Olive Fingers” photo. The contest is featured on the Pearls Olive’s Facebook page, so make sure you check out their page for more details!

And lucky for all of us, Pearls Olives has also graciously offered six (yes, 6!) lucky BeFreeForMe olive lovers a chance to win a package of their Olives To Go for this Win-It-Wednesday! Three (3) winner will be randomly selected from all comments / entries received before Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 11:59 PM (EST), and three (3) more winners will be selected from all comments / entries received between Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at 12:00 AM (EST) and Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 11:59 PM (EST).

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us how you (or your family) has fun at your fingertips… is it riding bikes, hiking, having a movie night, playing charades? (Me? A couple of my girlfriends along with gluten-free Chinese take-out equals instant fun for me!)

Good luck, remember to always keep fun at your fingertips and make sure you grasp ahold of it as much as possible! … and as always…

Be Free!

Follow Pearl Olives on Facebook to for more contests, news, updates, and special offers!

Yes… I am coo-coo for cacao. In fact you could dub me a “Super-Chocoholic” since I am one of those people who will find a way to squeeze  some of this superfood’s goodness into my smoothies, snack time and even meal-time too! And if you are a Super-Chocoholic too … this Win-It-Wednesday is for you!

Navitas Naturals, the maker of the finest organic superfoods that increase energy and enhance health, is the sponsor of this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com.

Navitas makes a whole line of superfood products that are certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher, raw and vegan. Some of the products they make are powders for smoothies (can you say “yum” to Pomegranate Powder, Acai Powder or Goji Berry Powder?), dried berries and fruits (you haven’t lived until you’ve tried one of Navitas Dragon Fruit Slices!), trail mixes and snacks.

But, my all-time favorite Navitas products are one’s made with cacao. Cacao (often confused with cocoa) is a pure, raw form of chocolate. And I love it. It is packed with magnesium and one of the world’s best sources of antioxidants. I love the intense, pure chocolate taste of cacao over processed chocolate.

That’s why I am thrilled that for this Win-It-Wednesday, Navitas Naturals has graciously offered the BeFreeForMe Super-Chocoholics a chance to win a super-duper chocolaty prize pack full of their three most popular superfood cacao products: Cacao Nibs, Cacao Powder and the Cacao Goji Power Snacks.

Two (2) lucky BeFreeForMe members will be the winners of this cacao-licious prize pack! One winner will be randomly selected from all comments / entries received before Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at 11:59 PM (EST), and a second winner will be selected from all comments / entries received between Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 12:00 AM (EST) and Tuesday, September 3, 2013 at 11:59 PM (EST).

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us the superfood product that Navitas Naturals makes that looks the best to you (how easy is that?)! Good luck, remember to be super and remember to be strong… and as always…

Be Free!

Follow Navitas on Facebook and Twitter for news, updates, and special offers!

P.S. Navita’s products are also perfect for those that are on the Paleo Diet too.

Sometimes snack time can get so boring. The same-old, same-old day after day. I always try to reach for a healthy afternoon snack – but fruit, veggie sticks, and air-popped popcorn can get so boring.

That is why I loved finding GimMe Roasted Seaweed Snacks.

At first I was shocked to see the words “seaweed” and “snack” together. Don’t get me wrong, I like my seaweed, but historically I have enjoyed it wrapped, rolled and layered around my sushi. But after trying GimMe Seaweed Snacks the words seafood & snacks have been joined together better than peanut butter & jelly or salt & pepper.

Made from seaweed that is grown in an agriculturally protected region of the Yellow Sea, GimMe’s seaweed is gluten-free, USDA certified organic and verified Non GMO. And after checking out the GimMe website I learned that seaweed (which is a vegetable… who would have known?) is loaded with nutritional value and has the highest density of vitamins and minerals of any vegetable on the planet. Good stuff!

The two products that GimMe makes are Roasted Seaweed Crumbles and Sheets. Both are loaded with vitamins and minerals, and are low in calories.

Roasted until nice & crispy, the Crumbles, which come in three tasty flavors (Cheddar Cheese, Sesame and Honey Dijon) are perfect atop a salad, or sprinkled on vegetables or baked fish; while the Sheets (that come in Sea Salt & Sesame) are great for snacking.

All these tasty & healthy reasons are why I am so thrilled that gluten-free GimMe Seaweed Snacks is this Win-It-Wednesday sponsor on BeFreeForMe.com.

A total of two (2) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a prize exclusive for this contest on BeFreeForMe. This prize pack includes a tote-bag packed with an assortment of GimMe Seaweed Snack products.  One winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST, and one more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, August 14 and Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog and let us know which flavor of the Crumbles or Sheets sounds best to you… the Sea Salt, Cheddar Cheese, Sesame, or Honey Dijon.

Good luck, remember to snack on those vegetables (and yes, that does includes seaweed!) … and as always,

Be Free!

Keep in touch and join me in following GimMe Seafood Snacks on Facebook!