Be Free For Me Blog

If you love baking from scratch, but you hate the mess, hassle and expense you are going to love Scratch & Grain Gluten-Free Cookie Mixes.

These kits are perfect for baking a batch of cookies the old-fashioned “by scratch” way without needing to spend tons of money on ingredients that you’ll probably never use again.

The concept was the brainchild and developed by two neighborhood Moms (Taya and Leah) that wanted to make homemade baking fun & easy. So they went to work to creating a baking kit that had all the BEST ingredients measured out individually so everyone would know what is in their food, as well as making it a fun and easy experience.  Each kit makes 11 to 14 cookies.

And although neither Taya or Leah are gluten-free, they both have close family members that are (including Leah’s mom and daughter). Because of this, they wanted to make sure that they also created gluten-free versions of their cookie mixes so that folks on a gluten-free diet could also enjoy home-made and from scratch cookies that would taste incredibly delicious.

The results are three total delightful and incredible gluten-free Scratch & Grain Cookie mixes. The varieties are fun & tasty. They are: Chocolate Truffle, Snicker Doodle & Chewy Peanut Butter. All you need to add is egg and unsalted butter for each kit, and they provide the rest! How simple is that!?

The cookie kits are also Non-GMO, and contain no preservatives.

And if you think this “cookie kit” idea is totally brilliant check out this link to see the video clip of Taya & Leah when they visited Shark Tank! (And YES… They did get a deal! Click on this link to check them out on Shark Tank and find out what shark also thinks their idea is out-of-this-world too!)

All of these yummy and convenient reasons are why I am so thrilled that Scratch and Grain Gluten-Free Cookie Kits are sponsoring this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com.

A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe.com members will be randomly selected to win a Gluten-Free Cookie Kit variety pack (Each variety pack consists of 3 total kits… one of each of the gluten-free varieties).  One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, April 28, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, April 29 and Tuesday, May 5, 2015 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 Gluten-Free Cookie Kit looks the best to you? Is it the Chocolate Truffle? Snickerdoodle? Or the Chewy Peanut Butter?

Good luck, remember that homemade simple goodness is always the tastiest … and, as always …

Be Free!

PS: Want to learn more? Check out Scratch and Grain’s Facebook , Twitter and Instagram pages!

If you love good snacking AND healthy good-for-you foods this Win-It-Wednesday is for you!

Raw Food Central makes Kale Chips, Flax Crackers, Onion Rings and a Snack Mix that are all full of crunchy goodness that make them perfect any time of day.

To start off, I’d like to chat a bit about the Raw Food Central company. The mission of Raw Food Central is to honor and serve others as a way to energize, inspire, and build people. The products are made by a team of super-cool people, who love their company and take pride in offering only the best products, made with only the best ingredients, to their customers. The result? Everyone is happy, healthy and empowered. What’s not to love about that? =)

All of Raw Food Central products are raw… never fried, and never baked. They all contain simple, yet irresistible ingredients. Ingredients that keep your taste buds tantalized. And if you want to find out more about eating raw foods, check out this link on the Raw Food Central website. The founder of the company, Curt Griffing, as been eating raw for over 30+ years and has so much to share!

All the products are also USDA certified organic, certified vegan, certified gluten-free, kosher, certified vegan and are all non-GMO project verified.

The products that Raw Food Central creates are incredible. Their signature item, their Kale Chips are crunchy and light. One bite will keep you crunching away, and show you why kale is all the rage. The Onion Rings, my favorite, are flavorful and crunchy… perfect for topping a salad; the Flax Crackers, are packed with flax, which is full of protein, and a perfect companion for any dip or spread. And last, the Snack Mix is a sunshiny garden in a bag! Packed with their infamous kale chips, and tossed with freeze dried corn, peas, cashews, sunflower seeds and raisins. Delicious!

Honestly good products, made by an honestly great company, are the reasons why I am so thrilled that this Win-It-Wednesday is being sponsored by Raw Foods Central!

A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe.com members will be randomly selected to win a mixed case (total of 12 bags) of all four products (3 bags per product).  One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, April 15 and Tuesday, April 21, 2015 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 Raw Food Central product looks the best to you!

Good luck, remember to keep things simple, keep things irresistible … and, as always …

Be Free!

PS: Want to learn more? Check out Raw Food Central’s Facebook and Twitter pages!

We all know that veggies are good for you, an important part of a well-rounded gluten-free diet, and they taste great too. But what is often hard is getting kids to believe that too.

If you have or know any children that have a hard time embracing veggies in their mealtime, the new children’s book “The Rootlets: Super Rootabilities” is for you and your little ones. Launching just in time for National Nutrition Month (March), this book is written by Vicki Marquez, a certified health coach, wellness expert, and plant based chef. Her mission is to get kids to re-think veggies as being a cool, and a tasty addition to meal time – and to break the stigma that healthy living is boring.

And she has accomplished this mission with this book.

The Rootlets are a cast of fun-loving and veggie-loving characters that are the super-heroes of healthy eating. The cast’s entertaining names (Brocc, Kaley, Carrotina and Cornelius), the bright and colorful illustrations and the thrilling plot of the story make this book a read-again favorite. This 40 page soft back book is perfect for kids aged 4 to 9.

And lucky for us, Vicki Marquez and her new book “The Rootlets: Super Rootabilities” is sponsoring this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com!

A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe.com members will be randomly selected to win a copy of this new children’s book.  One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, March 18 and Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us your favorite veggie OR who you would share/give this book too!

Good luck, remember to root for vegetables… and, as always …

Be Free!

PS: Want to learn more? Check out “The Rootlets” Facebook and Twitter pages!

Good things do indeed come in small batches. An example of this is Urban Raccoon snack bars. These bars only contain high-quality, good-for-you ingredients that are only made in small batches – unlike most gluten-free snack bars made by larger corporations.

Urban Raccoon snack bars are gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, GMO-free and vegan. They are made with organic amaranth and blended with only finest & natural ingredients, such as nuts, chia seeds and fruit.

And the flavors of Urban Raccoon snack bars are mouth-wateringly delicious: Peanut Chocolate, Banana Chocolate (my favorite!), Coconut Chocolate, Cherry Chocolate Chia, Cranberry Maple Almond and the limited-edition and special order, Apricot Cherry. Three of flavors (Peanut Chocolate, Banana Chocolate, & Coconut Chocolate) are made with organic coconut nectar, a lower glycemic natural ingredient binder that is essentially the sap of the coconut tree... Yet another example of using only the highest quality and natural ingredients.

Ohhh… and another thing I love about Urban Raccoon is the “back story” of how it started!  The founder of Urban Raccoon Bars, Brad Indoe, originally started the company out of the personal need for better tasting and better for you gluten-free snack bars. Being gluten-intolerant, Brad wanted a bar that he could bring along with him to work, the gym, and when he traveled. However, the bar needed to be nutritious, satisfying and tasty. However, all the bars that he tried were massively produced “cookie-cutter” bars made by huge conglomerates that contained non-nutritious ingredients and cheap ingredients like rice products. As a result of Brad’s need (as well as every other gluten-free person out there!), Urban Raccoon was founded. Thank you, Brad. =)

And to make the story even super-cooler, the maple syrup used in the Cranberry Maple Almond flavor is from Brad’s family’s farm!

And lucky for us, Urban Raccoon gluten-free snack bars is sponsoring this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com!

A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe.com members will be randomly selected to win a prize pack of these small-batch, nutritious and tasty snack bars.  One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, March 4 and Tuesday, March 10, 2015 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 Urban Raccoon snack bar looks the best to you!

Good luck, keep it healthy & tasty… and, as always …

Be Free!

There is nothing better than a Valentine Day gift that is handmade with love. A gift that is overflowing with love and sweetness. A gift that is made from the heart – and it shows.

Bello Treats is a sweet that is perfect for a gift for your sweetie, or even bought for yourself. Perfect for gifting, or even an everyday indulgence, Bello Treats are gluten-free and have no additives, preservatives and contain high-quality, yet simple, all-natural ingredients.

Discovering Bello Treats has been one of my best gluten-free finds in a long time. Handmade with love by Amanda Bellone, these treats originally pop into my gluten-free radar when discovered at my local farmers market.

Amanda is a Brazilian native and created Bello Treats to introduce her beloved authentic Brazilian Brigadeiro. Commonly known as “brigs”, Briigadeiros (pronounced: bree-gah-day-ro) are a traditional Brazilian treat that’s found at most parties, bakeries and grocery stores in Brazil.

These creamy, silky and soft fudgy treats are to die for! Made with sweetened condensed milk,  a touch of butter, and  Belgium chocolates and other fresh ingredients such as fresh shredded coconut or walnuts, these treats melt in your mouth. Creamy and rich, it’s difficult to eat just one.

These delicious treats are true masterpieces. Hand-crafted in small batches, these artesian-style confections are the gourmet answer to satisfy any sweet tooth. My favorite variety is the Happily Married, a soft and creamy milk chocolate andwhite fudge. But other yummy flavors include the Coconut Kiss, topped with shredded coconut; Almond, topped with shredded almonds; Carnival, a kid’s favorite featuring colored chocolate sprinkles; Fun Chocolate Chip, smothered with chocolate chips, and the Traditional Brig, milk chocolate fudge with chocolate sprinkles.

And lucky for us, just in time for Valentine’s Day, Bello Snacks is sponsoring this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com.

A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe.com members will be randomly selected to win a prize pack of these oh so delicious treats.  One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, February 18 and Tuesday, February 24, 2015 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 variety of Bello Treats looks the best to you!

Good luck, be sweet… and, as always …

Be Free!

This week’s Win-It-Wednesday is in honor of the upcoming Super Bowl Sunday show-down coming up this weekend! The Super Bowl is all about football, and let’s face it… snacking!

Some of our favorite snacks over here at BeFreeForMe are dips and spreads. Sure, we are able to smear and spread these dips on carrot and celery sticks, but gluten-free crackers are so much better. And three of our favorite gluten-free cracker brands will be included in the prize pack for this Win-It-Wednesday compliments of BeFreeForMe.com

What are these three brands? Blue Diamond Nut-Thins, Mary Gone Crackers, and Mediterranean Snacks Hummuz Crackers. All of these brands are gluten-free and found in most larger grocery stores.

Blue Diamond Crackers are loaded with nutritious almonds (or pecans) and are baked to a crispy crunch. With 2-3 grams of protein per serving, these crackers are my favorite with cheese and crackers or paired with our Pimento Cheese Dip. My favorite flavor? The traditional Hint of Sea Salt.

Mary Gone Crackers are not only gluten-free, but also organic, non-GMO, soy free and vegan. These whole grain crackers come in a bunch of flavors that can tantalize any taste-bud. One of our go-to favorites snacking combos is the Hot & Spicy Jalapeno Mary Gone Crackers with our Layered Mexican Dip.

Last, but not least, are Mediterranean Snacks Hummuz Crackers. Made with real Garbanzo beans, these crackers pack a healthy protein punch. I love the Olive Tapenade Hummuz Crackers paired with our Goat Cheese & Olive Spread, or our Feta Cheese Dip. These crackers are a must try!

All of these wonderful gluten-free snacking ideas make this week’s Win-It-Wednesday a delicious reason to enter to win!

A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe.com members will be randomly selected to win a variety prize pack of these crackers! One (1) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, February 4 and Tuesday, February 10, 2015 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 gluten-free cracker is YOUR favorite (is it one of the three listed above… or do you have another favorite we need to know about?)

Good luck, it’s ok to be a little crackers…  and, as always …

Be Free!

Snacking. Snacking. Snacking. I love the word. I love the way it sounds, and what it means. There’s nothing like a good snack to hold your hunger over between meals. But often it is hard to find a good healthy, tasty AND gluten-free snack.

That is why I love Popcorn Indiana. And in honor of National Popcorn Day on Monday, January 19^th (yes… this truly is a nationally recognized day!) this Win-It-Wednesday is all about a popping good and a-maize-ing snack… Popcorn Indiana.

Popcorn is a good for you snack. It is a whole grain, and compared to most snack foods, low in calories. And with the knock-your-socks off flavors that Popcorn Indiana offers it is one heck of a super tasty snack too!

And the best part is that Popcorn Indiana’s popcorn is gluten-free including their Classic popcorn varieties (which include American Cheese, Caramel, Kettle Corn, Move Theater, Aged White Cheddar, Cinnamon Sugar, and Sea Salt and the newest varieties, Hatch Chili Cheese and Sriracha); The Fit Popcorn variety each with only 37 calories per cup and Biggest Loser Approved (Sea Salt, Olive Oil, Parmesan & Herb, and Real Butter) and the Limited Edition Drizzle popcorn, since what goes better with popcorn than chocolate (Black & White Chocolate Drizzle, Dark Fudge Sea Salt Caramel, Dark Fudge Chocolate Chip or Chocolate Peanut Butter)?

I am so excited that this week’s Win-It-Wednesday sponsor is the healthy and tasty Popcorn Indiana! A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe.com members will be randomly selected to win a variety prize pack of Popcorn Indiana! One (1) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, January 21 and Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us which Popcorn Indiana flavor looks the best to you! (Me? I love the sweet Cinnamon & Sugar and the savory Fit Olive Oil!)

Good luck, Happy National Popcorn Day and, as always …

Be Free!

P.S. Want to keep poppin’ with the lastest and greatest over at Popcorn Indiana? Make sure you follow them on their Facebook Page and Twitter page!

It’s the start of the New Year and many folks are looking for new and exciting budget-friendly dinner ideas. One of my favorite ways to make a delicious dinner-on-a-budget is by using gluten-free pastas made by SamMills.

SamMill’s Pastas are made from corn. They are available in most grocery stores and come in tons of different pasta shapes… some of my favorite include Penne Rigate, Tubetti, Lasagna Corte, and Bucatini.

The SamMills Pastas are also made of 100% Natural Ingredients, are free of dairy, eggs and gluten, and are low-glycemic, GMO Free and Kosher Pave. I also love that most of pastas cook-up in about 10 minutes, so dinner can be served in a jiff.

And if you are looking for some inspiring gluten-free pasta dishes to start off this New Year check out some of our favorite pasta recipes on BeFreeForMe.com:

Gluten-Free Pasta with Brussels Sprouts, Pancetta and Olives

Gluten-Free Rotini with Red Bell Peppers, Fresh Mozzarella & Arugula

Blackened Red Pepper and Chicken Pasta Salad

Spaghetti with Toasted Pine Nuts, Olives and Parmesan

All of the delicious pasta recipes that await being made are the reason I am so excited that this week’s Win-It-Wednesday prize is SamMills! A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe.com members will be randomly selected to win a 4-pack prize of one of my favorite SamMills Pastas… the Bucatini… and for those of you that haven’t tried Bucatini yet… you must give it a try! It’s a thick spaghetti-like pasta with a hole running through the center… perfect for pestos, tomato based sauces and casseroles!

One (1) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, January 7 and Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?

Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us which SamMills Pasta product looks the best to you! (Is it the traditional Spaghetti, Ziti or Penne? Or maybe the more adventurous Quadrati or Lasagna Corti?) =)

Good luck, here’s to a healthy, happy and delicious New Year… and as always,

Be Free!

I love Van’s Gluten-Free Waffles. The waffle that is the perfect quick-and-easy breakfast staple at my house. That is why I was thrilled when I found out about Van’s newest products: their Whole Grain Pasta Skillet Dishes and their soft-baked Whole Grain Granola Clusters.

And just like the quality of their flagship waffles, these new products are also made with wholesome ingredients. They also contain no artificial flavors, colors or high fructose corn syrup. And they’re convenient and easy to prepare.

Plus, all these new products are Certified Gluten-Free.

Van’s Whole Grain Pasta Skillet Dinners are perfect for lunch or dinner – as a main entrée or even a side. I love that they can be prepared on the stove top in just 10 minutes, and the (suggested) retail price is $3.99 – perfect if time and money is tight. The three varieties are Rotini & Red Sauce, which is a robust marinara sauce over whole grain rotini pasta. And if you’re looking to kick the dish up a notch – toss in some cooked chicken strips and sliced black olives and add some extra protein & flavor while you’re at it!; Creamy Herb & Garlic which is a creamy whole blend of select spices and garlic tossed with a deliciouswhole grain pasta for a gourmet type pasta dish. And if your feeling creative toss in some cooked chicken and sundried tomatoes and make this a dish that everyone will love as a main course at your dinner table; and last, the Ultimate Cheddar Penne, a classic cheesy favorite your whole family will love.

The Van’s Soft-Baked Gluten-Free Granolas come in two fabulous flavors: the Blueberry Walnut and the Cranberry Almond. Both are great for breakfast, or for snacking. Try some sprinkled over Greek Yogurt, topped with fresh fruit, or just eaten by the handful. I love that these granolas are soft-baked, packed with fruit and nuts, and contain 12-grams of nutrient dense whole grains. Just check out the close up of these little soft-baked nuggets below!

Both these new product lines are simple, and tasty, and deliver the Van Food’s quality.

I am so thrilled that Van’s has come out with these new Gluten-Free Products AND is sponsoring this WIN-It-Wednesday contest on BeFreeForMe.com!

A total of two (yes, 2!) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win a prize pack of these new Van’s gluten-free products. One (1) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, December 24 and Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter two times to win!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us which new Van’s Gluten-Free product looks the best to you! (Me? The Creamy Herb & Garlic Pasta! Yum!)

Good luck, remember to keep things simple, yet tasty… and as always,

Be Free!

P.S. Want to be the first to know about news, giveaways, and going-on’s at Van’s Foods? Then follow Van’s Foods on Facebook!

The holidays are here and it’s time to kick up our snacking a notch or two! One of my favorite snacks of all time is popcorn. I love to put out a big bowl when I have guests and see it disappear by the handful. And if you want to add some extra special holiday flair to this go-to snack you must check out 479°  Popcorn.

This popcorn is like no other. The flavors are fun, sassy and irresistible. 479°  Popcorn is snacking at its best.

And lucky for us 479°  Popcorn has two new must-try limited-addition (get ‘em when you can!) flavors for the Holidays: Pumpkin Pecan Praline and Dark Chocolate & Bing Cherry.

The founder of 479° Popcorn, Jean Arnold, started the company because she had nothing but fond memories of fresh, organic popcorn that was made by her Mom and enjoyed with her family during cozy moments playing cards. Her mom would make the popcorn with a “sturdy stove-top popper that she’d hand crank until the kernels turned into a delightful fluffy treat.”

And over the years, and with years of culinary training, Jean started experimenting with exotic seasonings and flavorings on the same type of organic popcorn her mom popped many years before… and 479° Popcorn was born! (By the way, the name 479° Popcorn comes from Jean’s discovery that 479° is the optimal temperature for popping popcorn! See… you DO learn something new every day!)

479° Popcorn varieties are all also certified gluten-free, Non-GMO and (drum roll please!) low calorie!

Besides the two special-edition Holiday flavors, the other flavors are: The Savory flavors… Asiago, Parmesan & Cheddar; White Cheddar & Black Truffle; Creamery Butter; Sea Salt; Farmers Market Herb and Toasted Sesame & Seaweed. And the Sweet & Salty varieties include… Toasted Coconut Caramel; Sea Salt Caramel; and Chipotle Caramel & Pumpkin Seeds.

All of these savory, sweet and salty snacking reasons are why I am so thrilled that 479° Popcorn is the sponsor of this Win-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com.

A total of three (yes, 3!) BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win 2 bags each of the two Holiday limited edition 479° flavors  (Pumpkin Pecan Praline and Dark Chocolate & Bing Cherry). Two (2) winners will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, December 10 and Tuesday, December 16, 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 variety of 479° Popcorn looks the best to you! (Me? I love the new Holiday flavor Pumpkin Pecan Praline… yum!)

Good luck, remember to keep your Holidays popping with good snacks… and as always,

Be Free!

P.S. Want to be the first to know about news, flavors, giveaways, and going-on’s at 479° Popcorn? Then follow 479° Popcorn on Facebook!