Be Free For Me Blog

For many a donut may be a go-to breakfast. But for a lot of celiacs, including myself, Van’s waffles are the go-to breakfast staple of choice. Made of whole grains, flavored with fruit juice, full of flavor, and light & fluffy Van’s are a sure hit with kids and adults alike.

What I love the most about Van’s is the way they think beyond the basic waffle by offering tons of gluten-free varieties. Any waffle house would be jealous of their line-up.

Blueberry, Apple Cinnamon, Buckwheat, the basic Totally Natural, Flax and the kid-sized (or for me, snack-sized) Minis please anyone on a gluten-free diet. Important to note is that all these waffles are dairy & egg free too.

My favorite? The Totally Natural waffle smeared with a healthy glob of fresh blueberry preserves. To me this breakfast is my delicious, healthy and of course, gluten-free substitute to a not-so- missed jelly donut.

When I first saw these crackers my first thought was, “What the heck is a tellicherry?”

Well, my friends, according to spicehouse.com tellicherries, which come from the Malabar Coast of India, are whole extra-large black peppercorns that are left on the vine longer so they develop a deep, rich flavor. They are also considered the finest pepper in the world.

These tellicherrries (I just love that word!) are most definitely what gives the R.W. Garcia 5 Seed Crackers, there flavorful punch.

Made of organic corn, and certified not to contain any GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms) or trans-fats these spicy little crunchy gluten-free crackers will surprise your taste-buds and tackle your senses. Whoever said gluten-free eating was bland, has not tried these crackers yet.

And at 140 calories per serving, I can eat them for a crunchy side with a salad or by the handful for a snack.

Give them a try, and give your taste buds a peppery and flavorful treat!

This week’s Friday Favorite goes to a product that is SO tasty, yet SO free of the things that many of us can’t eat!

SO Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt is just what the name says… yogurt made out of Coconut Milk. Besides being delicious and certified gluten-free it is also dairy, lactose, soy, cholesterol & Trans fat free. Plus, as an added bonus it is vegan and contains pre- and probiotics – perfect for digestive health.

I tried So Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt in the vanilla flavor and just loved it. It was creamy, dreamy, and just a perfect substitute for regular yogurt in the morning. But don’t let me mislead… this yogurt could also easily become one of my go-to mid-afternoon snacks or decadent desserts. It also comes in Blueberry and Passionate Mango flavors too.  I can’t wait to try those next.

The SO Delicious Coconut Milk Yogurt is this week’s BeFreeForMe Friday Favorite for being so wonderfully tasty, creamy and dee-licious without all the allergens! Cheers!

I love Kame Rice Crackers since they’re so very versatile.

They seem to work with everything… from sweet to savory. I even have my non-gluten free friends hooked on these crackers.

I love them as a part of a quick mini-meal-on-the-go or a quick snack. Spread them with peanut butter, dip them in hummus, slather them with fresh preserves or use them as a scoop for fresh salsa. Breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks – Kame Rice Crackers fits the bill.

I also like the way these crackers note right on the package that they are gluten-free. I have been fooled many times into almost buying other brands of rice crackers thinking that they have to be gluten-free… after all they are Rice Crackers? Right? Wrong! Examine some of these other brand’s labels a bit closer, and you’ll see that often time one of the ingredients is WHEAT! Ughh!

Kame Rice Crackers comes in many flavors including Original, Sesame, Seaweed and my new favorite… Wasabi!

Not being fooled, duped or tricked into eating gluten; having a gluten-free cracker I can count and a crispy, great taste are all the wonderful reasons why Kame Rice Crackers are this weeks Friday Favorite!

I love it when I find those little jewels that I can’t live without at Whole Foods. And just last week sittin’ all pretty on the deli cheese case shelves I found Ciolo Spreads.

I purchased a package of the Jalapeno Pimento Cheese Spread with the excitement of spreading it on my gluten-free bread topped high with smoked turkey and fresh veggies from the garden.

But once I opened the package, I realized that this spread is just not for spreading. This dip is also great for dipping, smothering, coating, finishing, sandwiching and smearing on anything & everything that that is edible.

Along with the Pimento Cheese Varieties, they also offer Tapenades (with flavors such as Mediterranean, Lemon Artichoke and Kalamata), Pesto (these all sound so good… Sundried Tomato, Artichoke, and even a Jalapeno Pecan Pesto!), and cream cheeses (including sweet varieties such as Pumpkin, Cranberry Nut, Pomegranate and Apricot Pecan; as well as savory cream cheese flavors like Martini Olive, Garlic Basil Blast, and Artichoke Parmesan).

These items are all gluten-free.

For more info check out the Ciolo Foods website, and join me as a Fan of theirs on Facebook!

Yes that’s right… you read the heading correctly! Gluteen-Free Burritos!

I tried these a while back at a trade show and was mesmerized at the thought of actually eating a burrito once again. In fact, I circled my way back to the GlutenFreeda Booth a number of times to get more samples of these burritos, since they are THAT good!

These burritos come in 4 glutenfree-licious varieties: Vegetable Bean and Cheese; Breakfast Beef; Non-Dairy Vegetarian and Chicken & Cheese.

The best part about these burritos is that they are perfect for a quick little meal. My favorite, the Chicken & Cheese, has only 227 calories and 9 grams of protein. Plus, they are made with all natural and organic ingredients; and manufactured in a dedicated gluten-free facility. And did I mention that they can be microwaved right in their own wrapper, and are ready in mere minutes?

All of these reasons, and mucho more, are why GlutenFreeda’s Gluten-free Burritos are this week’s BeFreeForMe’s Friday Favorite!

This time of year when the weather is hot, and the afternoons get lazy, I like to grab a glass of fresh-brewed, chilled and iced tea.

But sometimes, my days get crazy and I don’t have the time to brew a pitcher early in the morning to have it chilled and ready-to-pour when my afternoon break time rolls around.

That is why I am so glad I discovered Pacific Natural Foods Simply Tea, a convenient tea that is clean, crisp and ready to be poured.

The best part about Pacific Natural Foods Simply Tea is that it tastes just like the real fresh brewed tea I make myself. Plus it is organic, and is from Fair Trade Certified green tea. A great source of antioxidants, this tea comes in five great gluten-free flavors: Unsweetened, Peach, Kiwi Mango, Wild Berry, and Tangerine. Normally, I would reach for the unsweetened tea, but in my favorite is the Peach – which tastes like fresh brewed tea with a hint of juicy garden fresh peaches.

I also like that the Simply Tea comes in an eco-friendly aseptic packaging that doesn’t need to be refrigerated until opening. Plus, it locks out air and light for added freshness. This way, just in case you don’t drink this refreshing tea all in one sitting, you’ll always get a more flavorful, fresher tasting tea.

Fresh, full-of-flavor, and just like real home-brewed, but without the hassle, are all the reasons why Pacific Natural Foods Simply Tea is BeFreeForMe’s Friday Favorite.

I heard the buzz start several months ago. People were chatting, blogging and spreading gluten-free love about the most unbelievable bread they have ever tasted. I thought that it was just hype, gluten-free hysteria gone viral. In the back of my mind, I thought, “Really Folks…. Come on, R-E-A-L-L-Y?  How can gluten-free bread taste JUST like the real deal?”

But after trying Udi’s White Sandwich bread it was love at first slice.

Udi’s not only taste different than other gluten-free breads, it looks and feels different than other gluten-free breads too. Why, you ask, is Udi’s different than other gluten-free breads? Let me list some of the ways:

It can not be confused with a cinder block: The first think I noticed is the weight of a loaf of Udi’s bread. It’s light as air and picking it up doesn’t take two hands, and more muscle than one can muster… or is worth. 

Udi’s gluten-free bread is dairy, nut and soy free too: Great for everyone with multiple allergies.

Light, fluffy texture: This is the most important pointer in this list. The texture is like real white bread, soft and airy. Use it for sandwiches, French Toast or butter and jam. The list is endless – which brings up the next point…

Perfect for dipping into herbed olive oil: I miss bread that is capable of dipping into and soaking up perfectly herbed good quality olive oil. Thank you Udi for giving me back this simple pleasure.

No Defrosting: With Udi’s planning to have a piece of toast in the morning or a quick sandwich mid-day doesn’t require defrosting bread the night before. With Udi’s you take the loaf out of the freezer and easily pop-off (no chiseling off each slice with a knife) the bread slices. Place them on the counter for only about 5 minutes for a perfect piece of fresh bread. Simple.

Toasts-up perfect: Udi’s bread toasts-up even and light brown, and keeps soft in the middle. Toasting perfection.

The heels are even good: Yup. I even eat the heels of Udi’s gluten-free breads. Toasting them up and adding a smear of peanut butter is a perfect snack. Enjoying the heels of any loaf of bread is the ultimate compliment, and a reminder to buy two loaves next time instead of one. 

All these reasons are why Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread is this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Give Udi’s a try and you’ll see for yourself, why you’ll be hooked after the first slice too.

Sometimes you just feel like a little cookie. Just a little bit of something to satisfy your sweet tooth.

That’s when I reach for a Orgran Dinosaur Whole Fruit Cookies.

Packed with 25%  fruit, these vegan gluten-free cookies also contain no cane sugar and have less than 5% fat content. They are also free of nuts, soy, egg, yeast and dairy.

These fun little fruit-packed Orgran gluten-free cookies are BeFreeForMe’s Friday Favorite because they are small enough for little hands, but satisfying enough for the big kids.

Trust me… these cookies will never become extinct from your families favorites list.

Now on SALE at Amazon.com: Buy some now! Orgran Dinosaur Wholefruit Cookies, Wildbery Flavour, (8 pack) 6.2-Ounce Boxes

The buttery and sweet shortbread cookie is a cookie that I love.

That’s why I was so excited to find Orgran’s Premium Shortbread Hearts. Petite and fittingly heart-shaped, these gluten and dairy free cookies taste every bit as good as the shortbread cookies I remember prior to going gluten-free.

These traditional shortbread biscuit cookies are made without the butter and gluten of traditional shortbread cookies, but you won’t even miss it. Plus, besides being gluten and dairy free these cookies are also vegetarian, and casein-free.

The Orgran Shortbread Hearts receive this week’s Friday Favorite honor since they are just so lovable. Made for sharing with a friend, over a fresh brewed pot of tea, enjoy these heart-shaped cookies over some good conversation and company. Sweet.

Want to try some Orgran’s Shortbread Hearts? Check them out on Amazon.com:
Orgran Shortbread Hearts, 5.2-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 7)