Be Free For Me Blog

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!

I like things simple… pure… natural… and no fuss. That is why I was thrilled to find the new Fruit Bars at my local Trader Joe’s.

Made with just fruit (my favorite the Apple & Mango has just that as ingredients… JUST apples and mangoes) these bars are not only gluten-free, but vegan and raw. They also have no additives, no preservatives, no synthetic colors or artificial flavors.

The other yummy flavors they come in are: Apple & Banana, Apple & Coconut, and Apple & Strawberry.

Best yet… they are only .99 cents per bar!

It’s kinda hard to lug around apples and mangoes in my teeny-tiny purse, so these Fruit Bars do the trick and let me have my fruits – and purse space too! Packed with 2-3 grams of fiber and only 90 calories per bar these are the perfect choice for BeFreeForMe’s Friday Favorite! Congratulations!

For this week’s Friday Favorite, we’re going to spice things up a bit! And that spice is organic, gluten free, salt free and non-GMO.

Say hello to Engage Organics Spice Blends! I love that these spice blends are SALT free, as well as gluten-free, since salt-free spice blends that are also gluten-free are very hard to find!

Engage Organics makes a whole bunch of  spice blends that are super-tasty and will put a zip into any and all of your gluten-free dishes. The flavors they have are unique and flavorsome. They include: It’s-A-Dilly (great on fish dishes and blended as a dip); Garlicsaltless (one ½ a teaspoon is worth a clove of garlic!); All Purpose (great on everything!); Go-Grill-A-Rub (perfect for grill-masters); Lemon-Pepper (my favorite on chicken); Mexi-Mix (great for tacos, nachos and more); Sweet Cinn (LOVE this sprinkled on top of my gluten-free muffins before baking!); and the Tuscan-Mix (which is scrumptious blended with olive oil for dipping your gluten-free bread).

All fabulous varieties, all gluten-free and all SALT free! For these reasons Engage Organics is awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com! Cheers!

I found a new snack! And I’m in love! Fresh cut fruit, slathered with Bonelli’s Fine Foods Simply Sesame spreads.

As simple as it sounds these spreads give your fruit an extra special kick that gives you (or your kids!) a reason to get excited about fruit!

The flavors that the Bonelli’s Sesame Spreads come in are awesome too: Pure Roasted Sesame, for the pure taste of sesame; Vanilla with Almond Bits, for a sweetness and crunch that makes a banana and apples extra special; Pistachio with a Hint of Cardamom, that is fantastic generously smeared over pear slices; and last, the Sugar-Free variety, for those that are watching their sugar intake.

These spreads are all gluten-free, all natural, vegan, have no preservatives or additives, no Trans Fat or cholesterol. They are also peanut free.

For all these delicious reasons Bonelli’s Simply Sesame has been awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeFore.com. Congratulations!

Want to buy on Amazon? Check out the link to Simply Sesame products here!

Back to school is here! And those lunches are being packed once again.

Along with the sandwiches, fruit, vegetables and snacks, sometimes a cookie is just what it takes to make a lunch box packed ever so sweet.

I discovered Nana’s Cookies earlier this year while at a trade show in California and I’ve been hooked ever since. I have always been a fan of Nana’s and have written a couple of blog posts in the past about their amazing Cookie Bars. So, I was more than thrilled to discover that they had a variety of delicious traditional gluten-free cookies too. The flavors are Chocolate, Chocolate Crunch, Ginger, and Lemon. All are delicious and worthy of a special lunchbox treat.

And best yet… all of Nana’s Gluten-Free Cookies are also free of corn, soy, dairy, eggs and casein.

All of these delicious reasons are why Nana’s Gluten-Free Cookies are awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Congratulations!

Dip into the goodness of this week’s Friday Favorite!

I love my chips, salsa and guacamole, but sometimes I just don’t have time to make my own guacamole. That is why I was so excited to find Calavo Guacamole…  it’s fresh homemade taste will have you reaching to buy a tray every time you shop.

I love  the creaminess (incorporated with chunks of fresh avocado!) and the just-enough spice of the Calavo guacamoles. They are made with fresh ingredients including 100% Hass avocados, and other ingredients such as onion, garlic, jalapeno peppers, tomatillo, serrano peppers and cilantro – depending on the variety of guacamole.

Found in refrigerated producet section of your supermarket, there are  no preservatives in the guacamole, and of course, they are gluten-free.

Congrats to Calavo Guacamole for being this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com! Break open a bag of chips and dip right in!

P.S. Want updates, news, deals, and recipes? Follow Calavo on Facebook and Twitter!

It’s summertime, and it seems that every day I have at least one salad as a main course meal. But sometimes vegetables tossed with ho-hum dressing  is just so boring. That’s why I was so excited and couldn’t wait to try the Terrapin Ridge Farms gluten-free salad dressings & marinades (with awesome flavors!) that I found in my local grocery store today.

The flavors of Terrapin Ridge Dressings are pure joy: Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette; Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing; Creamy Italian White Balsamic Vinaigrette; Sweet Red Onion White Balsamic Dressing; Tangerine & Soy Gourmet Salad Dressing; and my favorite,  Toasted Sesame & Ginger Vinaigrette.

The dressings I listed are all gluten-free, and many are vegan, fat free and sweetened with agave. They are also perfect for marinades, dips and pasta salad mix-ins. I love that the ingredients are all items you can pronounce and these dressings do not contain any corn syrup. For all of these healthy and flavorful reasons this week’s Friday favorite is awarded to Terrapin Ridge Farms! Congratulations!

If you love to bake, but hate the mixing and blending of different gluten-free flours, starches, and gums you need to check out Pamela’s Artisan Flour Blend.

This flour blend is all-purpose flour that you can substitute for “regular” flours cup-for-cup. This means that you can bake that traditional family favorite recipe that you loved before going gluten-free with no worries.

Pamela’s Artisan Flour Blend is also not only certified gluten-free, but also dairy-free too.

No mixing, no fussing and the ability to substitute this gluten-free flour mix cup-for-cup is why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Pamela’s for their fabulous Artisan Flour Blend.

Congratulations!

Want to try Pamela’s Artisan Blend Flour? Get it on Amazon.com! It’s only $11.37 for a 4-pound bag (as of 5-29-14) and qualifies for FREE Shipping on orders over $35!

This week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Spiru-Tein Gold, a great tasting high protein meal replacement that I have been counting on for years.

After working out in the morning, I love to blend-up a spoonful or two of Spiru-Tein Gold with some coconut or almond milk, and sometimes even some fresh fruit. With 12 grams of complete protein, Spiru-Tein Gold gives you the much needed energy replacement that your body needs right after a workout.

Spiru-Tein Gold is gluten-free, sugar free and soy free. It is also non-GMO, vegetarian and the protein is derived from whole food sources: chia, rice, pea and flax.

I love the way that Spiu-Tein tastes too. The flavors are great. My favorite is the Banana Berry Blast, but other flavors include Chocolate Cherry, Tropical Fruit, Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry.

This week’s Friday Favorite gives the energy I need, any time of day. Congratulations for Spiru-Tein Gold!

If you love fruits, but you’re looking for a portable and compact way to bring them wherever and whenever  you go, you need to check out Stoneridge Orchards.

Stoneridge Orchards features dried fruits that are wholesome and delicious. They are grown by third-generation family farmers in Washington State.

Their items are gluten-free and also have no artificial colors or flavors, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup or sulfites.

My favorite is the Montmorency Cherries, but other varieties are Sliced Peaches, Raspberries, Pomegranate & Berries Blend, Blueberries, Strawberries and Berry Blends.

Providing fun, convenient and portable ways to enjoy fruit on the go are the reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite is awarded to Stoneridge Orchards. Congratulations!

P.S. Check out the recipes on the Stoneridge Orchards website… so delicious!