Be Free For Me Blog

I love ice cream, but since going gluten-free my ice cream lovin’ life just hasn’t been the same.

There’s something about having to eat an ice cream in a cup. It seems just too proper. I decided it’s the cone that makes the ice cream rip-roaring fun. I miss the drips. I miss the mess. I miss the bottom falling out of the cone. I miss licking as fast I can.

I miss my ice cream cones.

That is why I was so very excited to find Goldbaum’s Gluten Free Ice Cream Cups at my local Stop & Shop supermarket.

They come in a box of 12 cones, wrapped in two separates packs with 6-cones in each. Me? I put one of the 6-packs in my car, for those Dairy Queen type of days, and the other 6-pack in my cupboard for my late night “I Can Eat An Ice Cream Cone So I Am!” type of nights. 

Hurray to Goldbaum’s for making all gluten-free summers a little sweeter… drips and all.

It’s funny how condiments can make a gluten free or allergen free world that much… well, happier! Condiments can make the sometimes ho-hum world of gluten or allergen free living come to life.

This week’s Friday favorite is another old standby for me. Honeycup Mustard is the sunshine in my gluten-free pantry. Plus, the usefulness of this mustard makes it a staple that I can’t live without.

Honeycup Uniquely Sharp Mustard is gluten free, egg free, sesame free, nut free, dairy free, plus kosher. It is perfect smothered over chicken before baking or used as a dip for gluten-free pretzels.

My favorite though is as a topping for deli meat, cheese and veggies that is wrapped in large leaf lettuce. It gives just enough “zip” to turn it into a satisfying and tasty sandwich alternative.

Who needs the bread when a condiment like this can steal the show?

If you want to find out more about this mustard, or order some for yourself, you can find it at their distributor, World Foods or call the folks at Stone County Specialties at (416) 447-9664.

This week’s Friday Favorite is an old stand-by for me. Hormel Turkey Pepperoni are a staple on my shopping list since they are so versatile, and unlimited when it comes to adding flavor to any recipe or quick snack.

Just the right amount of spiciness and tons of flavor, the Hormel Turkey Pepperoni is gluten free and has 70%  less fat than the Hormel original pepperoni – so dig in!

Some of the ways I like to enjoy the turkey pepperoni is in omelets, topped on a salad or pizza, with cheese and gluten free crackers, and as a quick “there’s nothing to eat in the house” dinner by slicing the pepperoni thin and tossing them with gluten free pasta, fresh veggies,  herbs and olive oil.

Another bonus with the Hormel turkey pepperoni is that they are packaged in a keep-it-fresh 8-ounce “Pillow Pack” – which has a convenient resealable zipper. This makes the pepperoni easy to transport to picnics or the beach.

Hormel Turkey Pepperoni has made me think beyond the pizza crust, and discover many ways of enjoying pepperoni! Mangia!

My Friday favorite blog feature is all about sharing. But this week I’m really sharin’ the love.

Sauces n’ Love Pesto is amazing. I stumbled upon this little gem at my local BJ’s Warehouse Club store while shopping for staples and basics. Since that day this pesto has been on my standing-order of BJ’s stock-up supplies.

I hate to sound smug but the reason this pesto is one of my all-time favorites is because it is so darn close to my own handmade pesto. I make my pesto with garden fresh basil, which I painstakingly nurture, grow and water, combined with fresh garlic, pine nuts, fresh grated parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper. Not surprisingly, these are the exact same natural, organic, vegetarian, and gluten, sugar and preservative free ingredients used in the Sauces n’ Love pesto.

I love making my pesto in the summer when my basil plant is the size of a small shrub (if I remember to water it) and ready to be harvested. But when time is at an all time premium, I count on my staple tub of love – Sauces n’ Love pesto.

And if you want to make things really easy, buy yourself a small basil plant and put it on your patio. Get some Sauces n’ Love Pesto, act like you made it yourself, and toss it up with your favorite gluten-free pasta. No one will ever tell the difference… and there’s no watering required.

Grilling time is here. It’s quick, easy and convenient. Plus, I can spend my late evenings in my garden or relaxing on my front porch, instead of scrubbing dirty pans!

But sometimes I want something a bit different for dinner. This is when we fire up the grill and brown up some Johnsonville Bratwursts. The Original Bratwursts are gluten free, and most of the other varieties are too (check under nutrition information on the Johnsonville website for more info on allergens).
Although I eat Johnsonville bratwursts without a bun (I truly believe that a bun takes away from the flavor anyway), I love them with mustard and grilled red & green peppers.

Because of the variety, economics and accessibility of the Johnsonville Bratwursts – you can find them at almost any grocer – they get my Friday Favorite pick for this week. If you are looking for something different to cook up on the grill this season give them a try!