Be Free For Me Blog

I love simple when it comes to cooking. Simple ingredients. Simple prep. Simple clean-up.

That is why one-dish skillet dishes are always my go-to simple meal. Frontera Seasoning Sauces make meal time quick, easy, ready in minutes and delicious.

These gluten-free Seasoning Sauces by Frontera are lifesavers. Throw in some ground beef, chicken, pork, tofu or veggies… and a delicious meal is ready in minutes. Such a no-brainer after a long-day!

My favorite is the New Mexico Taco Skillet Sauce, but other varieties include Texas Original, Key Lime Cilantro, Garlicky Carnitas… and more.

So simple. Yet so tasty. These are the reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com goes to gluten-free Frontera Seasoning Sauces.

Frontera… A simple congratulations to you!

This week’s Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe is sponsored by a super convenient and super tasty meal solution while on the go… GoPicnic.

Just like the name implies these gluten-free meals are like a picnic on the go!

Most gluten-free folks know that when life gets a tad bit crazy, planning tasty and nutritional meals-on-the-go becomes no picnic. That is why I was so excited when I found GoPicnic, quick and easy meals on-the-go, as a healthy and nutritious snack or meal options.

I love these products. They don’t need any refrigeration, and there’s lots of varieties and options in every “meal kit”. My favorite for lunch is the gluten-free Tuna & Crackers. I love the lemon pepper tuna spread atop the Crunchmaster Multi-Seed Crackers; for a side there’s the all-natural applesauce, followed up by a yummy fruit & nut mix and a dark chocolate square! Perfect for an airplane, road trip, or even for a between -meeting or after-school snack.

Other varieties include: Salmon & Crackers (gluten-free), Hummus & Crackers (gluten-free, vegan, kosher), Turkey Pepperoni & Cheese (gluten-free), Turkey Stick & Crunch (gluten-free), and the Sunbutter & Crackers (free of the 7 common allergens, gluten, and vegan).

Also… don’t think that the convenience of these meals-on-the-go will have you sacrificing taste.  These meals are packed with gourmet delectables that are made for adults (although kids love them too!). Each meal kit is packed with single servings of an assortment of foods that even epicurean foodies will enjoy. Yup, these meals offer gluten-free, vegan or food allergic folks a scrumptious quick and easy lunch or snack.

I always have a few Go Picnic meals kits on hand in my desk drawer, glove compartment, and laptop bag. Because you never know when you’ll need a quick & easy meal in a jiff.

A total of four (4) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a prize pack of two (2) GoPicnic meals. Two winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST, and two more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, February 13 and Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 11:59 PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?
Easy?

Reply to this blog post and tell us when you would need the GoPicnic meals the most (Me? I keep one stashed in my office drawer, for when I need a pick-me-up snack or fast lunch!)

Good Luck, remember that life is a picnic, and as always…
Be Free!

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**  BONUS **

DOUBLE your chances of winning by either Liking GoPicnic on Facebook or Following GoPicnic on Twitter.

Make sure you note in your comment on this blog post that you liked or followed them!

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It’s Super Bowl Sunday! Yes, the big-boy of all football games is finally here. And if you’re like me and my friends we plan to watch the big game while snacking, and snacking, and snacking.

After all, what would the Super Bowl be without eating, right?

So, if you’re looking for a really good gluten-free snack that everyone will love, get yourself some Snyder’s of Hanover Gluten-Free Pretzels. They come in twists and sticks.

These gluten-free pretzels have a buttery and crispy snap. They taste like the real-deal.

Perfect for game-time, or anytime, this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com goes to Snyder’s of Hanover Gluten-Free Pretzels. Congrats!

It is that taxing time of year again, my fellow citizens. That grueling task of tax preparation – and collecting all of those receipts, files, documents and statements.  And every year, without a doubt, I say to myself, “I hope I got everything”.

And if you’re like me – a “love-to-save-in-any-way-possible” type of person – you’ll love the info in this document: “3 Things You Should Know Before Filing for a Gluten-Free Food Tax Deduction”.

This document prepared by The National Foundation of Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is a must read. In fact, not only is it a must read, but it is also a “must forward along” to your accountant or tax preparer to see if you are able to deduct for gluten-free food on your taxes.  And even if you aren’t eligible for the deduction, be a good citizen and forward along to fellow-celiacs that may benefit. =)

Thanks, NFCA for making tax time a bit less… well…. taxing!

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com is awarded to a product that I love oh-so very much. Taza Chocolate.

Everybody loves chocolate. All kinds of chocolate.

But after tasting a piece of really, really, really good chocolate there is nothing that compares. And Taza Chocolate is incomparable to any other chocolate out there. No other chocolate even comes close.

Taza is an indulgent treat for me. I always have a disk (Or two. Or  three.) tucked away. Hidden away. To be able to enjoy a small piece of really, really good chocolate can makes a stressful day a tad bit better. =) Funny how chocolate can do that, huh?

Taza Chocolate comes in some really cool flavors too. Including Ginger, Salt & Pepper, Vanilla, Chipotle Chili and more. All of the Taza chocolate is gluten, dairy and soy free, and made with all natural ingredients, with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives of any kind.

Taza also has a sampler pack that is a great Valentine Day gift for that guy or gal in your life, or even for a sweet little gift for yourself! You can get it on Ebay and take advantage of FREE Super Saving Shipping. Check out the link here: Taza Sampler Pack

All of these wonderful reasons is why Taza Chocolate is this week’s sweet Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com.

Today we have a reason to celebrate! Why, you ask, is this mid-winter hump-day a reason to kick-up our heels and celebrate? Well…  National Peanut Butter Day!

No matter how you like it… chunky, creamy, smeared on gluten-free bread, as a dip with fresh veggies, or eaten right out of the jar… Peanut Butter deserves it’s own day. =) And today, my friends, is that day!

And in honor of this fabulous event, this week’s Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe’s is sponsored once again by one of my all-time favorite bars …. KIND Bars.

Besides celebrating peanut butter being heart healthy, full of protein and high in Potassium, we can also celebrate the family of peanut butter based products offered by Kind Bars; which include…

Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate & Protein Bars: A healthy & satisfying blend of peanuts and antioxidant-rich dark chocolate (Can you say YUM?!)  Each bar contains 7 grams of protein.

Peanut Butter & Strawberry Bars: The best of a PB&J Sandwich… blended right into a bar! This protein packed bar is a blend of rich peanuts and fresh strawberries.

Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters: “Grab-it-by-the-handful” granola-like clusters that’s a protein packed blend of peanuts and whole grains amaranth, quinoa, oats, millet and buckwheat. These delicious clusters provide 5g of protein per serving and are a tasty way to get 16g of whole grains.

As always, KIND bars and clusters are gluten-free, kosher, and are perfect for a  mid-day snack, or a breakfast on the run. Worried about nutrition? All KIND Bars offer the essential nutrients often lacking in gluten free diets including fiber, protein, magnesium and vitamin B12.

So today is a reason to celebrate the humblest of all spreads: Peanut Butter. A sometime overlooked, but healthy and much loved staple in today’s world. I am so thrilled that KIND is this week’s 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 is packed with four (yes… 4!) bars of EACH of the two KIND Peanut Butter flavors – Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate & Protein, and Peanut Butter & Strawberry – for a total of 8 KIND Bars, PLUS two (2) bags of the Peanut Butter Whole Grain Clusters. One winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST, and one more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, January 30 and Tuesday, February 5, 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 your favorite way to enjoy peanut butter… how easy is that! (And if you want…. let us know something kind that someone has shared / done for you lately!)

Good luck, remember to be KIND … and as always,
Be Free!

Keep in touch and join me in following KIND Snacks on Facebook & Twitter!

Nuttin’s better than a nut butter sandwich! Especially when it is made with Justin’s nut butters. Why? Because Justin’s takes PB&J sandwiches to a whole new level on the sandwich grading scale. Justin Nut Butters makes the old stand-by PB&J’s a sandwich you dream about eating.

They make a PB&J a “want-to” sandwich, not a “have-to” sandwich.

And if you think that PB&J sandwiches are just for kids, think again. Justin’s makes nut butters from not only peanuts, but hazelnuts and almonds too. Plus they make yummy flavors. Flavors like Honey Peanut, Chocolate Hazelnut or Maple Almond.

These nut butters are also certified gluten-free, dairy-free and non-GMO and vegan.

All these reasons are why Justin’s Nut Butters are awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Congratulations!

I’ve been sticking to my New Year’s promise to visit my friend Mr. Gym more often, my long lost friend that I missed all through the holidays. But now… now, we’re like old buds once again. Working out day after day. Step after step. Spin after spin. Push-up after push-up.

And when I work out I make sure that I bring along my favorite work-out drink Nuun Active Hydration.

Nuun is an electrolyte enhanced drink tab that I can pop into bottled water for a tasty, drink to keep me hydrated and in tip-top condition during my whole workout. They are the perfect hydration solution for hot yoga classes, spin classes or aerobic activities.

What I love the most about Nuun Active Hydration is that is gluten-free, and has no sugar or carbs. Plus one tab is only 8 calories. My favorite flavors are the Grape, Strawberry Lemonade, Tropical and Fruit Punch,  and  but other flavors include Banana, Orange, Lemon Lime, Kona Cola, Lemon Tea, Tri-Berry, and Citrus Fruit.

Portability, great flavor and hydration, hydration, hydration are all the reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite goes to Nuun – my newest workout companion! Congrats!

Want to get Nuun for yourself? Check out this link on Amazon.com and get FREE Super Saving Shipping!

Nuun Hydration Tablets Mixed 4-Pack (Note: 01/10/13 … Nuun 4-pack  is on sale for $17.99… get ’em when they are still on special!)

One of my favorite dishes at my local Thai restaurant is a nice simmering gluten-free pot of fresh broth, veggies, chicken and rice noodles. Going out to eat and getting this favorite dish has been a real treat for me because it is one dish that I have no idea how to even start to duplicate at home.

But now things have changed.

Thanks to Pacific Natural Foods and their line of  Soup Starters – including Vietnamese-style Pho, Tortilla, and Thai Tom Yum –  I’ve been able to create an even better version of my Thai restaurant favorite… right in my very own kitchen.

I love that Pacific Natural Foods has created Soup Starters…  a quick and easy short-cut to once mysterious dishes. No searching for hard-to-find ethnic ingredients and no simmering on the stove for hours. These organic, gluten-free and non-GMO Soup Starters do all the leg work for you – and get you started in creating fast and easy restaurant favorites from scratch.

Today for lunch I created my very own customized Tom Yum Soup for one. It took just 20 minutes to make from start to finish. Pacific Soup Starters also have a resealable container that allows you to use just the amount needed and refrigerate the rest for another meal. No waste. No fuss.

I customized this sweet and spicy soup full of ingredients I love: Grilled chicken cooked up in some Sweet Red Chili Sauce, Vermicelli Rice Noodles, water chestnuts, pea pods and bell peppers – all simmered in the Tom Yum soup base and topped with chopped cilantro and green onions. I t was yummy… AND low-calorie!  For the recipe click here.

By now you all can tell how excited I am that Pacific Natural Foods is this WIN-It-Wednesday’s sponsor! =)

A total of four (4) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a prize pack that includes one of each of the three varieties of the Soup Starters: Tom Yum, Tortilla, and Pho. Two winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST, and two more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, January 16 and Tuesday, January 22, 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 Pacific Natural Foods Soup Starter sounds the best to you, and if you want…. let us know what ingredients you would use to customize your very own soup pot.

Good luck, remember that sometimes it takes just a little push to get started… and as always,
Be Free!

Keep in touch and join me in following Pacific Natural Foods on Facebook and Twitter!

If you’re a cheese lover like me… but are trying to cut back on calories and fat… you need to try Cabot Cheese’s 50% Reduced Fat Cheddar Cheeses.

And the best part? Cabot Cheese is gluten-free and naturally lactose-free too!

With 70 calories or less per 1-ounce serving this is the perfect protein-packed snack. I love the 50% Reduced Fat Jalapeno Cheddar since it packs a bit of a punch. I love it for snacking and also thin sliced on a turkey and avocado sandwich. Other varieties of the Cabot Reduced Fat Cheddars include Sharp Light (50% reduced fat), Sharp Extra-Light (75% reduced fat) and the Pepper Jack Light (50% reduced fat).

Lower calories without sacrificing flavor are the reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com goes to Cabot Cheese! Congratulations!