Be Free For Me Blog

Even when I am a little bad – I try to throw in a little goodness too. Kind of like that devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other scenario that often plays out in my mind when I reach out to eat the sweet and sinful.

But as the old saying goes, “the good usually always wins-out in the end” especially rings true when munching an Angell Crisp Candy Bar.

I like the crispy Angell Candy Bars because they make decadent snacking a very, very, very good thing.

At only 170 calories per bar, these USDA organic and Fair-Trade certified,  gluten free & kosher-free crispy candy bars contain no corn syrup, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. And if that isn’t good enough – 1% of gross sales support environmental charities through 1% for the Planet.

Since I discovered Angell Crisp Candy Bars at a recent tradeshow I’ve been hooked. I have missed crispy candy bars since going gluten free, so Angell Bars were heaven at first bite.

The founders of Angell bars, Christopher and Suzanne Angell are super cool people too. These entrepreneurs-at-heart started their company because they wanted to create a great tasting organic candy bar that was healthier for you and better for the planet.

Christopher and Suzanne also know that it is hard to give up old habits, especially delicious ones, so they decided that instead of giving up candy bars, they’d just create ones that had all of the deliciousness of their old favorites (maybe even a little bit extra) but none of the guilt (or gluten in the Crispy Bars!).

And take my word for it that they have met their heaven sent dream… made with real chocolate and great organic ingredients, Angell bars are naturally good and divinely delicious!

Guilty goodness is the reason why I am so very excited this week’s BeFreeForMe’s WIN-It-Wednesday is sponsored by Angell Bars… and JUST in time for back to school snacking!

Four (yes 4!) LUCKY BeFreeForMe members will each win a gift-pack of Angell Crisp Candy Bars. Two (2) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST, and two (2) more winners will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, September 14 and Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog (make sure you are a BeFreeForMe member if you want to win) and let us know how you (or your kids) can be a little devil or a little angel… or both!  (Me? I’m a little devilish when I sneak healthy ingredients such as flax seed into my baked goods… I am so sneaky!)

Good luck, remember to be that angel, but keep that sassy devilish side and… as always…

Be Free!

NOTE: Want to order your own Angell Crispy Candy bars? Click on this link to purchase them on Amazon.com Angell Crisp Organic Candy Bar 12-Pack

I blame it all on Hurricane Irene. It started when we started dragging out of the closet all the old board games that have gone unnoticed & ignored since the coolest thing to hit the TV set besides “Happy Days” was Pong.

Life, Scrabble, Monopoly, Sorry, Clue and more… the list goes on.

And over the course of being cooped-up inside playing non-stop board games of yesteryear while a feverish hurricane tossed about trees and downed power lines outside, my mind started wandering and I started to draw uncanny similarities between my gluten-free life and board games.

Crazy, slightly silly, but true…. each of these forgotten board games mysteriously has given me a clue… a lesson… or even a laugh… that has made me the person I am today. Is it possible that Colonel Mustard, a land full of candy and a tiny plastic car full of pink and blue people pegs could somehow relate to life as a celiac? Read on…

Scrabble: C-E-L-I-A-C.  What? Is that a word? You have what? What does it mean? Since being diagnosed with celiac I’ve had to spell it, explain it, defend it and enlighten those that ask more times that I can count. By the way, for those of you wondering… the Scrabble word count on CELIAC is 10 points.

Clue: What a fitting name… Clue. Who knew? Who had a clue? Trying to figure out you have celiac disease is no game, but for many it takes a lot of detective work and savvy doctors to find out the diagnosis. I decided that if there was ever a celiac version of Clue the mystery would be solved by determining that the weapon of choice was whole wheat bagels, pizzas, or donuts.

Life: Ahhhh. If Life was only as simple as choosing a profession, spouse and kids… spinning the wheel and seeing where you’re headed next. This game teaches us that things unexpected can happen. Things you don’t plan for – but always, yes always, make the best of. I guess that’s life.

Monopoly: Let’s face it. Monopoly is all about the cash. As cute as it is spanning the circumference of the board as a thimble, iron, shoe or Scottie dog the object of the game is to get the cash to pay for the things life tosses your way. Yup… things like gluten-free food!

Candyland: This game is all about those tempting treats that are so very hard to resist. But through the Candy Cane Forests and Gum Drop Mountains of life, it actually is pretty easy to find the sweeter side of living gluten-free. Gluten-free cupcakes, pretzels or cookies anyone?

Chutes & Ladders: This game teaches the basics of living gluten-free: Cheat just a little and eat something with gluten in it and you’ll spiral on the chute downward; but eat healthy, eat well, and you will climb the ladder of health. Simple game… simple truths.

Do you have a favorite board game? Has it taught you anything  related to your gluten-free lifestyle?

Although the tag line for Little Duck Organics  is “Tiny Organic Snacks For Tiny Fingers” I and everyone else here at the BeFreeForMe.com offices decided that “big fingers” can call these organic snacks a favorite too!

Little Duck Organics makes organic tiny fruit snacks that contain no preservatives or additives, are gluten-free and NON-GMO project certified and are perfect for little ones fingers to pick up and also eat, since they’ll dissolve quickly in a toddler’s mouth.

These tiny little bites of freeze-dried fruit are tasty and fun. And even though they are made for kids, all the “big kids” here at the BeFreeForMe offices loved them for snacking too.

Available in three delicious flavor combos, including Apple-Banana, Blueberry-Apple and Strawberry-Mango this 13 calorie per serving snack has become one of our recent favorite afternoon pick-me-ups…. As well as this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Congratulations!

Want to Buy? Check out Little Duck Organics on Amazon.com:Little Duck Organics Strawberry Mango Freeze Dried Fruit, 1-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 12)

I haven’t always been 100% pleased with the advice that Dear Abby gives her readers regarding food allergies, celiac disease, food intolerances, and the like (See one of my past blog post here for an example).

But as I was reading my morning paper (yes… the good old fashioned kind delivered right to my door every day!)  this past week, I was thrilled that good ‘ole Dear Abby gave some advice that was right on target for those of us with celiac disease, gluten-intolerance of other food allergies / intolerances.

Yeah, Abby! Here it is:

Dear Abby:

As a former paramedic and also a food allergy sufferer, I’m acutely aware of the problems caused by this condition. Food allergies vary widely and are not limited to common ones — nuts, shellfish, gluten or strawberries. We know what we are allergic to, and we do our best to avoid those foods.
Sometimes it’s difficult to tell what’s in some tasty-looking dishes at potluck gatherings. An ingredient may be used only for seasoning, but sometimes just a trace of it is all it takes to trigger a reaction. That’s why I have established a practice that has always been well-received. I print out a card to attach to the dish I brought. On it I name the dish and list the ingredients.

I hope you’ll find this suggestion helpful enough to pass along. It could save a life.

Joe in Janesville, Minnesota

And Dear Abby’s reply:

Dear Joe:

You’re right; it could — and that’s why I’m printing it. I met a widow whose husband suffered an allergic reaction and died at a dinner party, despite the frantic efforts of several physicians who were also in attendance. Forewarned is forearmed.

Right on Dear Abby! Thanks for printing a column with some good, solid, useable and real life advice. But on top of her advice, I also have some of my own thoughts to add:

–    Include not only the ingredient – but the brand: Often times a certain brand of a product may carry a certain allergen, when another does not. Did you use Hellmann’s Mayonnaise in your potato salad? Was it Yoplait yogurt used in your spinach dip? Make note of them!

–    If you have the ingredient labels of the products you used bring those along too! Although many people now have smart phones and can quickly look up ingredients of most manufacturers brands in a heart-beat, bringing the labels often times would be a time-saver and well-appreciated! Note: For those of you with smart phones and you need a quick look-up of product ingredients, try this website out: Foodfacts.com

–    Write up extra recipe cards: Why just bring one card listing all the ingredients in your dish? Bring a bundle – since your dish will be the hit of the party – and everyone will want the recipes to make themselves!

Want to let Dear Abby know that you appreciate her advice? Or give her your own thoughts on this column? You can email her here.

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe goes to The Really Great Food Company. In particular, their ever-so-delicious Lemon Poppy Cake Mix.

This mix bakes up a moist and soft… like homemade. This is the kind of cake that you can bake-up, serve and  have the non-gluten-free eaters ask for seconds too.

The Really Great Food Company Baking Mixes are not only gluten-free, but also nut-free, casein-free, dairy-free and soy-free. They are made in a gluten and nut-free facility as well.

This cake is a perfect dessert or served at any brunch. Top it  with a lemon glaze or fresh strawberries and you can make it “your own” and extra-scrumptiously delicious.

Where to buy, you ask? This gluten-free Lemon Poppy Cake Mix can be brought on The Really Great Food website, or in a store near you.

Free of many common allergens, convenient and delicious are the reasons this week’s BeFreeForMe Friday Favorite is awarded to The Really Great Food Company Baking Mixes. Congratulations!

This week’s WIN-It-Wednesday is one of my go-to, quick & healthy snacks on the run  …  Vermont Smoke and Cure RealSticks. These snacking sticks, that need no refrigeration, are made with naturally grown meats without antibiotics or added hormones, and also contain NO preservatives or nitrates.

With 50% less fat and 45% less salt than the “Slim” convenient store snack stick (and please? How ironic is it that the word “Slim” is even in the name?) you can feel good about eating RealSticks.

RealSticks have been a favorite snack of mine for awhile. But I’m not the only one raving about this healthy snack… just a couple of weeks ago RealSticks were listed on Yahoo’s “13 Healthiest Snacks”.

Slim Jim vs. RealSticks? No question about it… RealSticks has it ALL… fantastic real flavor from natural spices, naturally grown meats without antibiotics or added hormones, and also NO preservatives or nitrates. PLUS… they are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free and MSG-free!

My favorite is the BBQ RealStick that offers just the right amount of sweetness with a touch of hot pepper heat. But the Cracked Pepper RealSticks are equally as good, delivering a big, peppery flavor. Both are seasoned with real spices and contain no preservatives or nitrates.

All these reasons are why I was thrilled when Vermont Smoke and Cure contacted me about being the sponsor of  the next two week’s  WIN-It-Wednesdays on BeFreeForMe.com!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us what you do to keep things “real” in your world (spending time with your kids, day-trips with your sweetie, gardens, daily exercise… you name it… anything goes!)

A total of TWO (Yes… 2!)  BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a RealStick Sampler, packed with 12 RealSticks (6 Barbeque and 6 Cracked Pepper). One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, August 31 and Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

Good luck, Keep it real… and as always,
Be Free!

Savings Alert! ORDER NOW AND SAVE! Want to order Vermont Smoke & Cure products? Then take advantage of 10% OFF ALL ORDERS until 09/30/11 by using coupon code GF11 and discover RealSticks for yourself. This offer is good for ALL products on the Vermont Smoke and Cure website… so also make sure to check out their summer sausage, smoked pepperoni (delicious!), and also the ham and bacon.

I’m all for a big juicy burger straight from the grill, but recently I’ve been trying to eat meat-free at least a few times a week. The question is what is a burger-loving gluten-free gal to cook up?

Sunshine Veggie Burgers to the rescue!

I’ve found that most veggie burgers are packed with gluten. But Sunshine Veggie Burgers are free of gluten, and also contain no soy. Sunshine Burgers also contain sunflower seeds and Lundberg Family Farms brown rice.

My favorite Sunshine Burger is the Southwest variety, but they also come in Original, Garden Herb and Barbecue varieties too. I haven’t checked them out yet, but Sunshine Burger also makes a Falafel and a Breakfast patty as well.

No Meat and No Gluten – but tons of flavor are the reasons why this week Friday Favorite is presented to Sunshine Burgers.

Shine on!

Believe it or not, summer is almost over and whether that makes you sad or glad, it’s the time of year to start planning for back-to-school.

And if you have a child with celiac disease (or a food allergy) you have even more to anticipate, plan for… and often times worry about.

That’s why I wanted to pass along to all BeFreeForMe.com members a special back-to-School webinar that is being sponsored by the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA): Importance of School Nurse Education & How-To Strategies for Parents of Gluten-Free Kids.

It is taking place (right in the comfort of your own home!) on Thursday, August 25th, 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. This webinar is FREE of charge! All you need is your computer and a working internet connection.

This webinar which will focus upon your child’s gluten-free needs in and out of the classroom will be lead by Nina Spitzer, President of the Celiac Disease Foundation’s Greater Phoenix Chapter.

And although this webinar is focuses on children with celiac disease, I bet that it will also be very insightful for those that have children with food allergies and other food intolerances as well.

If you want to register for this seminar click this link: Register Now!

This webinar is sponsored by Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery and they’re giving away some awesome prizes to some lucky webinar participants.

So… sharpen your pencils and don’t miss out on this Back-To-School webinar!

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com is an icy fruity treat that both kids and adults will love! Smooze Fruit Ice.

The first cool part about this product is that it is sold shelf-stable.  When you get it home you put them in the freezer to freeze. I like this idea, since if you order in bulk off of Amazon.com or just stock up while at the store, you don’t use up valuable freezer space, and can replenish the freezer stock as needed.

The second cool part about Smooze is that each serving comes in a little pouch, which makes eating them fun and tidy. After cutting off the top, you just push-up on the packaging and enjoy the icy treat right out of the top.  All three flavors (Coconut & Mango, Coconut & Pineapple and my favorite, the Coconut & Pink Guava) are coconut based, and contain 100% real fruit juices and purees. The coconut milk makes these treats not as icy as a non-nutritious Popsicle – but more of a milky frozen-yogurt type of consistency. Smooze are good for you and delicious!

These all-natural treats are also gluten-free, dairy-free, have no cholesterol or trans-fat and are low in fat and sugar.

Good, fun and healthy icy treats that are perfect for adults or kids are the reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com goes to Smooze Fruit Ice!

Congratulations Smooze!

Want to buy some Smooze for yourself? Buy them here on Amazon.com. Also, eligible for Super-Saver Shipping! Smooze All Natural Fruit Ice, Coconut & Pink Guava, 17.6 Ounce Boxes (Pack of 4)

Oh how I miss my Asian foods. Dumplings, Crispy Spring Rolls, Mu-Shu Pork, Potstickers, Kung Pao Chicken and more. Since going gluten-free my take-out orders at my local Chinese restaurant have been bland. At best.

“Steamed Chicken and Veggies, please”,  I say with a forced fake smile while ordering my Chinese take-out each week… or should I say Chinese fake-out each week. Come on… really? Who am I kidding? I really, really miss good Chinese and other Asian dishes with all of the flavorful sauces and ingredients that add a burst of flavor and element of surprise.

This is why my fake smile was replaced with a real-life, honest-to-goodness,  ear-to-ear smile when I received an advanced copy of the new cookbook, “The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen – Recipes for Noodles, Dumplings, Sauces, & More” by Laura B. Russell. Talk about good fortune!

This cookbook is a keeper. As soon as I received it I immediately started reading each and every page oohhing and aahhing over each recipe and every scrumptious photograph. By the time I was at the last recipe – I had tabbed over 2 dozen recipes to make myself.

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. However, Laura B. Russell does an excellent job of demystifying the most common ingredients used in Asian cooking, as well as supplying tips and tricks to navigate the grocery store; helping find replacements for gluten and dairy ingredients; and ultimately assisting celiacs and dairy-free folks the chance to enjoy Asian cuisine once again.

All these delicious reasons and recipes are why I am thrilled that this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com is sponsored by Laura B. Russell – the author of  “The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen – Recipes for Noodles, Dumplings, Sauces, & More”.

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, August 16, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST, and two (2) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, August 17 and Tuesday, August  23, 2011 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

Good luck, believe in good fortune… and as always,
Be Free!

Savings Alert! ORDER NOW AND SAVE! Pre-order your copy of “The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen Cookbook” prior to the title being released on 08/23/11 and SAVE! Amazon.com is now offering this cookbook for only $14.50 which is 37% OFF!  Here is the link to order: The Gluten-Free Asian Kitchen: Recipes for Noodles, Dumplings, Sauces, and More