Be Free For Me Blog

It’s cookbook giveaway time again! And this time it is sponsored by one of my favorite gluten-free cookbook authors, Carol Fenster!

Carol’s new gluten-free cookbook is genius. Living in a two-person household, Carol decided that enough was enough when it came to “over-making” recipes by preparing enough to feed a small army. So she wrote Gluten-Free Cooking for Two, a collection of 125 recipes, that are absolutely perfect for two.

Being in a household of two myself I love this cookbook. It is perfect for empty-nesters, newlyweds or even singles. Besides being convenient, this cookbook has allowed me to actually save money (and we all know I love to save!) since it allows me to cook only the portions that I need, and as a result reduce the amount of food I throw away. Why? Because having mega amount of leftovers is so overrated and wasteful most of the time! Let’s face it… the concept of eating that super-sized gluten-free casserole as leftovers for the whole week never, ever really happens!

Gluten-Free Cooking for Two focuses on those dishes that require real kitchen finesse to downsize. It may be easy to grill up two chicken breasts or steaming veggies for two, but as Carol says, sometimes “… it’s not always as simple as dividing a 4-serving recipe in half.” That’s where this cookbook comes into play!

Some of the recipes I loved in the cookbook are the Chicken Pot Pies with Rustic Biscuit Crust, Coconut-Curry Salmon, Chia Breakfast Pudding, Chicken Tikka Masala, Minestrone Soup and the Lemon Bars. All are delicious, easy to make and perfect for two! And as a bonus, Carol also includes the recipe for her signature Gluten-Free Flour Blend, plus tips for “small batch” grocery shopping & prepping.

And lucky for all of you, Carol Fenster and her team are providing us with TWO copies of the “Gluten-Free Cooking for Two” cookbook for two lucky winners of this contest!

One (1) winner will be randomly selected to win a cookbook from the entries received before Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win a cookbook from the entries received between Wednesday, April 12 2017 and Tuesday, April 18, 2017 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 all-time favorite go-to recipe!

Good luck, happy cooking, and as always …

Be Free!

Sometimes eating gluten-free gets me into a rut. It seems like I always rely on my one or two “go-to” recipes when I need a quick and easy meal, snack, dessert or dish to bring to a party. Borrrinnng!

And sometimes when I find gluten-free recipes that look delicious, they are often full of numerous hard to find items and designed for those that have the luxury of spending hours in their kitchen. Not realistic for a working gal like myself.

So… if you’re like me… a no-nonsense, give me a yummy recipe that’s quick and easy to make type-of-gal… you will LOVE Carol Fenster’s newest cookbook, “100 Best Quick Gluten-Free Recipes”.

If you’re not familiar with Carol Fenster, let me start by introducing her as one of my all-time favorite gluten-free chefs and cookbook authors. She is the author of eleven (YES! ELEVEN!!) gluten-free cookbooks including Gluten-Free 101, and the award-winning 1,000 Gluten-Free Recipes. When it comes to gluten-free baking and cooking, Carol’s cookbooks are the best out there.

The “100 Best Quick Gluten-Free Recipes” cookbook is divided into five sections: Breakfast & Breads; Soups, Salads, Sandwiches &Snacks; Grains, Beans, and Pasta; Main Dishes; and Desserts. The cookbook starts by outlining how to stock a gluten-free kitchen (this was a nice refresher even for a seasoned-celiac like myself!) along with ideas for combining the recipes in the cookbook for occasions or themes – such as brunches, luncheons, an Italian feast, or Asian, Southwestern or All-American suppers. I also love that there are plenty of slow-cooker and one-pot recipes – always time-savers in my kitchen.

And the best of all? ALL recipes can be made prepared in 30 minutes or less!

Some of my favorite recipes in Carol’s new cookbook are: Chicken Enchiladas; Focaccia Flatbread;  Microwave Muffin in a Mug;  White Chocolate, Apricot, and Almond Balls; and the Chocolate Refrigerator Cookies.

All these quick, easy and delicious reasons are why I am so excited that the sponsor of this Win-It-Wednesday is Carol Fenster and her new cookbook “100 Best Quick Gluten-Free Recipes”!

Two lucky winners will each win a copy of this new cookbook. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, October 14, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, October 15 and Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 11:59PM EST. So – make sure you enter to win two times!

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us a gluten-free tip or trick that makes your life more simple (or… if you are new to the gluten-free lifestyle, ask a question on simplifying your life!)

Good luck, always keep things simple, quick and easy… and of course, yummy! And, as always,
Be Free!

Want to buy this cookbook now? Find it here on Amazon.com.  Also, make sure you follow Carol Fenster on Facebook and Twitter!

Yes…  I am a gluten-free food-junkie. I love cooking shows, trying my hand at new dishes, exploring gluten-free cooking blogs, obsessing over gluten-free Pinterest posts, discovering the baking & cookbook sections of my favorite bookstore and planning my gluten-free meals weeks in advance.

And, of course, I have my favorite chefs: Those chefs that have taught me the gluten-free way from the start, and continue to inspire me to dig deeper into gluten-free baking and cooking with confidence, creativity and encouragement.  And one of my favorite chefs? Carol Fenster.

Carol is a gluten-free baking and cooking legend. So when I heard that she had come out with another gluten-free cookbook, the “Gluten-Free 101 – The Essential Beginner’s Guide to Easy Gluten-Free”, this gluten-free junkie jumped for joy.

Carol Fenster, is the author of many gluten-free cookbooks that are a life-line in my kitchen. Carol is one of the foremost experts on gluten-free cooking and the author of several popular gluten-free cookbooks including: Gluten-Free Quick & Easy, 1000 Gluten-Free Recipes, 125 Gluten-Free Vegetarian Recipes and 100 Best Gluten-Free Recipes. Carol also consults worldwide and speaks frequently at national conferences. Carol Fenster is one-of-a-kind. Her talent and culinary expertise encourages me and has made me feel confident in the kitchen while cooking and baking gluten-free. (Note: Make sure you follow Carol on her blog CarolFensterCooks.com)

Not only is the Gluten-Free 101 Cookbook full of delicious recipes (Oven-Fried Chicken and a Mexican Casserole, anyone?) that the whole family will love, it is also an essential kitchen must-have that is packed with gluten-free basic 101 information & resources that will get any celiac or gluten-sensitive newbie off to the right start on their healthy and delicious gluten-free lifestyle.

A new cookbook, from my favorite chef, that’s full of delicious recipes and informative advice are all the reasons why I am so thrilled that this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com is sponsored by Carol Fenster – the author of  “Gluten-Free 101 Cookbook… The Essential Beginner’s Guide to Easy Gluten-Free Cooking”.

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us a little pointer, piece of advice or inspirational tidbit you would pass along to someone that just got diagnosed with celiac disease to help them troubleshoot and thrive with their new lifestyle (or if you are just diagnosed, something you would love to learn about). My tidbit? If celiac disease runs in your family… Get everyone tested! Symptoms or no symptoms!

A total of TWO BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win Carol Fenster’s new “Gluten-Free 101” Cookbook.  One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, February 19 and Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 11:59PM EST. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

Good luck, remember the gluten-free lifestyle 101’s… and as always,
Be Free!

P.S. Want more of Carol Fenster? Make sure you follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

The summer is here, the gardens are giving us plenty and we are all looking for some tasty and delicious gluten-free recipes to use up the excess tomatoes, squashes, peppers and herbs that are bursting out of the garden gates.

That’s why I was so excited when I received a copy of Carol Fenster’s new cookbook, 125 Gluten-Free Vegetarian Recipes: Quick and Delicious Mouthwatering Dishes for the Healthy Cook along with 2 extra copies to be awarded to two lucky BeFreeForMe members for this WIN-It-Wednesday.

Before I tell you about the cookbook, let me tell you about Carol Fenster, the author of this and many other gluten-free cookbooks that are a life-line in my kitchen. Carol is one of the foremost experts on gluten-free cooking and the author of several popular gluten-free cookbooks including: 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. Carol Fenster is one-of-a-kind. I only wish I had her talent and culinary expertise. (Note: Make sure you follow Carol on her blog CarolFensterCooks.com)

Now…let me tell you a little about this cookbook, the prize that two lucky BeFreeForMe winners will claim after this WIN-It-Wednesday contest ends. 125 Gluten-Free Vegetarian Recipes: Quick and Delicious Mouthwatering Dishes for the Healthy Cook Cookbook will be a staple for anyone that is following a gluten-free and a vegetarian lifestyles. I personally am not a “full-time” vegetarian, but understand the importance and strive to make vegetables, fruits, gluten-free grains and tofu the “main course” of many of the meals that I make for myself and my family.

I figure if I can make more meals with vegetables without missing meat AND the meals taste delicious… why not? This cookbook has given me tons of ideas and recipes to get me on this track of healthy eating. (Smothered Bean Burrito with Green Chili Salsa or Old-Fashioned Vegetable Pot Pie with Savory Pastry Crust, anyone?)

All these delicious reasons and recipes are why I am thrilled that this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday on BeFreeForMe.com is sponsored by Carol Fenster – the author of “125 Gluten-Free Vegetarian Recipes”.

How can you win?
Easy!

Reply to this blog and tell us what vegetable you’d like to discover more recipes for. (Me? Eggplants. I love them… but sometimes, I’m not sure what to do with them besides the basic Parmesan.)

A total of TWO BeFreeForMe members will be selected to win the “125 Gluten-Free Vegetarian Recipes” Cookbook. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from the entries received before Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST, and one (1) more winner will be randomly selected to win from the entries received between Wednesday, July 20 and Tuesday, July 27, 2011 at 11:59PM. SO – make sure you enter to win two times!

Good luck, remember to eat your veggies… and as always,
Be Free!

O.K. Everyone… “THE HOLIDAYS” are here! Yes, my friends, the never-ending summer full of steamy days and the beautiful crisp autumn afternoons full of color-bursting foliage are just bygone memories.

It’s time to dust off those relish dishes, dig out those pumpkin bread loaf pans, and put on your thinking caps to start planning the most delicious, memorable and gluten-free Holiday meals of all time!

But where do you start?

If you’re like me, you know what kind of gluten-free meal you want to cook: the kind that has everyone asking, or rather begging, for the recipes before they leave the gathering.

But wouldn’t it be nice to get help creating these masterpiece holiday meals with your own personal dietitian and culinary experts? And how about ones that are both world-renowned authorities on gluten-free cooking and living?  Well… thanks to two remarkable ladies, Carol Fenster, author of numerous gluten-free recipe books, including Gluten-Free Quick & Easy, 1000 Gluten-Free Recipes, Gluten-Free 101, and 100 Best Gluten-Free Recipes; and Shelley Case, author of  “The Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide” – you can have them both… right in your very own kitchen through their best-selling books on gluten-free living and cooking.

Last weekend I was able to spend some time with both Shelley and Carol at the American Dietetic Association conference. We spoke about ways that we could make holiday cooking, baking and gift-giving easier for those on a gluten-free diet, as well as those folks that have celiacs on their Holiday guest & shopping lists. Along with a few other features and ideas that will be coming on BeFreeForMe in the coming weeks, Shelley & Carol also graciously offered to sponsor this week’s WIN-It-Wednesday.

So, if you need to find out a way to thicken that Thanksgiving gravy; need a recipe to make gluten-free ginger bread with a snap, or have a wish to make Santa cookies from a new recipe this Christmas Eve, look no further than  Carol and Shelley, two world-renowned gluten-free authors and experts here to help.

Although this prize package is nice enough to pass along as a gift, and you may plan on doing so, you’ll probably want to keep it for yourself once you see the information and recipes packed in both of them.

For this week’s Win-It-Wednesday prize-package, Carol and Shelley have graciously offered a total of six (YES 6!) prize packages. Each prize pack will include “The Gluten-Free Diet: A Comprehensive Resource Guide” by Shelley Case and a copy of   “100 Best Gluten-Free Recipes” Cookbook by Carol Fenster.

How can you win?

EASY!

Reply to this blog and let us know the one thing you are thankful for that not too many people know about (Mine? Talking with my Mom on the phone just so we can report in on the little things happening in our lives).

Six (yes … 6!) randomly selected winners will be chosen as winners. Three winners will be selected from all entries posted before Tuesday, 11/23/10 midnight EST; and three winners will be selected from the entries posted between Wednesday, 11/24/10 and Tuesday, 11/30/10 midnight EST.

Enter EACH WEEK to increase your chances of WINNING!

Good luck, be ever so thankful – even for the little things… and as always…

Be Free!