Be Free For Me Blog

I love cranberries. Growing up in Southeastern Massachusetts we had cranberry bogs everywhere. Cranberries are a staple in my diet. Always have been and always will.

Maybe that’s why Craisins are a must in my gluten-free diet. Made by Ocean Spray these real fruit berries are the sweetest way ever to eat a cranberry.

I like to top my salads with Craisins, sprinkle them on baked chicken breasts stuffed with goat cheese, or add a handful into Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookies. The ideas are endless.

Naturally gluten-free, peanut free and containing no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, Craisins are perfect for snacking too. Craisins are also a good source of fiber, which is an added bonus.

All these delicious & healthy reasons are why Ocean Spray Craisins are awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Cheers!

Water, water, water! It never seems that I can get enough. I know I should be drinking more of it… but sometimes plain old water is just so… boring.

That’s why I was so excited when I found True Lemon – crystallized real lemon that can be sprinkled in water any time, anywhere. A sprinkle here and a sprinkle there, and like crystallized fairy dust I was magically consuming, effortlessly, the amount of water I should be on a daily basis.

But this is only the beginning of my true love affair with True Lemon.

Although True Lemon is a perfect addition to water, it is also great in recipes and other drinks too. True Lemon is great sprinkled on vegetables on the grill, iced teas, grilled salmon and salads. The ideas to use True Lemon are endless. True Lemon is a fantastic way to get real lemon taste with no mess and no hassle.

Want another bonus use? Sprinkle True Lemon on cut apples, avocados and other fruit to stop browning!

True Lemon is 100% natural and has no calories, no gluten, no artificial ingredients or sweeteners, no preservatives and no sodium.

Along with True Lemon make sure you check out all the other great flavors: True Lime (love this in my salsa!) and True Orange (love it sprinkled on my oatmeal!).

All of these true love reasons are why this week’s Friday Favorite honor goes to True Lemon! Thanks for sprinkling me with love and …. Congrats!

Check out these links on Amazon.com and get FREE Super-Saver Shipping:
True Lemon Kit (Great for on-the-go: Single serve packets – one box each of True Lemon, True Lime and True Orange)
Shakers Kit (Great for cooking and baking: Two Shakers – One each of True Lemon and True Lime)

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe goes to Euforia Confection’s Gluten-Free Thousand Layer Cake.

I first tried this soft, spongy, flourless, all-natural cake at a trade show. The samples were enticing and intriguing. These cakes are made with thin delicate layers of cake, which are all individually baked… and I find utterly amazing! The cakes themselves are beautiful to look at – but, as I discovered, even more beautiful to eat. =)

Euforia’s Thousand-Layer Cakes come in two flavors: Vanilla – with a familiar and comforting melt-in- your-mouth flavor, or Spice – a sassy blend of spices that creates a ultra-chic spice cake even Grandma would love.

I love that these cakes can be frozen for up to 6-months– which is perfect for those last-minute get-togethers. This cake is also great served as a birthday cake, or eaten “just because”.

All these reasons, plus thousands more, are the reasons why Euforia Gluten-Free Thousand layer Cake is this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Congratulations!

Want to buy? Check out these links on Amazon.com:
Thousand-Layer Cake (Vanilla / Roll)

Thousand-Layer Cake (Vanilla)

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com goes to a group of sassy sauces that will add a kick to your chicken, meat, veggies, tofu or noodles.

Stonehouse 27 sauces are the gluten-free solution to creating delicious Indian food at home without the effort of making them from scratch.

I love that the Stonehouse 27 sauces are a quick and easy dinner solution with a made-from-scratch taste. These sauces come in a variety of flavors including Tamarind & Garlic, Tomato & Chilies, Dates & Tamarind, Mild Cashews & Cream, Spicy Cashews & Cream, and my favorite – Cilantro & Coconut. Made with healthy and premium ingredients, all the sauces are gluten-free, vegan and less than 25mg of sodium per serving.

Need some recipe ideas for these must-have sauces? Check out the website of Stonehouse 27 and snag yourself some real recipe keepers.

Exotic taste, fantastic flavors and an array of delicious recipe ideas are the reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com goes to Stonehouse 27 Sauces. Congrats!

Summer’s here and we’re all screaming for ice cream! Now thanks to SO Delicious Dairy Free even those with dairy allergies or intolerances can enjoy a nice, cool, refreshing treat on those hot summer days.

Say Hello to SO Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Ice Cream!

I love that these frozen treats are creamy and come in tons of fantastic gluten-free flavors. Some of my favorites are: Cherry Amaretto, Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl, Coconut Almond Chip, Mint Chip and Mocha Almond Fudge. And for those of you that can’t have coconut, SO Delicious also makes a line of frozen desserts made with a soy base too!

And for those looking for additional allergy and nutritional info, the SO Delicious website has a comprehensive chart detailing their products allergens. I love it when companies supply this info, don’t you?

Another way you can make this product extra-special is by serving it atop a Goldbaum’s Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cone. Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free joy!

Dairy-free, gluten-free and SO delicious are all the reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite goes to SO Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Ice Cream! Good lickins’ and congratulations!

Want to buy? Use this store searcher to find a store that sells SO Delicious  Frozen Desserts near you… or get your Goldbaum Ice Cream Cones (Gluten, Dairy, Egg, Nut, Peanut and Soy Free!) on Amazon.com:
Goldbaum’s Gluten Free Ice Cream Cone Cups 12 cones/1.76 oz. – case of 4
Goldbaums Ice Cream Cones – Gluten Free Sugar Cone, 4.7-Ounce (Pack of 4)

I hear quite often that cooking gluten-free foods can be time consuming, since many favorite dishes often need to be made from scratch.

This is why I am thrilled to pass along info on Roland Foods Flavored Quinoa packs. A convenient and tasty package of quinoa that is pre-seasoned, flavored and…best yet… ready-in-minutes!

All you need to do is add water, heat and serve. It makes quinoa a snap to make, and takes the guessing out of deciding  how to prepare it.

My favorite is the Mediterranean, but they also come in Toasted Sesame Ginger, Black Bean, Garden Veggie & Roasted Garlic.

Convenience and tastiness. The two reasons why this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe is awarded to Roland Foods Ready-In-Minutes Flavored Quinoa.

Want to buy? Check out these links on Amazon.com.
Roland Quinoa Mediterranean, 5.46-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 6)
Roland Quinoa Black Bean, 5.46-Ounce (Pack of 6)
Roland Quinoa Garden Vegetable, 5.46-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 6)
Roland Quinoa Toasted Sesame Ginger, 6 – 5.46-Ounce Pouches
Roland Quinoa Roasted Garlic, 5.46-Ounce (Pack of 6)

If you’re looking for a new gluten-free chip for dipping, for snacking or for a crunchy side to your lunchtime sandwich you must try Simply 7 Hummus Chips.

With no trans fats, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives – these gluten-free chips are delicious. They come in three flavors: Sea Salt, Spicy Chili Pepper, and Tomato Basil.

What exactly is a hummus chip, you ask? A hummus chip is a perfectly shaped chip that is the perfect shape for scooping up your favorite brand of hummus, dip or spread. The ingredients are simple. And they are made with… chickpeas!

Chickpeas contain tons of protein, fiber and many important minerals. So I love that the very first, and main, ingredient in the Simply 7 chips is chickpea flour.

Chips made with chickpeas… ingenious… and the reason why this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com goes to Simply 7 Hummus Chips.

Congratulations!

Looking to buy Simply 7 Hummus Chips? Check out these links on Amazon.com:
Simply 7 Hummus Chips, Sea Salt, 1-Ounce Bags (Pack of 24)
Simply 7 Hummus Chips, Spicy Chili Pepper, 5-Ounce Bags (Pack of 12)
Simply 7 Hummus Chips, Tomato Basil, 5-Ounce Bags (Pack of 12)

It’s tough to find a gluten-free cracker that will be loved by the gluten-free and the non-gluten free alike.

And we all know that some gluten-free crackers are not what they’re cracked up to be. Some out bland. Some are hard. Some are tasteless.

But thanks to Crunchmaster that is not the way gluten-free crackers need to crumble.

Crunchmaster crackers are so versatile. They are great all by themselves, with cheese, with dips and also ground and used as crumbs on chicken and seafood. Many of the varieties are also dairy-free, vegan and sugar-free too.

Crunchmaster Crackers are also made in a certified gluten-free facility. They are made with 100% whole grain, are cholesterol free, low in sodium, low in saturated fat and have no trans fat.

Cheers to Crunchmaster and the fabulous crackers they make…and congratulations on being awarded this week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com. Crunch on!

Want to buy Crunchmaster Crackers? Check out this link on Amazon.com and take advantage of FREE Super Saving Shipping: Crunchmaster Multi-Grain Crackers Gluten Free 20 oz.

This week’s Friday Favorite on BeFreeForMe.com is awarded to Golden Valley Organic Beef Jerky.

If you’re a beef jerky fan you know that most beef jerky contains gluten. There seems to be gluten on every single ingredient label you check. BUT – Golden Valley Organic Beef Jerky is gluten-free! Celebrate gluten-free jerky fans!

Not only is this jerky gluten-free – it also contains no MSG, preservatives, nitrates or artificial ingredients. Another added bonus is that they are made with organic beef, which is fed organic feed, and raised without added hormones.

All good stuff.

I am a huge fan of Golden Valley Organic Beef Jerky. I’ve chatted about Golden Valley Organic products in the past, but never pointed out the fabulous gluten-free beef jerky varieties that Golden Valley has. If you like a basic jerky, the Original is for you, but if you’re looking for a spice, go with the Black Pepper. If a punch of flavor is your thing grab the Teriyaki or the BBQ. And last if you like things sweet, but also a tad spicy…  the Sweet & Spicy variety is a sure-bet.

Please note that not all the products Golden Valley make are gluten-free, so as always, check the labels carefully and look for the gluten-free notation. on the label.

NOTE: The Golden Valley Beef Jerky is available to purchase on Amazon with Super-Saver shipping! Here are the links:
Golden Valley Natural Organic Beef Jerky Teriyaki — 3 oz
Golden Valley Natural Organic Beef Jerky Bar-B-Que — 3 oz
Golden Valley Natural Organic Beef Jerky Original — 3 oz
Golden Valley Natural Organic Beef Jerky Sweet ‘n Spicy — 3 oz
Golden Valley Natural Organic Beef Jerky Black Pepper — 3 oz

I love macaroons. I love the chewiness. I love the coconut. I even love the way the word itself sounds. Macarooooooon.

Just saying the word macaroon makes you get a big smile smacked across your face.

Macaroons have been a long time favorite of mine. My Mom use to make them when I was a little girl. I loved the chewy & sweetness of the inside, and the crunchy, almost caramelized, just-right browned outside.

There’s nothing like a good macaroon.

That is why I was smiling from ear-to-ear basting in my macaroon glory when I found Hail Merry Macaroons at a tradeshow a few months back.

Sweet, golden & chewy. Macaroon perfection served up in bite sized portions.

The Hail Merry Macaroons are not only gluten-free, but are also vegan and  a raw food. Simple goodness.

This week’s Friday Favorite is graced upon Hail Merry for making the best macaroons and for bringing back good memories in every chewy, sweet bite.

Congratulations!

Want to order Hail Merry macaroons? Check out this link on Amazon.com: Hail Merry Macaroons Gluten-free Raw Blonde 3.5 oz (Pack of eight)