Be Free For Me Blog

I love chocolate. But unfortunately chocolate is one of those things on my “only eat once in a while” list, especially when I am watching what I eat.

That is why I was so excited when NuGo came out with their Slim Bars. These bars that are made with real dark chocolate, have almost no sugar and contain no Maltitol or artificial sweeteners. Diabetic friendly, gluten-free and only 2-grams of sugar (which comes from the real dark chocolate) these bars are delicious and perfect for celiacs and diabetics.

NuGo Slim Bars, which are this week’s Friday Favorite pick on BeFreeForMe.com, are each packed with 15 grams of protein and 9-10 grams of fiber – so they are a perfect mid-day snack. They come in three great flavors – Brownie Crunch (my favorite), Raspberry Truffle and Roasted Peanut.

With NuGo Slim Bars I can have my chocolate… and enjoy every single delicious bite…. Guilt free!

Congrats!

Want to buy NuGo Slim Bars today? Check out this link on Amazon.com and take advantage of the SuperSaver Free Shipping: NuGO Slim Brownie Crunch, 1.59-Ounce (Pack of 12)

Since being diagnosed with celiac disease, I’ve started to appreciate the simple little things in life. I’m not real sure if it has to do with growing-up… getting older, getting wiser… or my actual celiac diagnosis, but I do know one thing: The little things that my family, friends and even strangers do since being diagnosed with celiac disease have really made me slow down, take notice, and appreciate the itty-bitty small things … the things that others don’t have to do… Yet they still do them.

And it’s funny… because when I mention this to others that have celiac disease they nod their heads in genuine agreement. They too have caught the appreciation that comes with the territory.

Not a bad symptom that comes with the diagnosis.

The little things. The simple things. Things like a single gluten-free cupcake bought just for you from the girls at the office; gluten-free articles and recipes clipped from magazines from my sister-in-law to be; my fiancé who doesn’t have a clue how to bake but he makes and decorates my gluten-free birthday cake – his first ever; a funny comic strip about gluten-free living sent in the mail from Mom and Dad; a text from my sister enthusiastically sharing a gluten-free restaurant find.

The list, and my appreciation, goes on.

So this Valentine’s Day I’m keeping things simple. If those in my world keep doing exactly what they’re doing I will continue to be one happy girl. No extravagant dinner reservations, no jewels, no 2-pound boxes of chocolates…and no dozen roses for me.

This Valentine’s Day just keep on giving me the simple things in life.

And thanks to you all, I now take the time to stop and smell the roses in the bouquet of my gluten-free life.

Question: Does anyone else feel the same way about noticing and really appreciating the little things in life? If so… please share!

Thank you Bolthouse Farms for making my resolution of eating a salad, every day, for lunch so much easier… and also for tossing in tastiness too.

Because of Bolthouse Farms, I love lunch. I look forward to my salads.

And if you haven’t seen Bolthouse Farms Yogurt Dressings before you are probably looking in the wrong place. These dressings are found in the produce department. Yup – right above the lettuce, fresh veggies and other salad fixin’s.

All are delicious. All are gluten-free.

The Bolthouse Farms Yogurt Dressings are all between 35 and 45 calories per serving, so they are perfect for pouring, dipping and dressing. They come in a few varieties too: Chunky Blue Cheese, Classic Ranch, Zesty French, Thousand Island, Caesar Parmigiano, Honey Mustard and Salsa Ranch.

So on behalf of my salad, this week’s BeFreeforMe’s Friday favorite goes to Bolthouse Farms Yogurt Dressings. Congrats!

Know how you meet new people and you like them immediately? You feel a connection. You know that you’re both on the same page. Care about the same things. And have the same likes, interests and shared missions?

Well, this is the way I felt about the folks from Green Valley Organics when I met them at a large trade show this past year. This woman owned and operated business had a team at their trade show booth that were passionate about what they do, the products they make and the commitment to their consumer. Consumers like you and me… on gluten-free and/or lactose-free diets.

The product? Lactose-free dairy products. Yes folks, REAL DAIRY products that are lactose-free. Creamy. Rich. Real honest to goodness dairy. Because of this passionate team at Green Valley Organics, everyone that is gluten/ lactose free can now peacefully enjoy… and love… top-notch dairy products.

No wonder Green Valley Organics tag line is “Peace. Love. Dairy.”

All the Green Valley Organic products are also gluten-free, soy-free, kosher and packed with their own proprietary blend of probiotics.  I love that the products are certified humane and organic too.

Green Valley Organics makes a whole line of products including several varieties of yogurt in 6-ounce cups (Honey, Blueberry, Vanilla, Strawberry, Peach their newest flavor, and Plain) and a  24-ounce family size (Honey, Vanilla and Plain), Sour Cream (YES! Lactose Free Sour Cream! Helloooo Baked Potato) and Kefir (which comes in a Plain variety or the new and yummy Blueberry Pom Acai). My favorite yogurt flavor is the Strawberry… Creamy, rich and just sweet enough, I found myself scraping the sides and bottom of the cup for more. It was just that good. But honestly.. the lactose-free sour cream is to die for. The show stopper. It is rich, creamy – the real deal – but free of lactose. Perfect as a dip, or blended into sauces or soups. And with its Creme Fraiche  sweetness, it is also perfect dolloped over fresh berries for breakfast or dessert.

This is why I was thrilled when I found out that this WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeforMe.com was going to be sponsored by the good folks over at Green Valley Organics.

And the prizes are awesome!

A total of FOUR (Yes…4!)  BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win an Insulated eco-friendly tote bag filled with the Green Valley Organics Lactose Free product line of organic yogurts, kefirs and sour cream, a “Peace Love & Dairy” t-shirt and bumper sticker. Two (2) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 11:59 PM EST, and two (2) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, February 15 and Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us what Green Valley Organics product (and flavor) sounds the best to you. How easy is that?

Good luck. Peace. Love. Dairy… and as always,
Be Free!

Note: Want to buy these lactose and gluten-free products? Check out the “Where To Buy” page on the Green Valley Organics Website.

The last couple of weeks have been packed with tons of gluten-free news to muse over… here are a few of the highlights that have come into my inbox:

A new cookbook To View: There’s a new gluten-free cookbook out by Elisabeth Hasselbeck, fellow celiac and co-host of  The View: Deliciously G-Free: Food So Flavorful They’ll Never Believe It’s Gluten-Free. I don’t have a copy of this cookbook yet, but the “look inside this book” option on Amazon.com highlights a comprehensive content page listing breakfasts, appetizers, main courses and dessert sections, along with chapters on organizing a “G-Free” kitchen and “Getting Fit with G-Free”. Looks like it might be worth checking out. Get it on Amazon.com for only $18.00 and eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25.

Pizza in the DC Sky: Check out this great write up on gluten-free pizza being offered at Washington, DC area restaurants. I love the writing style of the author, a gentleman whose wife is gluten-intolerant. This article also lists pizzerias in the DC area that carry gluten-free pizzas. One restaurateur who was interviewed for this article, Fuel Pizza, a North Carolina-based chain that began offering gluten-free crusts two years ago notes “We went from selling 50 [gluten-free pies] a week at eight cafes to selling 300 a week” and continues that offering a gluten-free pizza, “helps our bottom line”.

This is a good article to send to your local pizzeria that you’ve been trying to convince to carry gluten-free pizza.

Are you kidding me? When I read the first line of this article I laughed out loud. Here it is: “The gluten-free diet is not only for people with Celiac disease, but also for people looking to lose weight.” Ahmmmm… the person that wrote this article obviously hasn’t checked out the oodles of gluten-free goodies and snacks that I’ve discovered over the last few years. =) The article continues to say that it is “impossible to eat out” with celiac disease, and the gluten-free diet is “beneficial to everyone”. Arghhh.  Misinformation! I hate reading articles like this!

On the other hand –  here is what Dr. Oz has to say about eating gluten-free to lose weight…
In Part 1 of these videos from the Dr. Oz show that were shown a couple of months back,  Dr. Oz  warns people who believe a  gluten-free is the answer to loosing weight, “Gluten free diets do not help you lose weight,” and continues to say, “They actually can cause you to put on more weight.”

However, in the other parts of this video series I wish that Dr. oz encouraged folks to get tested for celiac disease before tackling  the gluten-free eating challenge.

Forget the Superbowl… Udi’s heads to the Sundance Film Festival
Udi’s Gluten-free bread headed to the Sundance Film Festival this past week to hand out gluten-free goodie bags and to score a touchdown with the celebs at the big event. Udi’s went to the festival to “promote the message that switching to gluten-free foods can be seamless and that those with a gluten intolerance aren’t alone.”

Tips for Hosting an Informal Gluten-Free Dinner Party
Carol Fenster was written up this week in the San Francisco Chronicle in an article that reviews how to host an informal gluten-free dinner party. Some great ideas on keeping the menu basic, having dairy-free as an option too, and remembering to keep things simple… so the hostess can enjoy the gathering too.  Carol Fenster is one of the foremost experts on gluten-free cooking and the author of several popular gluten-free cookbooks including: 125 Gluten-Free Vegetarian Recipes, Gluten-Free Quick & Easy, 1000 Gluten-Free Recipes, Gluten-Free 101, and 100 Best Gluten-Free Recipes. Carol also consults worldwide and speaks frequently at national conferences.

Sometimes days are too busy. So often my morning promise to prepare a recently found recipe for dinner goes by the wayside after car pooling, heavy traffic or work hours that extend oh-so-close to the dinner-hour.

This is when Caesar’s Stuffed Shells with Cheese in Marinara Sauce fits the bill.

This frozen meal, goes from freezer to plate in moments, and offers a generous sized portion, that can be shared along side a fresh garden salad.

Made with fresh, high quality and natural ingredients these stuffed shells are made from rice flour and stuffed with seasoned ricotta, and topped with a flavorful marinara sauce.

Convenience, great taste and busy days are all the reasons this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe goes to Caesar’s Gluten-Free Stuffed Shells with Cheese in Marinara Sauce. Congratulations and mangia!

Want to buy? Check out these links on Amazon.com (Note: One of the links is for the Caesar’s Gluten-Free Stuffed Shells with Cheese in Marinara Sauce,
and the other is for just the gluten-free stuffed shells…. you add your own sauce!)

Caesar’s Pasta Gluten Free Stuffed Shells with Marinara Sauce Entrée

Conte’s Gluten Free Stuffed Shells, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 3)

I love baking. The mixing, the blending, the smell of a good gluten-free goodies baking in the oven. I love to make sweets for myself, and for those in my life…  just because.

After all, cake isn’t just for birthdays. Celebrations should happen daily. Got a “B+” on that math test? Time to celebrate! Mom home from a business-trip after being gone all week? Time to celebrate! It’s the little things in life that are sometimes the most overlooked, yet those that bring the biggest joys into our lives. The kind of joys that put a smile on your face, and a bounce in your step.

And to celebrate these tiny joys, cupcakes made from Pamela’s Cake Mixes are perfect.

I love the convenience of adding just a few ingredients and mixing up a batch of gluten-free cupcakes.  Afterward I frost and decorate each one uniquely… for each special someone in my life. I learned early-on the perfection in decorating doesn’t matter one bit. After all, as the old saying goes… it’s just the frosting on the (yummy, gluten-free) cake… so go nutty-crazy with the frosting & sprinkles.

Celebrating every day wonders and joys are the reasons this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com goes to Pamela’s Cake Mixes. Congratulations…and have fun celebrating!

Want to buy Pamela’s Cake Mixes on Amazon.com? Take advantage of FREE Super Saver shipping. Here are the links:

Pamela’s Products Luscious Chocolate Cake Mix, 21-Ounce Packages (Pack of 6)
Pamela’s Products Classic Vanilla Cake Mix, 21-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6)
Pamela’s Products Vanilla Frosting Mix, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6)
Pamela’s Products Dark Chocolate Frosting Mix, 12-Ounce Bags (Pack of 6)

Chinese New Year was this week, and if you’re like many celiacs and those on a gluten-free diet it’s can be a  bummer not to be able to enjoy a traditional feast with family & friends at your local Chinese restaurant.

So instead of going out to eat this year, plan a Chinese New Year Gluten-Free Celebration at your own house. But where will you find the recipes for your favorite Asian Foods? Dumplings, Crispy Spring Rolls, Mu-Shu Pork, Potstickers, Kung Pao Chicken… and more?

Thanks to Laura B. Russell, everyone on a gluten-free diet can now enjoy these Asian favorites at home, and can find the recipes in her cookbook,  “The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen – Recipes for Noodles, Dumplings, Sauces, & More”. Talk about good fortune!

This cookbook is one of my all-time favorites (this is coming from a gal that has a cookbook library spanning three 6’ long shelves!). Every page of this cookbook features a recipes that “I just have to try” with instructions that are easy to understand, along with basic prep and cooking techniques. I also love the reference section at the front of the cookbook, which has become a go-to while shopping for Asian food ingredients.

Some of my favorite recipes in “The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen – Recipes for Noodles, Dumplings, Sauces, & More” include Gingery Pork Pot Stickers, Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad, Fiery Ginger Sauce, Shrimp & Sweet Potato Tempura Pancakes. All bursting with flavor.  All delicious. All keeper-recipes.  I will make these recipes again, and again, and again. No more bland “Steamed Chicken & Veggies” for me – the only thing I can eat at my local Chinese restaurant.

This is why I was thrilled when I found out that this WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeforMe.com was going to be sponsored once again by Laura B. Russell and “The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen – Recipes for Noodles, Dumplings, Sauces, & More” .

It’s no ancient Chinese secret that Chinese food, as well as Japanese, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese can be jammed packed with gluten and dairy containing ingredients. But Laura B. Russell allows celiacs and dairy-free folks everywhere the chance to enjoy Asian cuisine once again.

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us what Asian dish (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai or Vietnamese) you miss the most since going gluten and/or dairy free. (Me? Potstickers!)

A total of FOUR (Yes… 4!)  BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win the “The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen – Recipes for Noodles, Dumplings, Sauces, & More” Cookbook. Two (2) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:59 PM EST, and two (2) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, February 1 and Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

Good luck, believe in good fortune… and as always,

Be Free!

Order your copy of “The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen Cookbook” on Amazon.com and take advantage of FREE SuperSaver Shipping! Here is the link to order: The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen: Recipes for Noodles, Dumplings, Sauces, and More

With any New Year, resolutions are made and promises are etched in stone. A New Year is a reason to turn over new stones, and is often the best time to try something new… to expand your horizons.

And over the past few years, I have challenged myself to try new recipes and new cooking techniques every Chinese New Year. This year’s Chinese New Year falls on Monday, January 23. So, as you can imagine the wok is getting primed, rice noodles purchased, and ginger, gluten-free soy sauce and other Asian staples stocked.

2012 is the year of the dragon. In the orient, dragons are symbolic of wisdom, knowledge, and the quest to learn more. So what a perfect time to expand your cooking horizons and taste buds, and introduce a little Asian influence into your families gluten-free dinner line up!

In celebration of Chinese New Year, BeFreeForMe will strive to expand your cooking horizons and assist you in taking in a bit more knowledge when it comes to your culinary visions. BeFreeForMe will be featuring some awesome Asian dishes in our Daily Thought emails (like our Warm Asian Noodle Salad and Toasted Sesame Green Beans and Asparagus) and also be featuring one of my favorite gluten-free cookbooks, Laura B. Russell’s, The Gluten Free Asian Cookbook, as the next two week’s Win-It-Wednesday’s sponsor. So make sure you check back next Wednesday to enter to win (and the following week for a second chance entry)!

Welcome back Dumplings, Crispy Spring Rolls, Mu-Shu Pork, Potstickers, Kung Pao Chicken and more! And hello 2012!

This week’s Friday Favorite goes to one of our favorite snacks… Calbee’s SnackSalad Snapea Crisps – a crispy salad treat!

We love these crispy peas that are made into fun to eat snacks because they are tasty… and nutritious.

With no artificial flavors or colors these snow pea-shaped crispy snacks are the perfect way to get your veggies and enjoy them too.

Calbee says that their purpose is in their name. “Salad” means they will bring you the wholesome goodness of the entire fruit or vegetable, and “Snack” means they crafted it to be eaten more enjoyably.

Although we love eating them straight out of the bag, many gluten-free folks I know add them to the top of their dinner salad for a crispy crunch, or as an appetizer dipped in some lemon hummus.

Any way you snack it – these crispy peas are delicious!

All these reasons are why this week’s Friday Favorite goes to Calbee SnackSalad Snapea Crisps. Congrats!

Want to Buy? Check out this deal on Amazon.com with FREE SUPER SAVER SHIPPING! Calbee Snack Salad Snapea Crisps, Original Flavor, 3.3- Ounce Bags (Pack of 12)

Note: Made in a facility that also manufactures products containing wheat, milk, soy, shrimp, and fish.